Public safety

Thank you City Manager Ray Kerridge

2010-02-02T04:36:53Z

Editor's note: This article is a response to a recent Sacramento Press story about City Manager Ray Kerridge being an "Invisible Man."

It has been said our city manager is not held accountable to the residents of Sacramento. But I disagree. Not only is Sacramento's city manager accountable to the City Council and the mayor of Sacramento, he is also accountable to the public and oftentimes reaches out to them with genuine concern.

Prior to meeting Sacramento City Manager Ray Kerridge, I used to think power was in the hands of others. I used to think my opponents were others, and they were often my enemies. President Franklin Roosevelt once said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." I used to believe that statement. But I no longer feel that to be true. I learned from meeting with Kerridge that there is something to fear - and it is oneself.

Last month I met with Kerridge again. He asked me how I was doing and showed genuine concern. Kerridge said something that stood out. He told me, "Be careful of ego; ego can become your worst enemy." We sat ate our muffins and drank hot chocolate and tea and I listened carefully, but I didn't know the impact of what Kerridge was saying. I thought he simply meant not to be self-centered, self-absorbed, or too proud. But it wasn't until today that I learned the impact our city manager would have on my life.

I believe that everyone comes into our lives for a reason. I believe some are meant to stay in our lives and some are meant to enter it and bring us lessons. We have a city manager who came into my life a couple years ago and has recently taught me the greatest lesson I have learned on my life's journey.

I try and always look at others. But perhaps I look at so many more to avoid looking at my worst enemy - myself. Perhaps in trying to not be selfish I actually was selfishly looking for others, creating characters to blame.

As I sat with Kerridge, he asked me if I had ever watched the movie Revolver. When I told him I hadn't he asked me to watch it and to let him know what I learned. Among the lessons I learned was that we have an insightful city manager who opens his heart to see city residents and to bring them lessons. I am moving towards victim to an opponent, from weak to powerful, and it is an amazing feeling.

I hadn't realized I've been at war - with myself. I thought I was an opponent, but in this game of life I've played the role of victim. I locked myself inside my inner prison. I placed walls around myself to hide in. I gave myself boundaries and feared to cross them, afraid of the new pain it would bring. I was so busy fighting so many others that I overlooked the one person I needed to fight. I kept my friends close but I kept my enemy closer. I didn't realize my enemy is not others: it's myself. I often hear people say, "Fight the powers that be." I learned after meeting with Mr. Kerridge that power is our own ego. I never thought I would have to fight myself - that the "powers that be" would be myself.

Why am I still in the same place that I was five years ago even though I've grown and learned from so many lessons? Because I set boundaries and failed to conquer self before attempting to conquer others I saw as my opponents. I remained the victim. I didn't see myself worthy of more. I fight the fight. I talk the talk, but I set limits on myself, and I've been at war with myself, and I didn't even know it. Our ego is clever.

I've been a victim of my own doing for a very long time. It's time I become the opponent - and the only way to get smarter is by playing a smarter opponent. I learned I was looking for the devil's hand in so much that is occurring but ego - in efforts to find someone else to blame - created the devil. I cannot thank Mr. Kerridge enough for having me watch Revolver. The movie is brilliant. I learned the greatest enemy will hide in the last place you will ever look. I've been so busy looking at everyone else that I failed to see my greatest enemy - I failed to look at myself. And if I can conquer my ego I can conquer anything.

As I sat today and watched Revolver I was in awe watching Jason Statham go from victim to opponent - fight with himself, creating characters to blame. It was insightful. Watching him leave his own prison and overcome his own demons, his ego, was powerful, and watching Ray Liotta go from opponent to victim was equally insightful. I learned I can be an opponent or a victim, and if I'm not careful I can be an opponent who turns into a victim. I learned life is tricky if we allow our egos to dictate our lives.

Today I learned I failed to see my greatest enemy. I failed to see myself, and I need to stop finding characters to blame to move from victim to opponent. I worked for years to address youth violence. Often times it felt like a game, a con, so many opponents using the efforts of victims to enhance their departments or advance their careeers. Their is a powerful quote in the movie Revolver where Jake Green says, "there is an opponent and a victim; and the trick is to know when you are the latter so you can become the former."

The city manager has many jobs to perform, and I for one am grateful that he took the time to meet with me, a community member, to listen to a victim and helped her to become an opponent.

Sacramento City Manager Ray Kerridge managed his way into my life and I am extremely grateful to have a city manager who goes beyond the Council, the mayor and people with titles to see everyday people struggling and fighting their own worst enemy - fighting themselves. I am grateful to Sacramento City Manager Ray Kerridge for giving me a key to walk out of my own inner prison.

Rhonda Erwin

17yr-old shot dead

2010-03-17T18:54:52Z

This morning my 17yr-old son walked in my bedroom. With a low voice he said, 'Mom, I need you to look up something." I knew something was wrong by the sad tone in his voice.

My son stood by me and I heard his words, "They are saying Marque is dead!" He walked in circles and with one breath he said, "Mom, I don't even know what I am doing right now. I'm lost. How is this possible? Wow, Mom look for me and tell me they are wrong"

I wanted to tell him it's not Marque. But even if not, someone else will bury their 17yr-old son. I sat today hearing the same words I would hear over and over from my older son, when he was 17, and neighborhood youth he went to school with and played with were killed.

My son awoke this morning to be in a psychological frozen state for the remainder of the day. How long will this go on? How long will our children loose the sparkle in their eyes with the reminisce of death?

I found in the SacBee a 17yr old was shot and killed near our old home, off Mack Road and Summerdale. I told my son, "there is no name in the story" He stood over me as I read it to him. He said, " It's Marque. Mom, I can't believe he's gone." Tears begin to fill his eyes. I tried so hard to comfort him.

In comforting him, tears begin to fill my eyes. How do I comfort him when he knows death is final? Am I going from taking my older son to funerals of his murdered friends to now taking my younger son to funerals? Am I walking on a treadmill?

The day before yesterday a man is shot around the corner, gunshots, lights, helicopters, sirens - man in body bag.

Yesterday, helicopters continuously flying overhead. We held our breath and hoped it would not be a crime scene like the day before.

This morning, 17yr old Marque, shot and killed in our old neighborhood. Our cries echo from one Sacramento area to another.

I tried to keep my son home from school. But he said, "I need to go. I need to leave. I have to keep my mind on something else. Mom, I don't want him to be dead"

Does Fresno have a Strong Mayor form of government?

2009-12-11T07:37:50Z

I recall a while back reading information from Mayor Johnson's assistant regarding Fresno where, if my memory serves me right, he suggested the city of Fresno is thriving under a Strong Mayor form of government. Below is an email I received. I do see possible problems with perhaps property value going down and the homes not being sold... But my point is Fresno is not without poverty and the Strong Mayor has not effectively or significantly addressed problems concerning the poor (homelessness, youth violence, unemployment...) Fresno has many outspoken advocates for the poor but can't seem to get beyond their strong mayor. In fact Fresno has sworn in their third strong mayor under the strong mayor form of government and it hasn't seem to benefit the poor.

Rhonda Erwin

Press Release
For Immediate Release
December 9, 2009
For more information contact: Mike Rhodes (559) 978-4502
HUMAN RIGHTS DAY December 10 2009

A Press Conference will be held on Thursday, December 10 at 2 p.m. at the Pam Kincaid Neighborhood Center, located at 1026 Mariposa street in Fresno. Speakers will call on the City and County of Fresno to end homelessness. The speakers will connect the need for affordable and decent housing in Fresno with the United Nations Human Rights Day activities happening throughout the world.
Here is what Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) says:

"Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control."

Ed Castro, an organizer with Journey for Justice, will make a brief statement about Human Rights Day and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This will be followed by Rev. Floyd D. Harris, who will speak for the local group of homeless advocates who have organized this press conference. Harris will outline the City of Fresno's failure to adequately address homelessness and the City’s shockingly callous eviction of homeless residents at Ventura and F streets, 9 days before Christmas. Since Gregory Barfield was hired as the city’s homeless czar, the situation for the homeless has worsened. The city used to provide portable toilets and trash pick up for the homeless but these services have ended. Now they are evicting the homeless, forcing them to move from one god forsaken vacant lot to another - giving them no legal place to camp. Harris will call on the city to set up campgrounds where people are safe and have toilets, trash pick up and running water, along with their full array of Constitutional rights.

Harris will also make a concrete proposal about how this city can end homelessness immediately. There are hundreds of bank owned, foreclosed, vacant houses in Fresno. A map of those homes will be available at the press conference. Harris will propose that the banks, which the taxpayers have bailed out, should invite homeless families to be caretakers of those homes until they are sold. If the owners of all of the vacant homes that are for sale in Fresno were to do the same, homelessness would be ended. The caretakers would move to another for sale home within 20 days of when the house they are living in is sold. Harris will also be calling on the police chief and sheriff to stop participating in evictions of foreclosed homes.

Al Williams, a homeless veteran will speak about the reality of life on the streets, and say that there are people dying because of exposure to the cold and rain. Williams will provide the press with photos showing how some homeless people are moving into abandoned houses to survive. Williams will tell the press what it is like to walk by bank owned, foreclosed, vacant houses that could save his friends lives - when the only alternative is to live in a field that the city could declare illegal at any time.
Homeless advocates will also link the money wasted on the endless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the lack of resources available locally to end homelessness.

Many of the homeless advocates who organized this Human Rights Day event will be present on December 16 and encourage the City of Fresno to help, not evict and hurt the homeless. If no progress has been made by the City and County of Fresno to help the homeless in two weeks (Christmas Eve) additional actions will be taken by grassroots homeless activists

Sacramento Press: Enabling the Community to Offer Food for Thought

2009-10-29T23:27:19Z

Give a man a fish, and he can eat for a day; teach him how to fish, and he can eat for a lifetime. Words to live by and appearing to be the motto of Sacramento Press..

Recently I read the article "Is the Sacramento Press Fostering Civil Debate -- Or Encouraging Hate Speech?", written by Steven Maviglio.. Maviglio writes, "There's some good back-and-forth, and we agree to disagree without name-calling or insults or questions about our motivation. It's free speech -- the kind of debate that is good for this website and good for our city."

I agree. The "back-and-forth" without insults or questions about our motivation is good. It is dialogue -- if we plan to only eat for a day, but many of us plan to eat for a lifetime. So our comments can go beyond simply agreeing to disagree and become passionate food for thought.

Maviglio also writes, "There are some who typically hide behind screen names, that think name-calling and obscenities are effective ways to make their point."

I'm no stranger to personal attacks by someone hiding behind a screen name. I know people can become frustrated when someone deliberately insults or underestimates their intelligence.

Having read many of Maviglio's comments I can understand the frustration community members can feel toward his attempts to sway public opinion. But two wrongs don't make a right.

I learned from Maviglio's article that I too should tone down my responses and try not to offend others even when I am offended. But I don't dwell in hate and nor do I see the comments of others posting on Sacramento Press toward Maviglio being written in hate.

I know I've become frustrated with him on more than one occasion. I've learned Maviglio is a professional campaign manager whose comments I've read, on Sacramento Press and other sites, appear to have a tendency to stretch the truth to get a desired effect. However, I can't put much weight on the argument in his article since I haven't read any obscenities.

I enjoy reading the Sacramento Press because I feel it can disarm hate by giving the people a voice.

Recently I read an article by Mayor Kevin Johnson, "It's all about accountability," in which Johnson writes, "I love accountability ... and I find it curious when elected officials and the media decide the moment has arrived to wrap their arms around the fundamentals of accountability for the time being. They demand accountability for everyone but themselves. They choose which rules they follow .... Let's talk about accountability. It's a subject I understand ... I demand accountability for myself, my staff and every employee in the city of Sacramento."

Surely we can see how community members can be frustrated when many feel the mayor hasn't been held accountable with mismanagement of St. Hope, with allegations of a relationship with minors, with the $25,000 loan to SAG which was forgiven and became a gift in the midst of controversy and other concerns.

