Talking Points: Gangs in Anchorage

On January 30th, 2007, Alaska Cares and the Safe City Task Force held a training at the B.P. energy center.

Two police officers from the A.P.D. and a special agent from the F.B.I. conducted the training.

The talking points were:

Is there a gang problem in Anchorage? Yes.

Are there gangs in Alaska? Yes.

The Crypts and Bloods are in Fairbanks signified by the color of red and blue clothing.

The definition of a gang is a group of three or more with a common name. With two or more illegal offenses committed within two years under Alaska Statute 11.41 and/or 11.46. Or a felony offenses as determined by the F.B.I.

Under the federal law, a gang can have a continuing series of illegal offenses or a Federal felony. They have to commit a crime of violence or a conspiracy to commit a crime.

Gangs are a product of the community in Alaska. Gangs do not relocate to Alaska. They use intimidation with the people in their communities including their own members to maintain control.

They exist in virtually every community in Alaska.

Gang ideology:

Three or more members up to 1000. Their motto is "respect equals fear" and vice versa. This is considered gang discipline.

An organization is not a gang. And organization is explained as a group that help other members in their community.

A gang will give guidance to their new members. And present a facade of getting along with everyone.

Recruitment and Membership:

Identity
Recognition
Family
Pseudo-family
Protection
Intimidation
Money

Gangs are targeting 5th/6th and 7th graders for membership. The Safe City Task Force is also targeting this age group for prevention.

There is a perceived status in the gang:

Gain Self Esteem
Peer Pressure
Need to Belong
Instant Recognition
Organized with national ties
Leadership
"A uniform"
Written rules and regulations

Gangs often are a result of family generational influence/familes condone the gangs

Protection "someone has their back."
Respect
Fear
Money (clothes, cars, jewlery, or hard cash)

Ongoing gang wars can escalate to murder.

Factors influencing membership

Home Life
School Environment
Criminal History
Previous Incarceration
Mental Illness
Substance Abuse

Gangs recruit in schools, churches, teen night clubs, athletic events and teen hang-outs

Membership is not defined by ethnic groups, gender or age. In Alaska it does not matter.

Males make up 85% of the gangs and females making up 15%. Females are often the decoys or the spies. The national average age for gang members is from 18 to 40 years.

Per research from the Juvenile Justice system in Alaska, the average age is 12-16 years old.

Hardcore members promote the violence. At risk kids are the easiest for to target for intervention.

Types of gangs:

Predatory
Scavenger
Territorial
Social
Asian
The scavenger gang is the most common gang in Anchorage.

Criminal Activities:

Drug sales
Fraud
Theft
Murder

Drugs include trafficking, sales, usage and possesion.

Motives

Money and retailiation.

Identification

Colors
Symbols
Graffitti
Tattoos
Clothing
Accessories

Red, Blue and Black in Alaska

Gangs use area codes as indentifiers

Cell phone pads and numbers are used to text other members.

Law Enforcement Strategies

Curfews
Illegal aliens
Traffic Stops

Number of gangs in Anchorage:

30 + gangs

Communities in Alaska are in denial. Fairbanks does not recognize the problem.

Googling Senator Hillary Clinton

http://news.google.com/nwshp?ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&hl=en&tab=wn&ncl=1112887596

Hillary Clinton enters 2008 presidential race
Washington Post, DC - 28 minutes ago
By Ellen Wulfhorst. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton entered the 2008 US presidential race on Saturday with a swipe at President ...

Clinton announces 2008 presidential bid
Newsday, NY - 35 minutes ago
BY GLENN THRUSH. With these words Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton launched her hyped and historic bid for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination on ...

Hillary Clinton aiming for White House
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 42 minutes ago
Democratic US Senator and former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton has entered the 2008 presidential race, officially joining a crowded field for her ...

Clinton launches 2008 White House bid
San Jose Mercury News, CA - 1 hour ago
AP. NEW YORK - Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton embarked on a widely anticipated campaign for the White House on Saturday, a former first lady intent ...

Clinton Launches 2008 White House Bid
CBS News, NY - 1 hour ago
By BETH FOUHY and MARC HUMBERT AP Writers. (AP) Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton embarked on a widely anticipated campaign for the White House on ...

Clinton Says ‘I’m In to Win’ 2008 Race
New York Times, NY - 1 hour ago
By PATRICK HEALY. Six years after making history by winning a United States Senate seat as first lady, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton announced this morning ...

Analysis: Clinton enters historic race
MLive.com, MI - 1 hour ago
By DAVID ESPO. AP. WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton enters the race for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination with unrivaled political ...

Analysis: Clinton enters historic race
San Jose Mercury News, CA - 1 hour ago
AP. WASHINGTON - Hillary Rodham Clinton enters the race for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination with unrivaled political strengths and challenges to ...

Analysis: Clinton Enters Historic Race
Forbes, NY - 1 hour ago
By DAVID ESPO 01.20.07, 12:43 PM ET. Hillary Rodham Clinton enters the race for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination with unrivaled political ...

