Tragedy

As I was driving down Cherry this morning on my way to school, I noticed several news vans on 15th Street. Just as I passed the vans a news report on my radio mentioned a Long Beach boy was shot and killed on 15th Street. My heart sank. I knew we would be involved some how. I just knew. Sure enough, he was a former student. His sisters still attend the school. I forget how dangerous our neighborhood is. I forget that our kids and families live in the middle of this danger. I forget we work in the middle of this danger. I forget how vulnerable they and their families are to the madness of gang violence. I often wonder when the city will stop focusing on downtown and start taking care of the problems of the central city, the westside, and northtown. How many more kids have to get shot before someone does something? Why are gangs allowed to run rampant in neighborhoods. Neighborhoods where families are trying to live quiet, productive lives. Why aren't good people rising up and taking to the streets? Where are the protests? Why aren't we holding our elected officials and police department accountable for something so basic as the safety of citizens. I'm angry.