Whether the allegations are true or not I do not know but I do believe where there is smoke there is fire.

I do know community members are frustrated by a mayor who doesn't appear to be accountable for his own actions or the actions of those he hires to protect and serve him. And people need an avenue to vent, they need to let their voices be heard to disarm hate.

I find it curious when our mayor, for the time being, has found the moment to wrap his arms around the fundamentals of accountability.

Does our mayor really demand accountability for his staff? Is his staff solely accountable only to him or can they be held accountable to the public? The mayor is a public servant so it would seem anyone employed or assigned a volunteer position by him should also be held accountable to the public and would face strong criticism by the public when it appears they are not truthful.

Both Johnson's article on accountability and his campaign manager Steve Maviglio's article on civil debate appear to be attempts to also sway public opinion and both articles can foster hate. I value the Sacramento Press for giving the community a chance to create a much needed balance and disarm political manipulation.

We could argue whether Johnson is fostering civil debate or hate speech with his article, in which he claims he is asking the city council for accountability.

Johnson -- a mayor who has failed to be transparent in other avenues -- calls out council members in a public forum on his blog rather than working directly with them to overcome this issue.

Johnson, who will meet in secrecy, without the public and without council members, to develop the SMP and who did not have the courage to hold community meetings prior to the Strong Mayor Proposal being written in stone, wrote, "... but they have no courage. And while I won't speculate as to their motives, their lack of courage and need for secrecy erases any legitimacy of their act."

Johnson, who took a "situation" and asked the City Manager to investigate how privileged city documents were being leaked to the media, writes, "Accountability is not situational. It can't be used for political convenience. You are either accountable, or you are not."

Without a public outlet the mayor's article can cause a great deal of frustration.

When you only have two minutes to address the mayor during council sessions and a mayor who has given you so much to complain about and will not acknowledge your complaints, you can begin to comment in an angry tone. Between Johnson's political swagger and his campaign manager's more than 125 comments on Sacramento Press and many other comments on other news sites regarding articles on the mayor, people can be frustrated with all the propaganda put before us.

We can agree to disagree to comments by community members, but when Mr. Maviglio appears to manipulate the comment site it becomes concerning.

I confronted the mayor at a city session and the man who claims to demand accountability for himself and staff, would not be accountable. Did he apologize? No. We know he's capable of offering an apology. He's apologized to Nestlé. The mayor's apologies as well as accountability appear to be situational.

When you have a mayor who appears to transform city hall into a castle and the city of Sacramento into his kingdom you have to expect public outcry.. When you have a mayor who appears to disregard the voice of the people raising concerns, questions and disapproval of his behavior and you have media outlets who will also disregard the voice of the people -- the people can become angry.

When you have a mayor who appears to create a moat around the castle (city hall) making it too deep for the public to simply wade through with special assistants, campaign managers, volunteers to defend him against the public the people can become angry. When you have a mayor who appears to begin warfare against his colleagues, the council members we voted into office, the anger can cause some not-so-kind remarks. But it is anger and disappointment and not hate speech.

Has Johnson ever apologized for the negative comments by those under his advisement toward the city attorney, opponents of SMP or attacks on council members? No. I stood in front of the mayor at a council session and was later laughed at. Did he apologize? No.

He laughed and with the assistance of an assistant, he mocked me. Does the mayor address the concerns of the general public when they are given two minutes to speak? No. He simply looks at their name on the speaker request form and says "thank you."

Johnson does not appear to foster civil debate and his deliberate attempt of dismissing the public concerns can foster anger, animosity, division and yes, sometimes hate.

It doesn't appear to be the Sacramento Press who is fostering hate. It appears to be the actions of our mayor and his campaign manager and the fact he is not accountable for his actions or the actions of his assistants which can and has frustrated a community and at times caused hate speech.

Fostering hate goes beyond comments some may write on a Sacramento Press site. In fact the site offers an opportunity for people, like myself, to air out our differences, concerns, complaints in a constructive forum. Sacramento Press offers an opportunity for us to have a voice and build a constructive bridge of dialogue.

The media is a powerful tool and a tool which it appears politicians, including our mayor, have found a way to manipulate. But on Sacramento Press (as well as SN&R) writers balance out the bull with the truth and the community responds.

On Sacramento Press, the community is given a forum to write and balance out all the political propaganda we're reading and seeing from press releases and actions constructed by political hired help to sway public opinion. I've seen this deception cause a great deal of anger. But I have not seen the tone of anger on Sacramento Press that I have seen on another site and I believe it is due to the fact the community has an input and direct ongoing dialogue with the writers.

I don't see Sacramento Press as fostering hate. I see it as a tool to remain in the spirit of love and overcome hate by giving a voice to everyone.

The mayor, in an effort to make himself look good by making the council look bad, writes "How did a majority of the city council respond? With disdain, ridicule and ambivalence ..." It seems disdain, ridicule and ambivalence goes beyond Sacramento Press commenters. It appears the common denominator to fostering hate speech, disdain, ridicule and ambivalence is Johnson and the fact that he is not so transparent and neither are his special assistants and campaign manager.

I've read hateful comments on Sacramento Bee where people wrote "get ready, your young butt will be raped in prison, hope you're found hung."

I've read truly disturbing hateful racial attacks on youth, hateful comments regarding low income community members when articles are written during budget times. I've read hate-filled comments from both some within the community toward law enforcement and some within law enforcement toward community members.

What I am reading on Sacramento Press is far from hate. Even the comments personally directed at me by one person, in my opinion, aren't hateful. They have grown to be annoying but I've learned now to dismiss it. We don't have to all like one another and that is what gives the debate substance. I learn from those who appear not to like me and I welcome the sometimes not-so-kind dialogue. Sacramento Press is a valuable tool to become a contributor by offering personal insight and a forum to learn and grow.

Mark Twain wrote, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, all foes to true understanding. Likewise tolerance, or broad, wholesome charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by bigoting in our little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."

I read the articles and comments on Sacramento Press to leave my little corner of the earth and learn to see and hear others. I know I need to travel outside my comfort zone to go beyond seeing so much prejudice, ignorance, bigotry and narrow mindedness.

I'm reading the comments to learn more about the city of Sacramento and its people. I read Sacramento Press comments so I won't be like our mayor and surround myself with people who only tell me what I want to hear or what they feel I want or need to know.

If I solely relied on media propaganda from political hired help I would have suffocated by their divide and conquer tactics of using prejudice, ignorance and narrow mindedness as a tool. I wish more who are oppressed would read the Sacramento Press articles, post comments and vent.

By venting, through writing, I was able to breathe through so much confusion, pain and anger. I once felt suffocated and angry but in writing I've learned to remain in the spirit of love and not foster hate.

I learned to overcome the hate caused by reading so many untruthful political propaganda news stories. I learned to have a voice by reading the comments of many who let their voices be heard. I learned to speak out by being embraced by those not experiencing the same pain as I but still experiencing pain.

I've learned to see the pain of others. I've learned by seeing others speak out about subjects which interest or affect them. I learned to look for the passion even if the comment or person making the comment is attempting to attack me. I've learned a great deal from readers of Sacramento Press and I look forward to learning even more.

If I relied on manipulative media releases or sway-public-opinion articles from our mayor and if I had not met so many writers within SN&R, SacBee, Because People Matter, Sacramento Observer, bloggers like JoeSacramento and writers within Sacramento Press, it's possible I would harbor anger.

And now reading comments from Sacramento Press readers such as Marion, bbbmer, Burg and others it's like the icing on the cake, it's like gravy over the meat, it's such a good feeling to see so much community involvement, insight and passion. On Sacramento Press you get a buffet of food for thought. On Sacramento Press you go beyond eating for a day and learning to eat for a lifetime.

In the words of Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does." And for goodness sake I see those small groups of committed citizens such as Marion Millin, William Burg, bbbbmer, fifthgensacramentan and others responding on Sacramento Press.

I attended the last two Sacramento Press workshops and I want to say thank you, Sacramento Press, for not only giving a man a fish to eat for a day but thank you, Sacramento Press and those who comment, for teaching more how to fish so we can eat for a lifetime.

The workshops are great. The people are great. The forum is great. So, to answer Steve Maviglio's question -- no, Sacramento Press is not fostering hate. It appears hate is fostered by a mayor who is not accountable and the political propaganda press releases. But fortunately hate can be overcome by Sacramento Press offering a voice for those without political hidden agendas and not swayed by special interest or greed.

Every now and then someone may criticize, argue or debate with a hostile tone but when it happened to me it didn't foster hate it actally gave me the ability to both look at myself and look at them. I learned some people are not really interested in the subject and can be a distraction as they redirect the focus and attention towards you. But I learned personal attacks can give us the ability to learn and to grow in understanding.

Any fight worth fighting is worth being criticized, sometimes attacked, and often disagreed with. I don't expect everyone to agree with me or my opinion. I don't expect to agree with everyone. But on Sacramento Press our similarities (passion) outweighs our differences of opinion.

On Sacramento Press I've learned not just the content of the material written but how it is written -- the force behind it. I've learned so many are fighting. I've learned how to make the pen mightier than the sword.

I'm learning we can disagree and not foster hate. I've learned if you're afraid of being wounded perhaps you should not come near the battle. I've learned hate is deep-rooted and not on the surface of a simple post. I've learned their is always one who will fight individuals rather than a cause.

Most importantly I've learned "Give a man a fish he can eat for a day; teach him how to fish he can eat for a lifetime."

Thank you to the readers of Sacramento Press who post articles and comments for the lessons I am learning and the hope I am receiving which will go beyond the moment -- but hope for a lifetime.

Thank you Sacramento Press for doing what it appears our mayor and his special assistants have failed to do and that is disarm hate by giving the community a voice. Sacramento Press and those who comment provide an all you can eat buffet of food for thought.

Rhonda Erwin

Profiling of Sacramento area youth

2010-01-15T06:51:30Z

Profiling of Sacramento area youth

How effectively are we really addressing profiling of area youth if we simply address racial profiling in terms of black and white?

17-year-old Terrey Randolph, who is a black teen, cleaned dog kennels, backyards, garages and mowed lawns to earn extra money. Terrey went to clean the backyard of a south area home.

The owner was absent and Terrey was instructed by the owner's wife and adult daughter to go to the home and care for the dog and clean the landscaping. Terrey had worked at the house several times and never had any problems.

Terrey was caring for the dog and the landscaping around the property when a neighbor, who is white, looked over the fence and began asking Terrey what he was doing in the backyard. Terrey felt uncomfortable but he answered the neighbor's questions and then called his dad and told him of the neighbor watching him through the fence. The neighbor left.

A short time later another neighbor, who is black, came to the fence and began questioning Terrey about what he was doing in the backyard. Terrey again felt uncomfortable but he answered the neighbor's questions and continued cleaning the yard he was paid to clean.

Even after Terrey answered the neighbors questions and although it was apparent he was cleaning, one neighbor called police.

Terrey said, “I was working in the backyard when I was approached by several police officers with their hands on their guns and they wanted to know what I as doing at the property."

Terrey told the officers that he was assisting the owner of the home, who could be reached by phone to verify that Terrey was authorized to be there. Terrey said the officer told him, “We don‘t have time to do that.” The officers took Terrey into the garage of the home, placing him on a chair where he was questioned for 15 minutes or more.

Terrey said he told the police officer he was a minor and that his parents could also be reached by phone. Terrey was afraid and said he became fearful for his safety and intimated by the officer’s actions when one officer looked at Terrey and bent down and said, “The next time you should run and give us something to do.”

I spoke with Terrey and I asked him how he felt while detained. “I knew I didn’t do anything wrong, but when more and more officers arrived I even began questioning myself," he said. "I said to myself, what did I do? I must have did something — there is so many police."

Terrey was an alleged suspect for a crime which had not occurred. His father grew up in the South and is in his mid-60s, and embedded in his memory racial discrimination and racial tension. Terrey’s father was outraged at the actions of the Sacramento Police Department officer. Terrey’s mother, who is in her early 40s, grew up in the Bay Area at a time with less racial tension.

