Gang violence permeates urban life. Hollywood encourages sympathetic treatment; teenage fashion moguls emulate gangster attire; left wing writers extol gangster revolutionary ideals.
It’s quite telling how urban politicians talk about gang violence. A Supervisor’s race in Orange County reveals serious gang involvement with a major candidate. Gangs are as old as humanity. Just "guys" who seek the money short cut through physical intimidation.
Chief Bernard Parks, of LAPD fame, knows about the cause and consequences of gangs. An extended interview in the LA Times, Parks has a long record fighting gangs. Parks is quoted:
"There are 1000 street gangs and 80,000 gang members in the county, and many of them live in the 2nd District. Gang-related homicide is the leading cause of death for all people age 15 through 44 in the county, a shocking statistic that speaks to the insidious nature of gang violence."
On the other hand, in the same interview, Ridley-Thomas reveals much about his world view with this :
" We must involved communities in strategic ways to engage youth — at an early age — to convince them, ….We enrolled former gang members in an intensive course of study to learn effective tools and strategies to work as peacemakers…"
This is the formula for failure and getting more of the same. Ridley-Thomas wants to "buy" the gangster and make peace with. The problem is, a gangster could care less about the peace offerings of an irrelevant politician like Ridley-Thomas. R-T fails to recognize that 90% of the kids in poor neighborhoods turn out to be good citizens. R-T doesn’t understand the mind set of alienated gangsters. It’s a war. R-T and his ilk are gangsters greatest protectors and apologists. 
Remember, it took Eliot Ness to take down Al Capone. If the 2nd District is to get any relief from the 1000 street gangs, it will take a proven crimefighter, not a gang appeaser.
This June 3, District 2 citizens will make a choice they have to live with for a generation.