Hey okcstylez, welcome.

Good to hear a perspective from inside the neighborhood. I live in Gatewood just north of that area & it makes me sad. There are some once beautiful houses that made up an impressive neighborhood. When I walk through the area, (in the daytime) I see lots of homes owned by hard working, decent people. They are brought down by the idle youth who decide that theft & violence are reasonable activities.

I see the Juaritos tags everywhere & it makes me angry. Kids need an identity, but this gang cr@p is not the way to go.

Can you tell me what is the attraction to gangs & what you think needs to be done to make gang life less attractive?

I have my eye on a building around 10th & Western, but the neighborhood makes it hard to imagine a succesful business there. There are no jobs, but the gangs make it so that no new jobs will come into the area.

Ironic.