Terrey’s mother, Ruth, was at work when officers detained Terrey. Ruth was angry at the neighbor who called the police and angry at the “wrongful detention and intimidation tactic perpetuated by five of your police officers.” Ruth believes if the officers had called the owner as requested by Terrey, before treating him like a suspect of a crime, her son could have left the home with his self-esteem still in tact.

I believe neighbors have a right and an obligation to look after one another's homes. I believe it can be done without destroying or attempting to destroy the spirit of a youth. I believe officers have an obligation to respond to service calls. I also believe that Terrey’s parents should have been contacted. I do not believe this incident generalizes all within the police force, all blacks or all whites. I believe it is the shade of gray often overshadowed by discussions generally focused on black and white. It is unfortunate and concerning that so many area youth have to constantly be debriefed by acts of so many others. It is unfortunate that area youth are often times looked upon as suspects versus youth.

Ruth states on her citizen complaint to the Commander of the Sacramento Police Department:

It is my contention that the officer should have stopped their interrogation once Terrey advised the officer that he was a minor, later that afternoon my son contacted me in tears, because he believed the officer statement was a threat of bodily harm upon his person. Additionally my son should not have been taken into the garage out of maximum view of the public for questioning when he had not done anything wrong."

Furthermore, the primary question is, by what authority did the officers entered the private property, and for what reason was my son detained, taken into the garage and interrogated. The owner gave my son permission to enter this property, he did not report that my son was conducting unusual or unlawful act to the police. So why was my son detained? And such “suggestion” statement made?

Please be advised that I demand a full and thorough investigation into the officer’s actions and their threatening statements to my son “that the next time he should run, so they would have something to do.” My son demands an apology and additionally, demands that these officers receive several hours of sensitivity training relating to race relations and the protection and preservation of a minor child.”

I looked at three generations and wondered how they each saw the incident. A father in his 60s only saw race. A mother in her 40s saw beyond race. A 17-year-old boy did not see race. He saw an attack on youth.

Does Sacramento need to address the fact Sacramento area youth are often targeted or profiled as criminals? Yes. Should Sacramento go beyond simply addressing racial profiling within a department? Absolutely.

How effectively are we really addressing profiling of area youth if we simply look at race?

The neighbor who called Terrey a liar and then called the police on Terrey for being at the home was the black neighbor.

—Rhonda Erwin

Disclaimer: I interviewed Terrey’s father by phone and his anger appeared to be a result of both past experience and present racial tension. He does not reside in Sacramento. I interviewed Terrey’s mother and she was angered at the ignorance of the officer and the neighbor who called the police. I interviewed Terrey who previously had no experience unpleasant or otherwise with Sacramento police officers and the entire event awaken him to look at himself and others differently. I spoke with the adult daughter of the home, several times, where Terrey worked cleaning the landscaping and she was disturbed by the actions of the neighbor and officers. I went to the house where Terrey worked cleaning the kennel in the backyard. I stood outside the house for over 30 minutes. I sat in front of the house in my car for another 30 minutes. I walked toward the backyard and no one ever called the police. I went to the house where Terrey told me the neighbor lives. The neighbor who called the police was not home. His wife called him and told him I was there regarding the incident with Terrey. He came home and once I began speaking with/ questioning him he decided he did not want to speak with me regarding the incident

Response to Sacramento Steps Forward Initiative article/ Mayor Johnson

2009-11-06T20:06:07Z

Letter in regards to Sacramento Steps Forward Initiative article:

With all my heart I wanted to read the article and only see the good. With all my heart I wanted to not write anything negative towards such a positive step for this city. But in all honesty the article raised deep concerns and to avoid writing a long post I'm writing my concerns here. Is this a Step forward? When will a community begin to Take Steps Towards Healing??? I feel as though sometimes we takes steps and then we step on a treadmill and no longer move forward.

I've addressed youth violence for many years. I've seen many "steps forward" which ended in people walking in reverse or walking on a treadmill. I've watched the recognition, funding, employment positions go to everyone but those affected and or exposed to the violence. I know what it feels like to hurt so bad and have that hurt compounded when poverty pimps ride in alleging to save the day with hidden or not so hidden agenda's or for the love of money and not the love of people.

In addressing youth violence I've seen people parade around as peacocks more interested in themselves than the cause. I've seen people manipulate and sway public interest and it compounds our pain. I've watched the homeless come to city hall weekly and it is my opinion that Mayor Johnson's continuous statement of " the homeless do not need a handout, they need a hand up, they want to be empowered" Can the homeless get credit? After all they were at city hall each week begging for shelter and informing the mayor of the empowerment and resources they needed. The mayor's comment adds insult to injury , it underestimates and insults the intelligence of many.

Mayor Johnson is appearing to once again make himself look good by ---this time inadvertently--- by not only making the homeless look bad but by also making the city counsel look bad. I appreciate the beautiful, heart-felt and insightful comment written by both bbbbmer and William Burg on the article. Bbbbmer writes, ".... We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, and there but for the grace of God go you or I... But a nice P.R. event, complete with appearances by minor celebrity backers of this mayor, is not enough. This merely turns such efforts into a party... The proof of the puddin' will be when such parties materialize into real units of shelter -- not just 'beds' -- but four walls, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a job, for all who need it..." -- AMEN

It is a shame that community members are put in a position to where we have to make our mayor's " fastest move our slowest". Is he looking at the homeless or is he looking at himself? Personally I don't care how the homeless get shelter. I'd want the homeless to have shelter by hook or crook. But I do care of what occurs beyond the shelter. It's like we have a mayor playing a game of chest and doing so with the homeless. It is concerning and overwhelmingly painful when it appears we have a mayor making the homeless--Prawns. It appears the homeless are Prawns being bumped around by people protecting the King (the Mayor). The special assistants, strategists, campaign managers, volunteers (the rook, knight, Bishop, queen) all protecting the Mayor gliding across the board (community) as the prawns (homeless) can only take one step at a time and able to be bumped off by everyone on the board including themselves....

I know what it feels like to be a prawn and be overshadowed by everything and everyone because in addressing youth violence - I too have been a prawn- but I do know the prawn can be taken out but is also the only player in the game who doesn't remain the same and can come back on the board as a higher player. I give thanks and appreciation to the homeless not Lisa Ling, Mayor Johnson....

It is wonderful that people are extending love to the homeless. But for goodness sake why does it appear LOVE is being used for promotion? It breaks my heart.

Love is a 2-way street, we are not riding on one way roads. We appear to be sending out a message of love for the homeless but where is the mention of the love possessed by the homeless? The love of the homeless, loving enough, to stand with Johnson as he overshadows love with promotion. Johnson is appearing as a knight in shining armor to help the homeless when it is the homeless who are helping Johnson and others with recognition. The "Give a man a fish he can eat for a day; teach him how to fish he can eat for a lifetime" goes both ways. The homeless issue has taught ( is empowering) Mayor Johnson how to fish. Mayor Johnson appears to have his hand out instead of looking, working, laboring for a hand-up.

Johnson should give credit and respect to the homeless for teaching him how to fish through homelessness instead of appearing to ride in on a high-horse to save the day. I've watched so many take credit on issues regarding youth violence and so many of us who are actually laboring for free without pay, without even wanting credit are seen as simply wanting our hand-outs.

It breaks my heart every time I look in this city for a dove of peace and I find another vulture surrounding the crisis of the poor for either profit or recognition into advancing a department or career.

Our mayor isn't doing anything that people with limited resources haven't tried to do and with resources at his disposal he should do it. I can't in all honestly give kudo's to him for not going beyond what is expected. He is doing what is expected of a Mayor - with a weak form of government or strong. We know he can take photos, we know he has no problem with promoting himself. We know often times it appears he does just enough to get it mentioned and not enough to get the job done. Heck the gang/ youth summit was a good photo and nothing more...

I give the initiative Sacramento Steps Forward the benefit of the doubt since so many others are laboring who I feel are sincere at heart. Heck I expect to see more good deeds from Johnson (that his PR team will make sure doesn't go unnoticed and make sure the counsel is not noticed) as he moves towards his Stong Mayor Proposal. Surely Mayor Johnson knows that out-of-sight is out-of-mind and will remain in our sights on photo ops until the SMP goes to voters. Heck we have to crawl before we can walk, walk before we can run.... and I am very glad the homeless are getting shelter whether it is by hook or crook. One good thing came from the Strong Mayor Proposal it put fire behind our mayor and his strategist to move on some issues.

But for goodness sake for ONCE I'd like to see our mayor take a photo NEXT to his colleagues- his associates- his peers- OUR- TEAM-THE-COUNSEL and stop making it appear he's moving this city by himself to sway others of the need for a strong mayor. Every time I see Mayor Johnson in a photo I wonder why he doesn't take photos next to his colleagues-- all the city counsel members showing the public a team effort? Personally I feel he's not a team player with our team- our city manager, our city clerk, our city counsel. But a team player with his team- his lawyers, his strategists.....

IF Mayor Johnson were a humble man every time he stood on stage to mask in his own glory he'd stand with our counsel. For goodness sake they are suppose to be a TEAM. The article reads: After Johnson thanked Brown, Sister Libby Fernandez and Joan Burke, both of of Loaves and Fishes, he introduced Sacramento-native Ling, the host of National Geographic Explorer. Earlier this year, as a special correspondent for The Oprah Winfrey Show, she reported on Sacramento's "tent city," which brought other media outlets to the site."
---- Did Johnson thank the city counsel or the city manager? No

The article reads-"Your mayor, so many members of the homeless advocacy community, members of the city and county rose to the occasion and decided to tackle (homelessness) head on," Ling said. "I'm so proud of the way so many members of this community have come together (and) if Sacramento is successful (housing the homeless), it could be a model for the rest of the country."--- It wasn't Ling's responsibility and she did not specifically mention the counsel.
---- Was Johnson humble and redirect Ling's comment and give appreciation to or mention the city counsel? No

It appears some are trying to show us the need for a strong mayor with further trickery. Of course we would need a strong mayor proposal if we have an absent counsel, a weak counsel, a counsel not moving in efforts..... The homeless agenda is moving forward but we as a government are moving backwards with a Mayor who will not play with OUR TEAM--all of us. Mayor Johnson is not Kobe, at least Kobe was a ball hog but got the job done. But Johnson can't be a ball hog and get the job done (that's why he has so many assistants!!!) And even Kobe needed the rest of the team.

We are a team and we should be treated as a team. Mayor Johnson appears not capable of shifting the paradigm from a power-over us to a power-with us and that is concerning.

Rhonda Erwin
Disclosure: A Prawn who has addressed youth violence long enough to know and see all the players on the board. I am a prawn so I know the value of those not privileged in income but rich in love. I am a prawn who was bumped off the board but came back... I've addressed youth violence long enough to know a prawn needs more than prawns to put the king in chest mate and I look forward to more community members to join the red-flag campaign to knock off the Queen (developers) Knights (assistants, special interests) Rook (strategists) and put the King (Mayor Johnson) in chest mate. The king doesn't have to leave the board--- but we can stop his movements and insist the mayor has a power-with the community and not a power over us.

Ghosts of Cancer Past-- Kudos to Kaiser South Sacramento Medical Facility

2009-12-24T07:38:48Z

Ghost of Cancers Past -- KUDO's to South Sacramento Medical Facility

'Twas the night before surgery and all through the house their wasn't any noise, no sounds could be heard. I was surrounded in silence and overwhelmed in sadness I rose from my bed and got in the shower.

As the water rinsed over my body, I trembled and the tears flowed. I cried out so loud, "Please God don't take me away from my family, please don't take me away from my community. Who will love my children as only a mother can love?"

I fell to the shower floor on my knees praying, water pouring over my head, "Forgive me for all my sins. Forgive me if I have become filled with pride, ego, anger. I know you don't need me to fight the greed and deceit both within and surrounding my community but please don't take me away from fighting the battle. Oh God I am so scared. Cancer is perhaps the only thing I am scared of."

