New Haven Independent

Posted by: What's scary is this admin's incompetence. | March 27, 2008 3:41 PM

If the rumor is unsubstantiated why spread it?
How about, go validate it before opening your mouth.

This has now flown around New Haven like wild fire and will most likely cause more problems than if it were to come to fruition.

The first accidental bumper to bumper will probably end in homicide this evening. Good thinking Mayoral spokesperson.

Posted by: Ben | March 27, 2008 4:12 PM

This rumor has also gone around Buffalo NY and Talahase Fla in the past two days.
Buffalo is treating it as reality.
Talahase, who had the threat Yesterday, is treating it as an urban legend reborn.

Posted by: James | March 27, 2008 4:15 PM

Hey, Mr. "What's scary," the problem here is if they heard something and did nothing about it, you'd be the first one on here screaming "THEY KNEW ABOUT IT AND DID NOTHING TO STOP IT OH NO WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!??!?"

Posted by: Pedro | March 27, 2008 4:26 PM

Come on City Hall. Have you ever heard of snopes.com?
http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/carbump.asp

This has been rocketing all over the internet the past day or so, and they all say it's this "MS-13" gang, who apparently is prolific, since they have chapters all over the united states!

Yes, it helps to take precaution, however it's far better to look into the situation first and let people know exactly where this is coming from.

Posted by: walt bradley | March 27, 2008 4:27 PM

Does anyone know if the Greers operate a taxi service?

Posted by: cedarhillresident | March 27, 2008 6:20 PM

Ok The new girl in our office said this is what happens in Calif. all the time. Not the rumor but this kind of initiation.

Do the staties and local cops have any investigation on MS13 and their presents in New Haven? Or is it more hype and alot of juveniles with spray paint?

Posted by: Edward_H | March 27, 2008 9:46 PM

Cedarhillresident

Ok The new girl in our office said this is what happens in Calif. all the time. Not the rumor but this kind of initiation.

Would you mind asking her for some specific news reports citing this type of initiation?

Posted by: unprotected | March 28, 2008 7:22 AM

We don't have gangs in New Haven. We have neighborhood groups. That what City Hall and the PD said. We do have alot of kids with spray paint though.

Posted by: on whalley | March 28, 2008 8:01 AM

For what it's worth:

Thursday, he was at it again after a gunman or gunmen opened fire on vehicles traveling I-64 near Charlottesville.

Fearing this happens all the time is just as stupid as saying this never happens.

Posted by: david streever | March 28, 2008 1:43 PM

It sounds so much like the old urban legend about the cars driving with lights off, and if you flash your headlights they kill you....! but still, be careful.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | March 28, 2008 6:12 PM

David I remember that one! If you flash your lights at someone with there lights off they may shoot you!

Ed I just read your comment I will ask her on Monday

Posted by: Teacher | March 29, 2008 4:23 AM

I believe that you are correct, "unprotected." Some of my "toughest" kids have made it clear to me that New Haven doesn't really have gangs. Many of the kids are strongly affiliated with neighborhood groups though. I have seen/heard some students who try to extend these groups to the Bloods, Crips, and Latin Kings, but that really seems to be urban romanticism, and not an official affiliation

Posted by: True New Havener | March 29, 2008 11:35 AM

Ummm. I tend to agree with Pedro on this one.

Remember that if one cheerleader goes missing in the Caribbean, we get a national press emergency. What do people think would happen if "bumping and shooting" was a national problem -- or even a regular occurrence in California (as CedarHill's new friend intimates).

And MS-13 -- how come we only hear about this in odd rumors and once in a lifetime graffiti on a memorial? While we have plenty of apparently youth and maybe gang involved crime in this town, never have we heard this group's name mentioned -- not once. (I mean anyone with their ear to the ground or a reader of the Independent knows of the Tre and the Ville and their ongoing tragic confrontations -- ever heard even once of a similar reference to MS-13?) I think this is rumor mongering that moves someone's agenda.

Now this may be inappropriate profiling on my part but the folks identified as the shooters in the sick I-64 crimes of the past week don't look like part of any Latin American crime syndicate. And they don't seem to be bumping anyone's cars, just firing at them from the roadside. Sick indeed but hard to connect to an unsubstantiated rumor in New Haven.

Seems like New Haven officials ought to do a lot more checking before they put something like this out. And if it was serious, was it only serious for city hall employees (and only those with email) -- what about the rest of us?

Bad information -- irresponsible information sharing -- incompetent emergency management.

Posted by: iheard | March 29, 2008 2:04 PM

I got this email that the guvmet is going to tax every email we send $0.01 to help pay for the war on aligators in our plastic food microwaves unless you call this 800 number and have ten friends do the same, flashing their headlights, by tomorrow at noon!!!! Please forward!

City Hall Suckers.