Analysis: Clinton Enters Historic Race
ABC News - 1 hour ago
Analysis: Sen. Hillary Clinton to Be Tested in Presidential Race Unlike Any in US History. By DAVID ESPO AP Special Correspondent ...

Analysis: Clinton Enters Historic Race
Guardian Unlimited, UK - 1 hour ago
From AP. AP Photo NY118, WX106, WX104. By DAVID ESPO. AP Special Correspondent. WASHINGTON (AP) - Hillary Rodham Clinton enters the race for the 2008 ...

Dems say whoopee; GOP scold, we told you so
Newsday, NY - 2 hours ago
By MARC HUMBERT. AP Political Writer. ALBANY, NY -- Democrats in New York offered up whoopees while Republicans had scolding "we-told-you-so" reminders ...

Clinton Seeks to Become First Female US President (Update3)
Bloomberg - 2 hours ago
By Kristin Jensen. Jan. 20 (Bloomberg) -- New York Senator Hillary Clinton today said she will seek to become the first female US president, declaring ``I'm ...

Clinton Launches 2008 White House Bid
Guardian Unlimited, UK - 2 hours ago
From AP. AP Photo NY117, NY116, WX103. By BETH FOUHY and MARC HUMBERT. AP Writers. NEW YORK (AP) - Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton embarked on a ...

Hillary Clinton snapshot
Canada.com, Canada - 2 hours ago
AP. New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is among a dozen or more Democrats who have set their sights on the White House: ...

Hillary Clinton enters presidential race
Swissinfo, Switzerland - 3 hours ago
By Ellen Wulfhorst. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Democratic US Senator and former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday entered the 2008 presidential race, ...

Hillary Clinton takes first step for 2008 race
Swissinfo, Switzerland - 3 hours ago
By Ellen Wulfhorst. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Democratic US Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said on Saturday she planned to form an exploratory committee for the ...

Clinton Launches 2008 White House Bid
Salon - 3 hours ago
By BETH FOUHY and MARC HUMBERT AP Writers. January 20,2007 NEW YORK -- Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton embarked on a widely anticipated campaign ...

'I'm in to win:' Hillary Clinton launches historic bid for president
Canada.com, Canada - 3 hours ago
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, listens to speakers, in this Dec. 21, 2006, file photo in New York. (CPimages/AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ...

Hillary Clinton Snapshot
Forbes, NY - 3 hours ago
By AP 01.20.07, 10:42 AM ET. New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is among a dozen or more Democrats who have set their sights on the White House: ...

Hillary Clinton launches historic bid for President
Hindu, India - 4 hours ago
New York, Jan. 20 (AP): Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton embarked on a widely anticipated campaign for the White House on Saturday, a former first ...

Hillary Clinton launches historic bid for president
San Diego Union Tribune, CA - 4 hours ago
By Beth Fouhy. AP. NEW YORK – Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton embarked on a widely anticipated campaign for the White House on Saturday, ...

Hillary Clinton: I'm in 2008 White House race
CNN International - 4 hours ago
(CNN) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton jumped into the fray as a 2008 presidential candidate with the words "I'm in" posted on her Web site. ...

Hillary Clinton takes first step for 2008 US race
Swissinfo, Switzerland - 4 hours ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic US Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said on Saturday she planned to form an exploratory committee for the 2008 presidential ...

Hillary Clinton joins 2008 race
BBC News, UK - 4 hours ago
Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton has declared her intention to run for president in the 2008 US elections. Ms Clinton, 59, wife of former president Bill ...

Clinton Launches 2008 Presidential Bid
San Francisco Chronicle, CA - 5 hours ago
By BETH FOUHY and MARC HUMBERT, AP Writers. New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton says on her Web site that she is entering the 2008 presidential race. ...

Hillary Clinton set to announce presidential candidacy
Ireland Online, Ireland - 5 hours ago
Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton will embark on a widely anticipated campaign for the White House today, a former first lady intent on becoming America's ...

Clinton Launches 2008 Presidential Bid
Guardian Unlimited, UK - 5 hours ago
From AP. AP Photo WX103, NY116, NY117. By BETH FOUHY and MARC HUMBERT. AP Writers. NEW YORK (AP) - New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton says on her Web ...

Clinton to Launch 2008 Presidential Bid
Newsday, NY - 5 hours ago
By BETH FOUHY and MARC HUMBERT. AP Writers. NEW YORK -- Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will embark on a widely anticipated campaign for the White ...

Clinton to launch presidential bid
Toronto Star, Canada - 5 hours ago
Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) speaks about her trip last week to Iraq and Afghanistan during a news conference in the Capitol in Washington January 17, ...




She even has her own Myspace
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=64552165

and official website with blog.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/


Prediction: Hillary Clinton will be president in 2008. And I do not say this with a positive feeling.

The Saviour of our City goes on a shopping spree

Mayor Begich ...... Money, more money, more money. How did the story go on the tax collectors? Render on to Mayor Mark Begich what he thinks is owed ......