I cried and cried. As I stood in the shower I was visited by the ghosts of cancers past.

I recall as a teen my Aunt Alice suddenly ill and diagnosed with colon cancer. She was the pillar in her family and labored endlessly for her children. She was so beautiful. Then she died of cancer.

Aunt Alice was the first that I knew who died in her family, then her two brothers died of cancer and her sister Aunt Rosie Pearl was diagnosed with colon cancer. They were each and all so very beautiful. Cancer came and took all four lives.

I recall my paternal grandmother returning from a weekend fishing trip and going to the doctor and everything changed. She would quickly go from rising early hours where I'd awaken to the smell of hexol as she cleaned and bacon as she cooked.

She would put on long rubber boots and go to her backyard garden picking fruit to can her jam, cutting fish, picking walnuts from her front yard tree and cooking us, her grandchildren, the best down-home cooking and beautiful pies.

When she returned home from one fishing trip she was diagnosed with colon cancer and given six months to live. She died in four months. I recall standing at her bedside holding her hand the night she died begging please don't leave me. She shed a tear and squeezed my hand I walked out the room and she was gone.

My paternal grandfather Earthly came back to Sacramento from Arkansas when my grandmother was ill with cancer. We would go for walks in Oak Park where he would visit old friends. He was so funny, he was a ladies man.

I learned from him. Old ladies and old men need love, too. My grandmother would laugh and say, "Rhonda, go and see if your grandpa is down to Miss Minnies' or one of the other ladies and tell him to come back to the house."

By the time I got to know my grandpa, cancer came and took him. Cancer came and took him shortly after my grandmother, both dying in their early 60s. Then cancer would come to visit my family earlier than 60 with late 40s being the target.

My Aunt Clarissa was the closest person to a saint that I have ever known. I don't think she ever harmed anyone in her life. I don't think she ever raised her voice angrily at anyone.

She didn't curse, gossip or hate anyone or anything. Her smile was radiant and infectious. She was always there for her family. When I was pregnant with my first born she asked to be her godmother. I felt so blessed for my daughter to have such a beautiful spirit of love as a godmother.

Aunt Clarissa was a mother's love. She was diagnosed with colon cancer and I watched her fight to live for her children and live to love unconditionally and die surrounded by those who loved her.

My aunt asked if her youngest daughter Jamie, who lived in Arizona, had arrived. Jamie came into the room. Aunt Clarissa, waited for her last child to arrive before she would depart. She loved us all to the end, not leaving us until we were all together.

She looked up and said, "Goodbye." My aunt never reached the age of 50. Shortly after, as we all were standing nearby, a tear escaped from my aunt's eye and we watched her quietly take her last breath.

My Aunt Clarissa made her baby sister, my mother, promise to get screened for cancer. At 49, my mother Charlotte was screened. Polyps were found and it was determined they were malignant. Her spleen was removed. She fought so hard to live.

My mother also lived for her children. Her love went to her family and extended to any neighborhood youth in need. My mother was beautiful and a fighter. She loved us with all she had.

My biological father, Harvey went to the dentist for what he thought was a tooth abscess. It turned out to be cancer. He was in stage five by the time he found out he had cancer. He was given six months to live.

I recall standing at his bed side and his spirits were up. We laughed, joked and he asked about my mother. They had divorced when I was four. I was raised by my step dad, but my biological father was always in my life and always also in my heart.

I was pregnant with my youngest son and my father's cancer stressed me so much I was rushed to the hospital. I recall the doctor saying I was at risk of a miscarriage and they were concerned for the pregnancy. I was hooked up to machines and kept overnight.

I wanted to leave to go see my dad. The next morning my sister and my mother walked in the hospital room both with tears in their eyes. I thought I lost my baby. I was told I lost my dad. He died while I was in the hospital.

Strange thing is when I was in the hospital I felt a second breath. It was like a cough and then I caught my breath. I remember thinking my baby is okay. My baby is breathing again. I sat in my dad's memorial service and I wondered if he was in the hospital with me and while he sometimes missed giving me birthday gifts, perhaps his last gift to me was in dying that day to give my son -- his grandson -- the gift of life.

Someone once told me when one person dies another is to be born. My dad died at 47. He never made it to 50. I never had another miscarriage threat with my son and he was born beautiful and healthy. In fact he has my dad's eyes.

At 51, my mother awoke and we rushed her to the hospital. I recall standing in her room holding her hand and singing her favorite song, "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray..."

I held her and cried out, "God, please don't take my sunshine away." I felt my mother also squeeze my hand. I left the room and went back in the waiting area where family had gathered. We saw so many die of cancer we had to keep her on life support, we had to fight to keep her alive.

But her body was swelling, she looked like she was drowning in her own body fluid. We had to let her go. My mother made us promise to get screened for cancer.

A few years ago I was screened and a polyp was removed from my colon. I saw a picture of it and it was the size of a large plum. I was told it was precancerous. To this day I believe my mother saved my life by making me promise to have the colonoscopy done.

When she was sick she took me to my first colonoscopy screening. The last two weeks, due to female issues I went to my Kaiser physician. In one week, I received four appointments including an ultra sound. My head was spinning as the tests showed a possible polyp in my uterus.

What was thought to be early menopause I learned could be cervical cancer. My mind started playing tricks on me. Could the polyp in my colon have broken off and spread to my uterus? Will I live to see 50? My aunt's and father didn't make it to 50 and my mother spent her 50th year fighting cancer and died at 51 years young.

I stood in the shower, until the ghost of cancers past left me.

I awoke at 5 a.m. in prayer and went to Kaiser for the 6 a.m. surgery. My dad, the one who raised me, and my sister was there at the hospital before I arrived. As I walked into the admitting office I thought how my dad, my sister and I were there with my mother admitting her for her last Kaiser stay.

I wondered if would this be the beginning of the end of a fight with cancer. The Kaiser admitting nurse and volunteers were wonderful.

When I went to Kaiser the day before for my lab work, I pulled in the parking lot and I saw my doctor walking into the medical building. He was walking and smiling. He's always smiling, always so welcoming.

When I went to the appointment, I asked him, "Dr. Puccinelli, why are you always smiling?" Jokingly I said, "You are always smiling, I need to know, are you on the sauce?"

We both laughed. His answer let me know sauce won't cause his hands to shake during my surgery. His hands were guided by the love of God. He told me his father was a physician and did house calls and was always smiling. He said it was his religious background, his faith. I knew when I went in to surgery God had put me in good hands and once again my prayers would be answered.

When I was called back in the post-op room, the nurse assigned to me was like an angel. She was so kind. She reminded me of my Aunt Clarissa. She was so beautiful her inner beauty shined and blended with her outer beauty.

The anesthesiologist was so kind. In fact everyone that attended to me was beautiful with a smile that seemed so genuine. I didn't know anyone but everyone seemed like a loving family. I kept saying I have to thank them and I was going to as soon as the nurse completed her task of giving me medication, but I was asleep before I could thank them and I didn't awake until the surgery was completed.

When I awoke I was sick, drowsy and tired and couldn't thank them. The beautiful people were also gone, moving on to the next surgery and the next person in need.

I came out the room to see my sister and was slightly startled. My sister, who is 11 months younger than me, looks just like my mother. She loves just like my mother. My dad told me, "Your doctor came out and said, 'She calls me Dr. Smiley. I am so happy to say we didn't find a polyp. We did take a biopsy and will have the results within the week. But everything looks good. I am so happy.'"

My dad held on to his bible and the electronic patient tracking system card given to him in the surgical waiting room. It's real neat they have a color-coded system which helps family members know every stage from inside the facility - in pre-op, transported to operating room, out period, return to pre-operation area, in operation, surgery is complete, patient waiting for hospital bed or ride home, discharged.

It was a good feeling to know that while I was inside the operating room being treated with great care my family members were treated with great care by Kaiser and kept informed during the entire process.

I am so happy to have a doctor who is "happy" when no polyp is found. I am happy with whomever does the hiring for the operation room personnel at South Sacramento Kaiser. I am not exaggerating when I say everyone that greeted and assisted me from the time I entered, filled with fear at 6 a.m., made my stay pleasant and filled with love.

It seems God sends loving people to me everywhere I go and every time I am filled with pain. God knows what we'll need before we do.

Kudos to South Sacramento hospital. I am blessed to have 2009 end with having and knowing the love extended by my physician Dr. Puccinelli, Kaiser admission office, Kaiser angelic nurse and everyone in the Kaiser Operating Room.

Rhonda Erwin: I am taking time off from posting to focus on my health and to work on what I pray is the last stage of my sons appeal. And I'm learning my prayers do get answered when I believe and love with all my heart. Merry Christmas to all and I wish you all blessings and a Happy New Year.

Thank you Sacramento Press! - Cries Echo

2009-11-19T08:08:42Z

Thank you Sacramento Press!

It is an honor and I am truly grateful to receive second place when so many talented, insightful and knowledgeable contributors such as William Burg, Ali Tabatabai, Marion Millin, Michael Zwahlen, Kate Traci, Ryan Kinsel, Sue Wilson, Anne Lowe and so many others wrote wonderful and informative articles. I never expected to win.

I truly appreciate an opportunity to allow the voice of so many of us to be heard. I truly appreciate Sacramento Press for allowing me to pay homage to the youth who have lost their lives as a result of youth violence.

On behalf of those who have lost their lives and on behalf of all the friends, siblings, parents and grandparents affected by the loss of a loved one, I truly appreciate Sacramento Press for hearing our cries which echo from one neighborhood to another.

In 2002, I lived on Valley Hi Drive when an 18-year-old girl was driving on Valley Hi with friends. A passenger in the vehicle yelled out to someone walking on Valley Hi Drive and gunshots erupted. The girl was shot in the back and lost control of her car. Her friend, a passenger, attempted to grab the wheel as the girl sat in the driver's seat dying. The bullet someone intended for the passenger struck and killed the 18-year-old girl.

I know a bullet has no name, but the deceased - a beautiful girl- had a name, a life, a family. Her name was Christine Cheatman. I never met her family but I mourned the passing of their daughter. I think it's important I mention that "Our cries echo from one Sacramento neighborhood to another" is not solely regarding African American youth. The young girl who drove down Valley Hi Drive, shot, lost control of her car, wrecked, dead from a gunshot wound was Caucasian. I pay homage to Caucasian youth murdered as a result of youth violence.

20-year-old Adam - gunshot wound to the back is Caucasian. 17-year-old Paul - gunshot wound to the back is Caucasian. 19-year-old Jeremy - multiple gunshot wounds is Caucasian. 19-year-old Mathew - gunshot wounds head and chest is Caucasian. 18-year-old Joshua - gunshot wounds to the head is Caucasian. 17-year-old Amber - multiple gunshot wounds is Caucasian.

I wrote of the mother awakening to find her son James dying in his brother's arms, and I have to respect the families I wrote about and I have to respect the ethnic backgrounds and loss of life of all. Young James, who also died a premature death, is Latino.

The father, who called me and whose son I visited in the morgue, is Latino. The mother, Debbie, carried to her son's grave, is Latino. 19-year-old Richard, whose aunt works in public safety, is Latino. 19-year-old Ismael, shot in the torso, is Latino. 18-year-old Oscar, who died of multiple gunshot wounds, is Latino.

On May 30, 2005, then-Police Chief Najera (in passing, when complaints were made toward an alleged police brutality case) stated, "A black young man between the ages of 16-24, in the city of Sacramento has a 50-percent chance to die and he is dying at the hands of another black young man." I read in a Sacramento County African American youth had a 47-percent chance of incarceration.

Each year I read the Sacramento County Child Death Review Team report and learned African American babies died at an alarming rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.(SIDS) I was outraged and wondered could infant death and teen homicide death be the reason African American youth only represented 7 percent of the youth population? I attended several workshops and I learned the County department of Health , organizations and many residents were addressing the SIDS deaths but so few addressed youth death and youth arrest.

