Has Greensboro Not Realized its Gang Problem?
Posted by ryan on January 30, 2008
Greensboro resident Melea Collins has written a Letter to the Editor expressing her concerns that the city has not come to grips with its gang problem. She writes,
“I have come to the realization that many of us either deny or dream about the reality of gangs in the Greensboro area. I am guilty of being the dreamer: “Oh! Greensboro will overcome this! We just need to get through to the broken and angry youth!” There may be some of you out there thinking, “Gangs in Greensboro? Nah that is just an L.A., Boston, or New York problem.” Both views are wrong.”
Continue reading here.
Do you think residents realize that we have a growing gang problem in Greensboro?
Greensboro Politics 
Cyndy Hayworth said
My perception is that most people realize there is a gang problem – not just in Greensboro – but everywhere! What I don’t understand is why people are so surprised? Why has this just been pushed to the forefront, because there have been gangs here for years…not just since June of 2007! The better question might be; If the police department needed more police personnel, more provisions, etc., why was this not addressed during deliberations for the currrent budget? Why, three months after the budget is passed, do we all of a sudden need hundreds of thousands of dollars for a gang unit? This problem did not grow overnight! It has been here for years!
Part of my job places me in the puiblic schools almost every week and the difference in the climate of our educational system will tell you that our youth are in trouble! In the 20 years that I have volunteered in the classrooms of almost every school in Guilford County, I have never seen a generation of students that have such a sense of entitlement! Is this the student’s fault? No! It begins at home and in the community! I have seen 1st grade students at Title 1 schools wearing so much “bling” that they look like they are advertising for “Mr. T” starter kits! I have seen elementary students beginning at kindergarten with cell phones and MP3 players connected to their person as if that was part of the school curriculum!
Please don’t take this as a “slam” against the teachers, school board, city council, police department or any other group, because it is just the opposite! And, no, this is not saying that the schools are the cause of our gang problems. I could jump on this “soap box” and go on for pages, but I feel that when parents, neighborhoods, communities and educational systems finally realize that this “gang problem” starts in the homes, in the communities and cities that offer no after-school facilities, no mentors, no structure, then this will only continue to fester like an open wound!
For those who think this “gang problem” just started, I would like to invite you to go into the school system with me…just one time…no matter what grade level and I will show you some things that will awaken you from your dreams!
Bubba said
The LTE writer is correct.
The N&R’s standard response for way too long was “What gang problem?”