For cry'in out loud. Where is the press on this guy? (rhetorical question)

At least there is Dan Fagan chasing the guy around on KFQD.

What about this little gem.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/matsu/story/8551787p-8445596c.html

On Anchorage and Mat-Su road projects:

"Eighty-five percent of the goods the rest of the state uses comes from the Anchorage port. It takes as much time to go from the port to Boniface (Drive) as it does from Boniface to Mat-Su."

The fix, Begich said, is a new stoplight-free, freeway-to-freeway route that will link Glenn and Seward highways. The project would create a new interchange at Bragaw Street and eventually put parts of the cross-city route underground. It's a $600 million project, he said, and may cost $800 million before it is complete. Begich is seeking support from Mat-Su residents for the project after Gov. Sarah Palin stripped out state capital funding.

• On the Knik Arm Bridge:

"If that bridge gets built in my lifetime, it may be a miracle."

Where does the Mayor think this money will come from? 800 million dollars for a route to connect with the Seward highway? Mayor the greatest growth is in the Mat Valley. Think about it. The lowest growth in jobs is in construction and Anchorage. Why, because there is no more land to build houses on.

And while we wait for something to happen at Lake Otis and Tudor, the Mayor wants more.

http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/8551675p-8445507c.html

The mayor of Anchorage wants millions from the state Legislature for new and renovated buildings, road work and economic development projects. Specific projects that Mayor Mark Begich has his eye on include $25 million for expanding the Port of Anchorage and a new $18 million fisheries and information learning center near Ship Creek.


Begich's legislative wish list, accepted with minor adjustments Tuesday night by the Assembly, also asks for a $17.5 million expansion of police headquarters, a $10 million museum renovation and a $35 million replacement of the public health building. It also asks for money for improvements to fire stations and parks -- all in city limits.

(...)

The mayor is asking for $6.2 million for the Loussac Library, $5.7 million for Sullivan Arena, and $950,000 for the Egan Center.

The request list includes $25 million for the Dowling Road extension from Minnesota Drive to Abbott Loop Road and a $10 million connection between the Glenn and Seward highways, and many smaller road and intersection projects.

Let's wait and see what Hollis French has to say since he was so supportive of Governor Palin's budget.

A Tale of Two Schools

This April, the Anchorage School District is looking at putting two bond proposals on the ballot. The cost? 85 million dollars. The story can be read here: http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=5806975

65 million is being asked for to replace Clark Middle School.

Carol had this to say:

"We have really got major systems failures and very dark, old rooms where the electrical system will not support technology that we need. The science labs are completely out of date," Comeau said.

I find it interesting that the school in the top picture is a grade school that I went to. It was called Roseland Elementary. The photo was taken in November of 2006. It is now a Charter School. The school was built in 1959. the data can be found here: http://www.rcs.misd.net/history.htm

Has it been replaced. No. Is it being used effectively to teach yes. In fact there is a waiting list to get into the Charter School. In the back there was a playground that I played on. Now it has portables to take more kids that would have otherwise never went there.

The attitude that I found in a Compass piece leads me to think that the value of an education is placed on the building and not what takes place inside it. The Compass piece can be found here:

http://www.adn.com/opinion/compass/story/8526265p-8420010c.html

The portion of the piece that makes my point is this:

The Clark we use today was built in 1958 to accommodate a basic junior high school organized around departments -- science here, math over there. In the 1980s, the nation moved toward the middle school concept. In middle school, students are on an academic team, and the team's core classes are all right next to one another, facilitating passing periods and helping to make the student feel a part of a smaller learning community instead of lost in a big, impersonal junior high. This does a much better job of keeping kids from falling through the cracks. We know that middle school works, but it is hard to run in a building built as a junior high.

Many other operational difficulties are built in to Clark. Our narrow halls and low ceilings, vestiges of its Civil Defense shelter design, make our passing periods a barely organized chaos -- an experience that is trying on students and staff alike and contributes to conflicts that require constant efforts to manage.

As Anchorage has grown, more wealthy and better-connected parts of town have gotten new schools. However, we still teach each day in 48-year-old classrooms with hit-and-miss heat, totally inadequate science facilities and only a patch-together nod to technology. We have 10 portables, holding approximately one-quarter of our school population, scattered around the building outside our security perimeter and totally exposed to danger should something spill over from the neighborhood onto the school grounds.

Compare the grade school that I went to, to what Carol and this gentleman states and you will see why your taxes are as high as they are. We are teaching our children that money is the answer to everything and that everything must be new.

The photo below Roseland Elementary school is the high school I went to. It was Carl Brablec High School and was built in 1969 and was later renamed Roseville High School because enrollment had dropped to where the city no longer needed two high schools. Roseville High School (the original) was built in 1956 and later was changed to become a Junior High and is still used today

The lesson here is, in 10 years you will see a continued decline in enrollment in Anchorage as is proven by the increasing age in the population. So as the district and others call for new schools, you will see schools not fully maximized and eventually closing

So this April, when you are asked to pay for a brand new school, stop and ask yourself, do we really need one or should the old one be renovated?