I was outraged in 2006 when the chief stood before then-Mayor Fargo at a special meeting relating to youth violence and appeared shocked of the mounting deaths and arrests and stated, "I didn't see this coming," when media attention toward the deaths/arrest of area youth began to surface. Surely the District Attorney and the Police Chief would have access to information to know youth of all ethnic backgrounds between the ages of 13 and 24 were dying as a result of youth violence. I knew, due to his 2005 statement, the police chief was aware African American teens had a 50-percent chance to die and at that time SPD had a 92-percent arrest rate. I saw death and arrest as the only solution for youth violence. I was outraged.

I was outraged when I attended the Annual County Child Death Review Team hearing and learned of the significant efforts to address youth taking the lives of themselves, (teen suicide) youth killed by adults (child abuse-child neglect) and insignificant efforts toward youth-on-youth violence.

I was outraged when I learned of the efforts of the District Attorney's grant-funded program GIFT (Gun Impact For Teens) and knowing the GIFT of life and freedom never reached a community (schools in underprivileged neighborhoods) directly affected and exposed to violence.

I was outraged when I attended the annual victims assistance rally and saw photos of crime victims whose families could not receive victims assistance since their loved one had a questionable past but their photos would be paraded in what I saw as a crime victims-CDCR-political agenda.

When 13-year-old Lenny was shot and killed, I mourned his passing. He was shot while standing outside with friends less than a mile from where I lived.

I attended the Hmong, Mien, Lao task force meeting where city, county, state officials, SCUSD officials and community members were present to address violence after Lenny's death. Prior to Lenny's death a Hmong youth was shot and killed on Florin Road in broad daylight. Days apart a black youth was also shot and killed in broad daylight on Mack Road. Several articles ran in the daily paper regarding Hmong gangs need swift broad response, Hmong gang situation urgent... One person stated in an article, "Hmong gangs came into existence due to pre-existing African American and Hispanic gangs to protect themselves." I was outraged. If African American and Latino gangs were "pre-existing" why simply address Hmong gangs with swift broad response? If the gangs were to protect themselves from African American and Latino gangs why were Hmong youth killed by other Hmong youth?

For the most part everytime I learned of a death the victim was of the same ethnic background as the suspect. I wondered if perhaps the youth didn't value the life of someone just like themselves when it appeared the city didn't value the lives or freedom of all youth. I wanted resources for Hmong youth but I was outraged seeing so many elected officials only looking for resources for Hmong youth. I was outraged seeing so much division. Everywhere I looked I saw gang-like mentality. I saw some dismissing "some of their own" if they had a questionable past. And some dismissing some who were not the same ethnic background just for not being the same ethnic background.

I will admit, initially, I was outraged when I sat in the Hmong Mien, Lao Taskforce meeting and a middle-aged leader said, "Anyone can help but this task force is only for Hmong, Mien, Lao youth." However, I attended several Hmong, Mien and Lao taskforce meetings and I was impressed with the efforts of the task-force and their ability and willingness to guarantee life and freedom for their youth. I attended many community meetings, marches, rallies. In 2005 I held several townhall meetings. I worked with people of all ethnic backgrounds on a march/ rally to save the lives of all Sacramento youth, so I appreciate the efforts of everyone.

Whenever I learned of a teen/ youth death I mourned regardless of area, regardless of economic, social and ethnic background. Death has no color. Prevention or mourning should not be conditional. I looked everywhere for unconditional love.

I respect the fact that culture is also prevention. I pay homage to Hmong youth murdered as a result of youth violence. 18-year-old Cha - gunshot wound to the chest. 19-year-old Gao - gunshot wound to the head. 19-year-old Ker - gunshot wound to the head. 20-year-old Tommy - gunshot wound to the torso.

But the separation by ethnic background is prominent more among middle-aged folks than youth.
Every funeral I ever attended there were youth present of all different ethnic backgrounds. A black youth who died was not buried solely by black youth, there were many different ethnic backgrounds attending the funeral. At funerals I saw love has no color.

I've seen black youth at funerals of homicide victims who are not black. I saw friends of all ethnic backgrounds mourning the loss of a friend. I fail to see how simply reaching out to "one of our own" will prevent much violence when youth violence is generally self-hate and youth hurting someone just like themselves, same ethnic, social, economic background. I failed to see how simply reaching out to one of our own will prevent much violence when youth are influenced, impressed, associated, affiliated, friends with so many other youth.

It appeared the youth didn't value lives of someone just like themselves, so I appreciate cultural empowerment. I wanted the youth to see community leadership in their ethnic background verses gang membership. I wanted to no longer see gang culture masguerade as youth culture. I learned to see the value in reaching out to "one of our own" to show love for self and culture. But I still believed a greater love was needed otherwise the youth are a reflection of some adults- divided by groups. I wondered how can we disarm gang violence with gang-mentality? The youth should see and know they are embraced and loved by people of all ethnic backgrounds.Perhaps then they would have a greater love for self.

To address youth violence, I strongly feel we need to go beyond our own race when youth and gangs are often divided within race and not often divided by race.

I pay homage to Russian youth whose bodies lay dead on Sacramento streets. 17-year-old Pavel - shot in the torso and killed. 22-year-old Igor - shot in the chest and killed. 21-year-old Dimitry - shot in the neck and chest and killed. I learned our cries echo in English and the voices of languages other than English. I learned our tears are colorless, our pain is colorless and our spirit is colorless.

I pay homage to Asian youth murdered: 19-year-old Vihn - gunshot wound, 23-year-old Nicki - gunshot wound to chest, 21-year-old Diane - gunshot wound to to the head. 18-year-old Tan - gunshot wound to head.

I pay homage to Pacific Islander youth murdered. 19-year-old Samuel - gunshot wound to chest. 23-year-old Rocky, a Samoan youth - gunshot wound to head. 21-year-old Kam, a Cambodian youth - gunshot wound to chest. I pay homage to East Indian youth murdered who died in Sacramento as a result of youth violence. 19-year-old Jarnail - dead. 17-year-old Navid shot in the back and hand, dying, in a car with his friend by his side. 21-year-old Neelesh shot in the head. 18-year-old Michael shot in the head.

I pay homage to Filipino youth shot and killed. 20-year-old Ryan shot in the head and neck. 18-year-old Rhea shot in the head...

I pay homage to Vietnamese youth shot and killed. 19-year-old Vinh - gunshot wound to the head...

I pay homage to Laotian youth shot and killed. 18-year-old Southalay shot and killed.

I pay homage to Chinese youth shot and killed. 17-year-old Quang shot in the head.

I pay homage to Korean youth shot and killed. 24-year-old Brittany shot in the head.

I pay homage to African American youth whose bodies have also lain dead on Sacramento streets. 18-year-old Jack, 16-year-old Curtis, 21-year-old Donald, 17-year-old Deantwean, 16-year-old Phillip, 16-year-old Rodney, 15-year-old Shavtavia.

To be fair Sacramento officials have discriminated on where services addressing youth violence would go but they have not discriminated on who dies or who is sentenced to a life in prison. A 14-year-old girl was arrested and faced life without parole and she was not black. Two 16-year-old's were arrested for murder and faced life in prison and they were not black. An 18-year-old sentenced to life in prison and he was not black. Another 16-year-old arrested and facing life in prison for murder and he is not black. A 14-year-old black teen arrested for murder. Many have taken their last breath on Sacramento streets and many more will live and breathe in a California prison.

The dead on our streets and the walking dead - as a result of youth violence - in California State Prisons are also of all different ethnic backgrounds. Many of them not possessing prejudice or hate of different ethnic backgrounds until they enter one of California prisons where gangs are then divided by race. Some have gone from self-hate to hating others of different ethnic backgrounds once entering a California prison.

See Part 2 of this story here

Vigil light for Marque Johnson

2010-03-18T06:28:27Z

Hundreds of Sacramento teens filled the streets mourning the death of 17yr-old Marque Johnson. Often in the silent night a loud cry could be heard by someone crying out "Not Marque, Please not Marque."

Most of the teens cried silently with tears flowing heavily and strongly down their young faces.

Marque is loved and will be missed by many. It was apparent the teen touched many lives. At one point I counted 287 people but then I lost count as many would come and some could no longer stand and were escorted off by friends or family members.

Teens held on to one another carrying teddy bears, candles, pictures and posters each wanting Marque to know they love him.

Someone rode to the vigil in a minivan and written in chalk on the windows were the words: 'Rest In Peace Marque. Sunrise May 6, 1992 - Sunset March 16, 2010."

A man made his way through the crowd and said, 'I am Marque's uncle. I love my nephew. Thank you all for coming" and he began telling the teens of all the violence and how much he cares for them and wants them to live.

Marquis grandmother addressed the crowd singing spiritual songs. As she sang the teens begin to sing with her and many who hadn't cried began to cry. His grandmother's pain was evident and her soft voice trembled of God's love. His grandmother said, "They killed his body but you were NOT able to kill his soul. Marque gave his life to Christ."

Marque's mother appeared to walk on air. Her movements were slow. In her face all I could see was pain and sorrow. After Marque's grandmother spoke his mother said, "I want to also say, thank you. Yes, Marque's gave his life to Christ last week." His mother's love was powerful yet she was so weak. A mother shouldn't have bury her child. Her child is suppose to one day bury her.

Another family member stated, 'It's okay, he's alright. He's with God. He's in a better place. Vengeance is mine said the Lord. I want everyone to be safe and stay safe." A family in deep pain, who needs comforting, was there in the spirit of love to comfort the hundreds of teens filling the sidewalk of Summerdale and Mack Road.

Many teens, who could get through the crowd, lined up to sign the many posters. Youth stood reading the many Bible verses and scriptures placed on the fence near where Marque's breathless body laid.

The candles would burn low as the teens stood for hours, holding one another and sharing their fondest memory of Marque.

A woman standing near the crowd said, "this shouldn't of happened to him. He was a good boy. He came to my kids birthday parties and was always so polite" She cried and walked away.

Officers from the Sacramento Police Department were present. The officers stood in the background not disturbing the crowd. Sgt D.T. Martin stated, "We're here to make sure it is a safe environment for everybody. We know it is ongoing problems in the area. We don't want it to be interrupted by folks who may be responsible or associated with the death."

The family and the teens attending the vigil were treated with the dignity and respect they truly deserve as they mourn the passing of Marque Johnson.

This morning a mother sent her son off to school never thinking he would die before reaching school. She had no idea the son she loves so much would never walk back through her door.

Tonight, a child of God, Marque Johnson is mourned by hundreds who stood with tears flowing down their young faces on a dark Sacramento street. They can't believe their friend is gone. In the darkness their was no silent night as the cries echo for Marque Johnson.

My prayers, love and support is extended to all who knew and loved Marque Johnson.

Rhonda Erwin

(I received a contact number for Marque's family but I didn't want to interrupt the family tonight as they grieve so I did not call and get the names of the family members who spoke.)

The Picture of Change

2010-03-09T19:13:13Z

It seems to often we are solving a puzzle without a picture.

When I was a kid, my grandmother Retha used to always give me Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, and all sorts of other books and puzzles for Christmas. I appreciated the gifts, but I never knew the value of them. I'd rather have the newest toy or the latest fashion.

But I was a kid. Now I'm an adult continuously reading books and trying to solve a puzzle – oftentimes without a picture.

In addressing issues with our mayor, with youth violence or any of our concerns, I think people from all different walks of life are the puzzle pieces. Some of us are rough around the edges, and some of us are smooth. Opinions, insight and beliefs are all puzzle pieces and are supposed to be shaped differently. We are each unique, each different, each valued and instrumental in putting together the picture of change.

I don't think we always have to agree. I don't think we have to choose sides and remain on one side on every issue. Different puzzles have unique puzzle pieces. And it's important that we leave the border to find the different pieces.

When putting together a puzzle, the first step is the easiest. We seem to always do the border of the puzzle first. People who agree or are like-minded are easy to align together to form a straight line and create the border. But the border doesn't complete the puzzle. It's just an easy step to what is soon to be a complex process.

