I have to say there is alot of gang violence in my neighborhood so you see the Sheriff’s Department coming down asking kids what they’re doing or asking them if they’re on probation and things like that. I think when youth see police officers arresting their friends, that hurts their trust with police. I think law enforcement needs to get involved more in the community, go out there more and see what it’s like.
If I could vote this election I would vote for Prop 1 because it saves our water and our marine animals. I would also vote for Measure T because all sections of Merced should have a say in this city. As of now, everything is one sided because the city council are all from the non-ghetto side of Merced.
Merced County has the highest jobless rate for teens in the San Joaquin Valley, with an unemployment rate for 16-19 year olds twice the rate for those over 20. Raising the issue of investing in Merced youth is certainly important in the face of such widespread unemployment. As Jimenez said at the press conference, “all we want is a chance. We’re willing to work for it. Are city leaders willing to work with us by making the investment?”
As a young resident of Merced, I think it would be easy to end up in the CalGang database. Every kid, teenager or young adult is still looking for their identity, so everyone wants to fit in and be cool. The trend can be a certain kind of clothes and that may have them looking like they are a gang member. On top of that, friends and family are in gangs, so just we don’t get put in the database we are supposed to ignore our friends and family? I don’t think so!
