Letter to the Editor: Fighting Gangs Requires Citywide Effort

Dear Patch,

I, like many people living in our city, am troubled by the recent acts of violence perpetrated by gang members in our community.

I am no stranger to gangs. My neighborhood, Point of Woods, has a persistent gang presence that anyone living in the community is aware of.  In the past few years there have been shootings (one on my own street), drug arrests in our local park and most recently a family pet was shot and killed.  

Gang members also attempted to intimidate me personally after I removed blood/crips graffiti from my own walls. The threat of gangs in Manassas is real, pervasive and unsettling and I see it every day.

Combating gangs requires the realization that the answer does not lie solely with the city government.  The city AND citizens must work together to curb the tide. Citizens must be ready and willing to report any suspicious activity to the Manassas Police quickly.  

Do you have the non-emergency number handy? If not it's 703-257-8000. And of course there's 911. In my experience the city police have been quick, professional and effective, but need the heads up from the citizenry sometimes when things "aren't right".  The city must get this contact information in the hands of each citizen.

We must adopt a zero tolerance approach to small infractions, including  zoning/code violations and blight.  Commonly known as "broken window theory", minor property problems become big problems quickly, and historically properties which serve as gang safe-havens are not the most up-to-code properties in the city.  Zoning and code-enforcement are completely within the power of the city government and must be used to their fullest and pressure brought to bare on known gang offenders.  Better tracking and stiffer penalties for habitual offenders is a must.

Engagement is important in keeping kids out of gangs. We're fortunate enough to live in an active, caring community with dozens of youth programs for parents to choose from; 4H, boy scouts, girl scouts, the boys and girls club, kids activities through the Candy Factory and many church activities are just the tip of the iceberg.

There are also many volunteer opportunities available as well.  We must raise awareness of these programs and encourage at-risk youths to take part. 

I call upon the city to create a centralized database, perhaps within our own Parks and Recreation website, where all these actives can be listed so parents can easily see the full resources available to keep kids positively occupied.  This would be a creative roll for the city to take and cost virtually nothing.

In the end, we must all take up the mantle of securing our city. Evil hides in the darkness, time to bring in the light.

Ian Lovejoy
Candidate- Manassas City Council