Our next step in forming the picture for our puzzle is to separate the pieces into groups according to their texture or color. We look for all the pieces that feel the same – the same color of thought – and we attach those pieces together. It's basically easy to join the groups together because they feel the same and often share the same background.

Once we've put all of our pieces of the same group together, we begin to see an image form. We begin to notice the value of pieces that are different in color or texture, and we form an image in our minds of what the puzzle picture should look like. We scatter through all the images and different pieces to see where to place the next puzzle image.

But our puzzle hasn't formed its picture until we complete the final connection of the images using the different colors and backgrounds.

Often it seems in Sacramento that many are trying to solve a puzzle without a picture. The picture of change is people of all different colors, textures and backgrounds who organize to come together.

We're not supposed to be or think the same. Some of us are quiet, some are loud, some are rude and some are kind.. We are all different and all of value. I don't think we are supposed to always agree. I don't think we're suppose to fit in the puzzle the exact same way – some can be knowledgeable, and some are willing to learn, but each is necessary to put together the picture of change. We come from different social, economic and ethnic backgrounds, and we each want a picture of change. When putting together a puzzle, each background eventually links together if we go beyond looking for similarities.

Generally, when people see deceit, they speak up and attempt to bring the truth and solve a puzzle. But oftentimes the puzzle pieces aren't fitting together. They aren't organized, and they aren't seeing that difference of opinion doesn't mean you don't belong as a piece of the puzzle. It often appears that the puzzle pieces are all scattered and unorganized, but a few that are like-minded will piece themselves together, but without reaching for the pieces with different textures or colors of thought.

But if we want change, we have to remember an organized lie can have more power than disorganized truth. It seems if we really want change we have to organize with truth and accept the differences of opinion and beliefs and value one another as being a unique piece of the picture.

In order for us to put together a picture of change, we have to go beyond putting only together the pieces of the puzzle with the same color and texture. We are all unique and may not link to one person in particular, but if we look beyond our similarities – beyond the border – we can link together through differences of opinion and form a picture of change.

It's so frustrating trying to put together a puzzle with a thousand scattered pieces and many attempts to solve the puzzle without a picture – without accepting or welcoming the differences we each can bring. We don't have to solve a puzzle without a picture. When looking for the picture to solve our puzzle, we have to see our differences outweigh our similarities. There will be more different, unique, puzzle pieces than the straight, like-minded pieces that align to form the border. Those differences make the picture.

Thank you Grandmother Retha for giving me the beauty of books as a child so I would not sleep through change. Thank you for giving me the many puzzles that taught me to go beyond the border, beyond similarities, and see the value of our differences. Thank you for showing me the wonder and value each piece can bring. Thank you for the gift to learn and see the Picture of Change.

Continued: Thank you Sacramento Press

2009-11-19T08:10:16Z

Continued from Part 1

Thank you Sacramento Press: Our Cries echo- contnued

Last month I attended a justice march and rally. An elderly man walked with the group from the District Attorney's office to Sacramento superior court and then we walked to the federal courthouse. The man carried one of the signs provided by the organizers of the march which mentioned criminal justice system unfair to minorities. The man was Caucasian. His middle-aged son said, "Dad, you are not a minority why are you carrying the sign?" The elderly man said, "It's the only one they have and we're here due to an unfair court." I saw a man who was not black, walking in pain due to court misconduct, who had to settle on a sign regarding race when his pain was due to court injustice.

I'm taking steps towards healing by walking beyond race. I don't want to walk on a treadmill. I can't live in the past when I am looking for a future. Having attended so many youth violence meetings, summits, workshops, funerals and courts I don't see things as I did in 2005. For me race is a distraction, and too many will focus on race when our focus should be on life and freedom of all of Sacramento's sons and daughters. When you've seen so many in a great deal of pain you don't want distractions. If I were shot and in the hospital I would not want anyone to look at the fact a black woman is shot. I would want you to look at how to prevent shootings. I would want you to look at my wounds and not my color. It is my wound which causes me pain. I would not want the fact death would be overshadowed by meetings on race. As people met to discuss racial concerns homicide concerns would take a back-seat.

I truly, with all my heart appreciate being among the winners of the Sacramento Press journalism award. With all my heart, I appreciate the beautiful words written about the article I wrote, but I must pay homage to those who have lost their lives and those who are in pain due to the death or arrest of their loved one, and I must do so in truth and not focus solely on African American youth. Addressing youth violence goes beyond color, beyond boundaries, beyond territory, beyond gang-like mentality.

When I would visit my son in jail, I would sit next to mothers of different ethnic backgrounds visiting their sons and on the way out we all cried colorless tears. I don't imagine a mother, who is not black, walking into her dead child's room and finding any comfort in the fact youth of their ethnic background have died less than youth of my ethnic background. I don't think they find comfort in their ethnic background when they have lost a child they loved. Pain goes beyond color. In fact, pain is stronger than color.

With all my heart I appreciate the award, but I could not in good conscience, in the spirit of love, not correct the fact the youth I wrote of were not only African Americans. I've seen too many colorless tears and I pray for resources for all. I mentioned of all the times I was outraged, but once I left my comfort zone, my outrage left from focusing on my ethnic background when I began to see so many more in the same pain. I walked throughout the city of Sacramento until I walked out of my skin and saw the pain of so many more.

In 2005 I was outraged when I saw a room filled with people to address police brutality and no rooms filled with people to address youth on youth violence I was outraged when every month in 2005 and sometimes more than once a month black youth died at the hands of another black youth. I was outraged when I attended a funeral of a murdered teen and the pastor said, "If anyone sees someone from my congregation hanging out on the corner call me and I will go get them". I sat in disbelief and wondered, "What kind of man are you who have 100 sheep and one is lost, that you don't leave the 99 and go out into the wilderness to get the one which is lost?" I wondered, why does the youth have to be from your congregation? I kept seeing gang-like mentality.

I never knew where this journey would take me but it took me beyond race. In 2005 I saw racial neglect but I didn't see it solely as black and white. I saw many people of different ethnic backgrounds overlooking or dismissing the deaths of someone just like themselves if they had a questionable past. I saw many people who would blanket us, cover us up as if we did not exist. I saw many who would uncover us once funding became available. I learned gang-like mentality is not just among youth or those identified as gang members. I've also learned money is valued more than many people. I learned it is not racial. Crime does pay. I learned many of us - of all ethnic backgrounds- have become commodities. I learned many of all ethnic backgrounds are overlooked as many focus on political careers, their organizations and their departments for money. I learned many will be divided, overshadowed, overlooked by grant funding.

In addressing youth violence I learned to see beyond my color and I learned too see all our sons and daughters. I pay homage to the deceased and the families of all ethnic backgrounds. When I learned to see "one of our own" means more than color, my vision was no longer clouded with distractions of race and my outrage turned to genuine concern for the life and freedom of all our son's and daughters.

By the Grace of God, I learned to see love and not the color of a person's skin. I learned to see pain and not distractions. I have met so many wonderful people African American, Caucasian, Latino, Native American, Chinese, Hmong, Mien, Lao, East Indian, Samoan, Japanesse, Filipino, Pacific Islander.. each concerned with life and freedom of all our sons and daughters. Since 2005 I have met people from all walks of life, all faiths, those who do not believe in organized religion or don't believe in religiion at all, people from different economic, social, ethnic backgrounds willing to address youth violence in the spirit of Love.

The common denominator is LOVE and not COLOR. I learned, by seeing so much unconditional love, to go beyond writing an article solely on African American youth when so many more are dying on our streets or sentenced to live and die in a California State Prison. I learned to see beyond race when some within the same ethnic background would dismiss the life and freedom and when I saw people of all ethnic backgrounds will address life and freedom. I learned in addressing youth violence not to generalize people by ethnic, economic, religious or social status. I learned many of us -- divided into communities of victims and suspects -- are loved conditionally when funding is available. And equally important I learned many more love us unconditionally.

Again, thank you Sacramento Press for extending love and hearing the cries of all affected and exposed to violence. I am truly honored to receive second place when so many community members wrote such wonderful articles.

Rhonda Erwin

A Look Back: Mayor Johnson- Transparency and Accountability -- or Propaganda?

2009-12-08T00:19:24Z

A Look Back: Year One: Mayor Johnson's First 12 Months of Propaganda
The first of several parts in response to Mayor Johnson's recent evaluation of his first year in office.

Part One — Effective Government and Accountability — or Propaganda?

Propaganda as described by Wikipedia: Propaganda is a form of communication aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position. As opposed to impartially providing information, propaganda in its most basic sense, presents information primarily to influence an audience. Propaganda often presents facts selectively (thus lying by omission) to encourage a particular synthesis, or uses loaded messages to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented. The desired result is a change of the attitude toward the subject in the target audience to further a political agenda.

Mayor Kevin Johnson has continued to be a disappointment throughout his first year as mayor of Sacramento. While running for office, he promised transparency. Unfortunately the mayor is transparent in the sense we can see right through his propaganda. Sadly the mayor is not appearing accountable to provide the people of Sacramento a mayor of truth and integrity.

As I read the mayor's blog submission "Year One and A Look Back: Mayor Johnson's First 12 Months," I grew greatly disappointed seeing our mayor blatantly omit truth to communicate with us in a manner that insults and underestimates our intelligence. Below are segments from Johnson's blog posting and the obvious propaganda techniques he uses to sway and influence public interest and opinion. It is my hope that Johnson will learn his fastest move is our slowest, and he should pump his brakes, slow his roll and put as much focus and concern into becoming a world-class, first-tier classy mayor prior to attempting to make Sacramento a world-class city. If a city is a reflection of its mayor, Sacramento is in a world of trouble.

Johnson writes: "Effective Government and Accountability: This past year, my office set a standard of 'best practices' in transparency and accountability." http://www.kevinjohnsonformayor.com/kjfm/

Yet Mayor Johnson is not transparent nor accountable for his decision to further divide the City Council.

How effective is government when the mayor comes in with his own entourage of special assistants, volunteers, advisers, lawyers and spokespersons and allows their role to dominate and influence his actions, decisions and relationship with the City Council, city clerk and members of the community that he is obligated to represent? If this is a standard of best practices, Sacramento is on a slippery slope to an extremely dysfunctional city government.

Mayor Johnson's first year in office left Sacramentans with "a duel structure of the mayor's private attorney and the council-appointed city attorney- with dueling opinions on issues, name calling or attributing real differences of opinion to incompetence" towards our city attorney. Sac Bee Editorial: Mayor, lawyer should talk it out http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/story/2171542.html

Johnson fails to mention his lack of transparency this year in his decision to remove City Councilmember Sandy Sheedy from the Law and Legislation committee. How transparent was the mayor when he did not inform the council of his decision to "shake things up" prior to the council session? What was his reasoning for deliberately not collaborating with our city councilmembers of his decision? Why does it always appear his special assistants are in the loop and our city councilmembers, whom we vote into office, are uninformed? We don't know the answer since our mayor continuously failed, this year, to be transparent.

How transparent was our mayor when he loaned $25,000 to Sacramentans for Accountable Government and forgave the loan, converting it to a gift? Why didn't anyone on the council or the city clerk know the loan was converted into a gift until a week after City Attorney Eileen Teichert raised the issue of a conflict of interest? Again Johnson did not collaborate with our city attorney or our city councilmembers during council discussion on this issue and allowed his spokesperson to continuously insult our city attorney (www.newsreview.com/sacramento/snog/blogs/post?oid+1211332 SN&R Timing is everything in Johnson vs Teichert fight)

Our mayor writes, "I hosted Town Hall meetings and Office Hours in all eight council districts, giving hundreds of residents access to me, my staff and managers from every city department."

As city residents, we have had access to managers from every city department prior to Johnson being in office. All we have to do is attend neighborhood association meetings, neighborhood response team meetings and reception banquets, where city staff and managers set up booths and provide information to city residents throughout the year.