Posted by: robn | March 29, 2008 6:33 PM

whether or not this was a stupid rumor...if even one person in city hall took it seriously, why didn't the NHPD and the mayor make some official comment or statement?

Posted by: fonseca | March 29, 2008 11:32 PM

New Haven does not have an organized sector of any national or international gang syndicate. What we have are territorial teens and young adults fighting over reputations and turf. We need to educate each other and realize that the world is bigger than representing the Hill or the Tre. We are up against an urban and increasing suburban culture that glamorizes "thug gangsters, riding dirty, and reping your hood."

An occasional Latin King or Sollido might pass by on transit between NYC and Boston, however I would argue that MS -13 is still not here. It will take a few more mainstream mentions and references before a group of bored kids that have never been even close to Central America start tattooing their faces and proclaiming themselves MS-13.

Unfortunately for Dustin Gold and his vigilantes it will take more than sloppy spray paint and an internet rumor to get everyone up in arms against anyone who speaks Spanish and therefore might be a machete wielding MS-13 member.

Posted by: Edward_H | March 30, 2008 10:56 AM

ROBN

whether or not this was a stupid rumor...if even one person in city hall took it seriously, why didn't the NHPD and the mayor make some official comment or statement?

Maybe because the one person in city hall who took it seriously also believes the moon landings were hoaxed, Hollow Earth and does not realize The Divinci Code is a fictional novel?

Posted by: robn | March 30, 2008 2:27 PM

EH,

It wouldn't surprise me if the the source of the information was high strung and or paranoid...I refer my idiot brother to snopes about once a week (good call Pedro).

However my question is still valid....if the e-mail went viral enough through city hall, got to the NHPD, got to the Independent, and got posted to a ministers website, wouldn't it be prudent for the mayor and the NHPD to release a statement thats a bit more informative than "we don't know if its true". It would be simple enough for the chief of police to call the LAPD and the FBI and find out if MS-13 ever did anything like this before, and how many times.

I guess what I'm suggesting is proactive, but calm leadership.

Posted by: Heights Resident | March 31, 2008 3:52 PM

Fonseca

Those territorial teens, and youths fights over turf as you put, by definition is a GANG. If you don't agree try walking Kensington St. and seeing for yourself all the red " these youth " are wearing. Do you actually believe these kids are just hanging out reciting poetry or shooting hoops. Look at the stats youth violence is up shootings, assaults, stabbings are at an all time high.

Don't be so naive, and as far as the Kings are concerned, they aren't just passing through they never left. They have been here since the mid 80's and were one of the most violent street gangs this city has ever seen, the elite elders were arrested but they have been coming out of jail and the youth are trying to prove there worth.

Don't take my word check out Fair Haven, without your rose colored glasses, see Wilbur Cross when the " youth " are leaving school.

I love when people throw out comments like there experts in the field.

Posted by: Ned | March 31, 2008 4:46 PM

Who needs organized crime, when we have local, state and federal government?

Posted by: Fonscea | April 1, 2008 9:55 AM

By no means am I am expert on anything, but I do enjoy the privilege to make observations and comment on what I observe. What concerns me is the current trend of over glorifying or hyping up traditional "Latino" gangs. Often this coverage is designed as an effective argument against immigration.

In the rural mid-west you can find Anglo kids throwing up gang signs and reping the bloods and crips. Bloods and Crips in Iowa? They are there only because media and has insisted that they be there. This is not a metaphysical argument. If we are lead by mainstream media that shows us images of Central American gang bangers with tattoos we in New Haven will eventually get a group of marginalized teens that call themselves MS-13.

I am not sure how we can define a "gang." By the most liberal definition you find gangs in Madison and Woodbridge. The difference appears to be that urban youth are identifying themselves with well established gangs on the national level. Are these New Haven gangs affiliated with a national syndicate, I doubt it.

I would suggest you watch the "Bastards of the Party." A wonderful film about the rise and fail of the Crips and Bloods.

Posted by: Heights Resident | April 2, 2008 11:52 AM

Fonseca

You know the the Latin Kings were started by Puerto Ricans in Chicago, and those other off-shoot gangs ( Solido, La Familia ), started by former members as well. If your refering to Ms-13, there Salvadorian, and should be deported.

As far as the film you suggested, maybe I'll check it out, but the " fail of of the crips and Bloods ", there alive and well just check out Snoop Dog, when he's shouting them out in his songs. Hey and while your at it, check out the tags throughout the City.

Posted by: Jimmy Eight Cats | April 7, 2008 10:47 PM

Remember to always check Snopes before you email or post!

http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/carbump.asp

Posted by: rob | April 7, 2008 11:53 PM

man i been living in fair haven all my life i dont feel safe living here anymore im 20 i have other things to worry about other then if im gunna get shot walking downthe street or in a car with family what is this place coming to with all this gang fighting and nonsense these kids these days need to learn killing people is not the answer