I would like to add to Carol and Brad's story. Yesterday, I was holding a meeting in Ventura Village with citizens of the area and the police. We were discussing the crime problems in Ventura Village and Phillips in preparation for another meeting.
My son is out of school for the summer. Yesterday, he spent the day at his best friends house who lives at 25th and 15th. They were playing outside in the afternoon. They heard gunshots coming from the alley behind their block. Being fearful, they ran up the block toward the friends house. On their way, they ran right into one of the gunman who was running from the scene. Luckily, a woman was out on her porch and saw what was going on. She screamed for my son and his friend to come to her house. They ran toward their house. The gunman was following behind them. They ran into her house and locked the door just as the gunman jumped up on the porch. Realizing he was not going to get in the house, he jumped off the porch and ran somewhere else to hide. I was extremely thankful for the outcome. I know it could have been a great deal worse. For other parents, it has been worse. They have lost children who were caught in the crossfire. They have also lost children to the alluring draw of gangs, drug dealers, and pimps. Barb Lickness Whittier ===== "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