I have attended the mayor's town hall meetings and grew disappointed when it appeared the mayor's "open house" had a closed-door back-room agenda. I wrote an article on the Sacramento Bee Street Talk blog regarding the mayor's office hours and my disappointment in seeing the open house was not for the mayor to get to know the community but an attempt for the mayor to get the community to see him and thus sign the petition for the Strong Mayor Initiative. (See Mayor's Open House appears to have a Closed Door Backroom Agenda)

Johnson claims to answer questions from media "for an unscripted, open and direct discussion" at the Tuesday City Council meetings. However, Johnson allows his volunteer Steve Maviglio and his attorney Thomas Hiltackh to directly discuss and attack our city councilmembers, our city attorney and our charter review commission, and refuses to be accountable for the actions and reactions of his volunteers, advisers and assistants.

The mayor also writes of making appearances on two TV news shows and four radio stations. The mayor continuously attempts to rally support for the strong-mayor proposal versus really getting to know the community. Every move Mayor Johnson has made this year appears scripted with decisions made behind closed doors, without direct community discussion, and without discussions with the council we elected into office to respresent our districts.

The mayor writes, "There were tangible results from these efforts at accountability and efficient government," but fails to tell us what tangible results the efforts had. Johnson fails to inform us where was the accountability and how the efforts made the government efficient. The first year of Johnson's tenure in office has been propaganda. He has consistently provided us with selective information to make himself look good and to take credit in areas where he played no role.

In his first year, Mayor Johnson, will talk the talk but he won't walk the walk. Mayor Johnson will publicly call out city employees, throw them under a bus in an attempt to make himself look good by making them look bad. (http://www.kevinjohnsonformayor.com/kjfm/?p=154 ) Our mayor fails to demonstrate that he and his special assistants will be accountable for their actions, inactions or reactions. Accountability, this year, for Mayor Johnson appears to be a smokescreen. (The Swarm: Mayor uses smokescreen of"accountability" to keep wrong doings under wraps http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/the_swarm/2009/10/026491.html )

Johnson writes, "The city's 311 phone service enjoyed a nearly five-fold increase in call volume. My office helped publicize 311 at every opportunity." During a meeting which included an employee from the city office of youth development, several non profit organizations and community members it was clear a local television station is responsible for billboards to advertise the 311 phone service. Johnson did not have anything to do with the city's 311 service. Former Mayor Heather Fargo was the driving force behind the 311 service, and the councilmembers and the office of youth development played a vital role in the increase in call volume. What does mayor Johnson mean by "my" office? His office is not transparent. We don't know the roles of his volunteers, but we do know it wasn't to promote the 311 service. Johnson appears to continuously take credit for the work, efforts and labor of others. If I would have waited on Johnson to inform me of the 311 service, I could have never helped the young girl who needed shelter . http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/17155/Kudos_to_the_City_of_Sacramento_311

"Propaganda is neutrally defined as a systematic form of purposeful persuasion that attempts to influence the emotions, attitudes, opinions, and actions of specified target audiences for ideological, political or commercial purposes through the controlled transmission of one-sided messages (which may or may not be factual) via mass and direct media channels." —Richard Alan Nelson, A Chronology and Glossary of Propaganda in the United States, 1996

Johnson fails to be transparent and uses propaganda to selectively present facts thus lying by ommission to encourage a particular synthesis using loaded messages to produce an emotion rather than rational response to the information he presents when he writes. "And to create more accountability at City Hall, I directed a campaign to gather signatures and place an Executive Mayor Initiative on the June 2010 ballot. The initiative received approximatgely 50,000 signatures from Sacramento residents. Now, voters will get the opportnity to update their city charter's structure and accountability. Currently, the charter reflects conditions of 1920."

How transparent is the mayor when he knows not all of the 50,000 signatures from Sacramento residents were actually knowlegable of the contents of the strong-mayor proposal? Did the mayor deliberately refer to the strong-mayor proposal as an "executive mayor initiative" since there is much concern from community members toward the strong-mayor proposal? Why didn't the mayor direct us to a town hall meeting to have an input on drafting the strong-mayor proposal? How accountable or transparent is the mayor for sending what appears to be pirates (ARNO Political Consulting) into our community to gather folks who need an income to highjack us of our signatures? Why did the mayor use signature collectors who were paid by the signature? This year, our mayor showed us his hook-or-crook techniques to get what he wants.

The mayor ends his first segment with further propaganda by writing "Looking forward/ Lessons Learned: In the coming year, I will continue to hold myself accountable while maintaining the openness and transparency that must be the hallmark of our city. I look forward to giving voters a choice in June between a governance structure of 'business as usual' or real, positive change and accountabiity. And while I am grateful the city council finally agreed with my calls for an external operational review and audit, I regret we missed the opportunity to create the review process sooner and for less money. Finally, I am still concerned about significant structural imbalances in our city budget, with insufficient cash reserves."

A year and mounting errors made by our unskillful politician later, our mayor has yet to hold himself accountable. Johnson has yet to show us openness, honesty, integrity or transparency. Johnson again used the blog to further sway public interest toward his strong-mayor proposal and used the "business as usual" or "real, positive change and accountability" propaganda to underestimate and insult the intelligence of city residents.

It is also clear Johnson hasn't learned his lesson to not attempt to sway public opinion by attempting to make himself look good by making the council look bad. When Johnson ran for office he used the same propaganda techniques to make Fargo look bad. While in office he is attempting to show us an ineffective city council without showing us in detail how he can or has been effective. A year later and Johnson has continued to be all bark and no bite. In fact, Mayor Johnson appears to be barking up the wrong tree because many community members, charter review commission, unions, two former mayors are not buying his propaganda towards the Strong Mayor Proposal. http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/18495/Unions_back_lawsuit_against_strong_mayor

Mayor Johnson's first year is nothing for him to brag about. The mayor has not proven to be a skillful politican. In fact Sac Bee writer Marcos Breton said it best, "Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson is his own worse enemy" http://www.sacbee.com/734/story/2363195.html

There are seven main techniques used in modern propaganda. Johnson has used them all.

1) Assertion: an enthusiastic or energetic statement presented as fact, although it is not necessarily true. The statements require no explanation or back up, but should be merely accepted without questions.

2) Bandwagon: an appeal to follow the crowd, to join in because others are doing so. Bandwagon propaganda is essentially trying to convince the subject that one side is the winning side because more people have joined it. The subject is meant to believe that since so many people have joined, victory is inevitable and defeat impossible. Since the average person always wants to be on the winning side, he or she is compelled to join in. Johnson continuously uses the 50,000 signatures, the 77,000 strong, the people have spoken to influence community members to jump on the bandwagon.

3) Card-stacking: selective omission, only presenting information that is positive to an idea or proposal and omiting information contrary to it. When I first began reading The Sacramento Press I continuously read card-stacking posts by mayoral assistant Steve Maviglio. According to the Institute for Propaganda Analysis, card-stacking is extremely effective in convincing the public and is dangerous because it omits important information.

4) Glittering generalities: words that have different positive meaning for individual subjects but are linked to highly valued concepts. Johnson and his associates continuously give us glittering generalities with using the words "change," "status quo," "businesses as usual," world-class," etc.

5) Lesser of two evils: to convince us of an idea or proposal by presenting it as the least offensive option. The idea or proposal is often depicted as one of the only options or paths.

6) Name-calling: words that carry a negative connotation (business as usual, status quo...). The propaganda attempts to arouse prejudice among the public by labeling the target something that the public dislikes, often using sarcasm and ridicule. Our mayor puts a spotlight on councilmembers' flaws (dismissing his own) and allows his assistants to do the name-calling.

7) Pinpointing the enemy/ Plain folks: an attempt to simplfy a complex situation by presenting one specific group as the enemy (those against the SMP. The plain-folks device is an attempt by a propagandist to convince the public that his views reflect those of the common person and that they are also working for the benefit of the common person.

Lessons learned: Johnson has not shown us transparency his first year in office. Johnson will not hold himself accountable. Johnson has shown us he is a propagandist and that he surrounds himself with volunteer propagandists to further sway public interest and opinion.

A Look Back: Mayor Johnson failed to provide city residents with accountability or transparency but gave us plenty of propaganda.

—Rhonda Erwin
Part 2 of the Mayor's Year One and A Look Back will address Johnson's second segment of his report: Public Safety. Our mayor's first year in office has been a grave disappointment, and I will have to divide this into several ongoing segments.

Shots fired on O'neil and 21street

2010-03-16T05:09:48Z

I was sitting in my garage with the garage door open. My friend was at my home using my dryer. It was such a nice evening. I felt so relaxed.

My son asked, 'Mom can I go around the corner to Tony's house." It was approximately 7:30pm. I know Tony and his family and knew he would be okay going to Tony's house. Unfortunately I didn't know what would occur next.

As I talked to my friend I watched my son walk to the corner. I smiled as she said, "He sure is getting big and handsome." I looked at him walking with the cute skip he had as a child and said, "Yes, and he's still my baby." My son turned the corner.

As soon as he turned the corner I heard a "POW" It sounded familiar. It sounded like a gunshot. I took off running to the corner, screaming, 'DJ, DJ" And I heard, 'POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP.' I begin to cry, 'DJ, DJ, God, please don't let my son be hurt.". My friend was yelling "call his phone, call his phone."

I nervously called the number, "Please answer, please answer, Please DJ, answer." I screamed running down 21st street, 'DJ" All I could see was patrol cars, lights and officers." My son answered the phone, Mom, Mom, I hear the gunshots. I'm trying to come home. I'm okay, I'm by the bushes. I'm afraid to move." I told him, " stay put, I will come get you to bring you home. Don't move til I get to you" I went to my son and grabbed him so tight and headed back home.

A neighbor outside said, "the police sent the K9 in that house ( a block from Tony's) and I think the young man in the house shot the K9, that was the one shot and then they open fire. I know he's dead."

An officer ran to a patrol car carrying the canine yelling, "Open the door, Open the door." The canine was rushed off by the patrol car appearing to need emergency medical care. Another person standing on the street said, "I guess they don't need to call an ambulance right away for the guy because I know that person is dead."

More officers arrived at the scene. Yellow tape was placed near the bushes where my son was and tape roped off the entire area. I held my son so tight. And I prayed, 'God bless the city of Sacrament and God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."

AMEN

Special Assistant to the Mayor R.E. Graswich interviews Mayor Johnson

2009-12-29T08:53:59Z

December 8, 2009 Interview with Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson

Tonight, I watched the below Youtube clip and felt as though I was watching a Paid Public Service Announcement. Actually, I felt I was watching a Paid Strong Mayor Campaign Advertisement. Who pays Graswich salary? Hopefully it comes out of the mayor's pocket since it seems Graswich isn't working to get the exclusive for the people of the city of Sacramento.

I had high hopes for Graswich after reading the August 20, 2009 Sacramento Press article where he stated, "I'm getting paid by the people. I'm working for the people." http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/12383/RE_Graswich_on_why_he_left_journalism_for_City_Hall

Below is one of several questions Special Assistant to the Mayor R.E. Graswich asks Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. I wonder, can a 'Special Assistant" to the Mayor actually interview the mayor without bias, slanting or leaning questions to assist the mayor? How can a seasoned reporter who is now a special assistant to the mayor not provide rebuttal questions to some of the not-so-bright responses provided by the Mayor?

R.E. Graswich asks: "How can an executive Mayor create jobs when a weak mayor can't?"

Mayor Johnson responds: "So for me when you think about the Railyard project that is an significant project in our community, to create jobs. We have been the recipient of a lot of economic stimulus dollars. Quite frankly, I don't know if we've been spending those dollars to the degree that I would like in terms of job creations. So I would like to be very transparent. In a Strong Mayor Structure we track every dollar that came in. We look at it and if it was suppose to create X amount of new jobs then we would make sure that we are doing that."

Here are a few questions community members would like to know: How much funding in economic stimulus dollars has the city of Sacramento received? Why doesn't the mayor of Sacramento know if the city has spent the dollars to the degree it could have in terms of job creations? What jobs did the city create? Was the city able to save the jobs of Park & Recreation employees with the economic stimulus? If the Mayor would like to be very transparent, why didn't the mayor or his special assistant provide us with more information? Why can't the mayor track every dollar that came in through a weak mayor structure? Surely if our mayor is unable to track dollars without a strong mayor structure we should question his ability to serve the city of Sacramento. Why does our mayor and his special assistant think a weak mayor can't create jobs? Surely a seasoned reporter or skillful politician would know stranger things happened.

I use to read, with respect, R.E. Graswich column when he wrote for the Sacramento Bee. I know he is capable of reporting the news, getting the scoop and providing us with a far better exclusive. This is a sad sight. I read the August 21, 2009 Sacramento Press article 'Graswich moves from Mayor's critic to mayor's advocate' where it was written Graswich will work with the public. http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/12389/Graswich_moves_from_mayors_critic_to_mayors_advocate

Exactly how can the public have trust in Graswich, knowing the seasoned reporter didn't ask our Mayor to explain his not-so-bright responses?

For further questions by Graswich and responses by Mayor Johnson please watch the below Youtube clip.

Rhonda Erwin: A Sacramento resident growing more concerned each passing month with the mayor of Sacramento and his special assistants

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo_b8CxjAyw

Beauty is only skin deep.

2009-10-20T01:48:35Z

I've read comments about efforts to revive Sacramento's downtown area. I will admit the comments are impressive. I've read comments about the mayor wanting to bring life to Sacramento. I would love for Sacramento to grow into a big beautiful city. But far too often, elected officials in Sacramento view beauty as skin deep- when ugly is to the bone.

How can you build or put a structure on a weak and deteriorated foundation? Sacramento officials address issues on the surface. It appears elected officials do just enough to paint a pretty picture. Below the surface are the ills of the poor.

Sacramento appears to address homelessness on the surface, shifting people from one area to another. We have to do more than create or develop efforts to make a city appear beautiful.

"Get rid of the bums," someone suggests. But where should we shift them? Sacramento officials have a history of shifting their problems verses significantly addressing them. Sacramento continuously addressed youth violence with efforts of suppresion verses empowerment, opportunity, employment and resources. Sacramento officials appear to address complex problems with simple solutions of suppression and shifting the problem into another area.

Moving the homeless from one area to another will only allow them to remain homeless. Providing them opportunity, employment, empowerment and resources will allow them to become stable. In addressing crime Sacramento officials rely on multi-jurisdictional task force to evict/ move people from the city of Sacramento into the County of Sacramento. I attended a neighborhood meeting and the POP officer said, "Call us, we'll get them evicted and out your neighborhood." I sat in disbelief wondering will you just continue to move them from one house to another, one street to the next, one neighborhood to another, from the County of Sacramento to the City of Sacramento?

Both city and county law enforcement shifts crime by shifting people. People are moved around like mice in a maze. Both city and county elected officials often fail to recognize law enforcement is a deterrent and not a solution. Both city counsel and county supervisors should look beyond the surface and build a foundation to empower the low income residents. Developers can build outer beauty but it takes the efforts of the elected representatives of this city to build and construct inner beauty.

When looking for solutions into Sacramento's homeless problem we can take lessons from the actions, inactions and reactions of how Sacramento officials addressed youth violence. Sacramento, receiving government subsidy funding, has concentrated on saturating areas with multiple low income housing. But fails to contribute funding to place resources within those areas to empower the residents and allow the area to thrive.

We can not simply build low income housing and saturate the neighborhoods with low income residents and not provide opportunities, employment and resources to empower residents. We can not simply shift people from complex to complex, area to area, community to community without laying a foundation of empowerment.

We can't put makeup on the city and call it a day. We can't keep putting botox on issues. We have to go beyond the skin and to the bone to address the ills within our society. The ugly truth is that until we address issues below the surface, all the efforts to revive Sacramento will be in vain. You can't build on a foundation that is ready to crumble. The building will fall and land on the people sleeping nearby. I remember when 19-year old Eric was shot and killed in front of downtown Macy's. It was ugly but after the body was removed, we were back to appearing beautiful--business as usual.

Our mayor attempts to look at "buildings' and city charters of other cities. But what about the people, the poor of those cities? What do we do with the people who are not privileged to wake up with a "Things to do" list, but are underprivileged and awaken to the nightmare of "Battles to Fight" list? What about the ugly reality of the plight of the poor?

How effective is it to revitalize a community's appearance if you don't revive the people? It's like giving life support to the dead. Don't get me wrong. I love the suggestions to revive Sacramento. I can't wait to live in a city that has inner and outer beauty. I only wish we had a mayor who would address the needs of Sacramento's poor as well and as comprehensively as he attempts to address the outer beauty.

If the people living within the community lack resources and opportunities, beauty won't help the city. It seems easy for elected officals to address the beauty. And since the ugly-the suffering, the homelessness, violence...is far too difficult for some elected officials to significantly address they simply address it on the surface- simply shifting people and making things appear beautiful.

We cannot address complex problems with simple solutions or simple-minded officials. Until we address the ugly aspects of our city -- the poor and those affected by violence -- the efforts to revitalize Sacramento will be in vain. Why would we dress a mannequin when real people need the clothing? We all want the same thing: a Sacramento to be proud of. We all want a Sacramento that is safe, where our children can live and play. My concern is, will the efforts be in vain if we simply address the surface beauty and once again ignore the below-the-surface ugly? Should we continue to throw good money after bad money? Mayor Kevin Jonson appears to address the beauty and leave the ugly to fester. By doing so, a division among Sacramento residents begins to widen. I'm not trying to offend. I'm trying to show the ugly in hopes a foundation can be laid for beauty to thrive. I don't want to argue. We really do want the same thing I just want to go deeper- below the surface.

Sacramento will shift people, shift crime, shift pain and address concerns on the surface. But below the surface there is a need to effectively and comprehensively address the plight of Sacramento's poorest residents. Simply finding safe grounds for homeless individuals to move to, is sadly comical, it's like simply putting a pacificer in Maggie Simpson's mouth and allow Bart Simpson to continue to run around and cause havoc. It's simply covering Maggie's mouth and ignoring Maggie's cries of still being without a home. Simply finding safe gounds may be a job well begun, but the job is far from completed.

I was invited to attend a neighborhood association meeting outside my neighborhood. The area received a Weed and Seed Grant. Sacramento used the Weed and Seed grant to shift people out of one area into another area. The Weed and Seed grant is a community-based strategy sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice to "weed out' violent crime and drugs and plant "seed" with human services, including evening programs for youth, after school programs, family activities, and a variety of neighborhood improvement efforts.

Unfortunately, Sacramento officials saw their way to a grant-writer and saw money and not people. They attempted to expand law enforcement and not create a foundation to empower others at-risk of committing violent or drug crimes. Three things occured: 1) grant funding went towards massive suppression and not the needy 2) additional neighborhoods would become in need of the grant funding since it simply moved people from one area to another and failed to plant resources 3) the violence became a cancerous polyp spreading throughout other areas.

Sacramento cannot simply look at what other cities are doing to address homelesness. Especially since Sacramento looked at other cities who received a Weed and Seed grant and failed to duplicate the seeding aspects of the grant. It is concerning when Sacramento officials appear to look at money and not at the people. It is concerning when significant efforts were developed, using a multi-jurisdictional task force, to 'weed' out the people and minimal efforts were made to plant seeds of empowerment. A grant designed in beauty -- weed out and PLANT seeds of empowerment to address violence-- was redirected into another ugly money-making scheme to enhance a department.

Many of us want to see the beauty. Many of us want to see the city revived. Many of us want to see night life and entertainment. But unfortunately so many of us have to live with the ugly. We can't run from it. We can't hide it and all the revitalization efforts won't erase it. So we ask that the city address it. Address the ugly and then let us work together on the beauty.

The ugly truth is often times officials are blinded by money and fail to actually see the people in need. The ugly truth is we can't address homelessness in the same fashion as we have addressed violence by simply shifting people and moving them from one area to another area. The ugly truth is so often the needy are overshadowed by the greedy.

Someone once said it best, 'Beauty is only skin deep, ugly is to the bone."

Rhonda Erwin

Disclosure: A low income resident living within a community divided into victims and suspects. I am transparent: I am not against the mayor. I am against the "strong mayor" proposal as it is written and against elected officials' minimual efforts towards addressing the ugly -- the plight of Sacramento's poor. I am exhausted watching what so many will do for the love of money - and not the love of people. I am exhausted watching so many look to enhance their departments or advance their carreers off the plight of the poor.

Kudos to the City of Sacramento 3-1-1

2009-11-05T04:25:12Z

Kudos to the City of Sacramento 311

Last night around 8:30 I was frustrated and left to go for a walk. I put on my headset and left my house. As I walked several blocks I passed a bus stop. It was dark and I paid no attention if anyone was seated inside the Regional Transit booth.

I heard a faint soft female voice. I turned around but I didn't see anyone. Then I took off my headset and I heard the words, "Ma'am, Ma'am" Slightly irritated, I abruptly said, "What?"

I will admit the first thing that came to my mind was to say "No, I don't have any money." But I am glad, so glad I did not accuse the person of wanting money and walk away ignoring her.

Seated at the bus stop was a young girl in the dark with no jacket, wearing flip-flops, jeans and a thin short-sleeve shirt. The girl began sobbing so rapidly and uncontrollably. She could not speak. The cries continued with her often taking the time to catch her breath. The tears were streaming down her young face.

Then she said, "My sister put me out. I have nowhere to go." She cried harder. "I don't know anybody here. I don't know where I am." And with another deep breath, she cried, "My sister got on the bus and left me here." I went to hold the girl and tell her it would be all right and she opened her arms and held me tightly. She held me, a stranger, in the dark as if she did not want to let me go. I suggested we walk down the street to the job corps to see if they had resources or referrals.

At first she hesitated. I know it wasn't easy for her to walk away with a stranger. I asked her how old she was, and she said, "I just turned 17." But she looked so much younger.

I've seen many youth on the streets and this girl still had innocence. It was apparent there was no street-smarts about this young girl. I told her I would call the police for her. Through sobs and trembles, she said." "My sister said if I call the police on her I can never ever come back." I asked if she needed to call family or friends, and she said, "My mother is not in California and I really don't know anyone here. I just enrolled in Burbank, but I don't have friends yet. I watch my sister's 5-year-old son most of the time." Then she cried out, "Who is going to watch my nephew?"

The girl watched me dial three numbers and said, "Is it the police?" I said, "No, honey, it is 3-1-1." If I felt there was a criminal bone in this young girl's body I would of called 9-1-1, but this girl seriously looked as though she needed services, counseling, support and not questions. The last thing I wanted to do was compound her concerns.

A gentleman answered the phone. He was the nicest, most supportive person I had spoken with in quite some time. I let him talk to the girl and through her tears and sobs she answered his questions. But most of her answers were "I don't know where I am. I don't know the ZIP code here. I don't know what street this is" and she handed me the phone so I could answer the questions. As I spoke with the 3-1-1 operator I could hear her faint voice in the background saying over and over to me, "Thank you, thank you, thank you." The 3-1-1 operator found a shelter number and said, "Ma'am, this is it. I found one for us." He said, "for us."

The 3-1-1 operator did not say he found shelter for the young girl. We were in this together. This girl wasn't alone. She had me. She had the 3-1-1 operator. She was going to have the shelter. By the grace of God, she was not alone. So many of us were standing in the dark with her. He told me to please call him back and let him know what happens and if we need to continue to look for resources.

I hung up the phone and called WIND Youth Services. I was excited. A few years ago I attended a rally downtown where several organizations were addressing homeless teens in Sacramento and I recalled the name and their posters. I told the girl, "I heard of this place. This will be good." The girl was still crying and said, "I didn't do nothing wrong. I didn't do anything." I told her it doesn't matter. And then trying to get a smile from her I told her, "Honey, if I took you home, neither one of us would get any sleep. You would be in a strange house with someone you met who walked by a bus stop. I wouldn't get any sleep wondering if in the middle of the night you'd sneak to the door and let someone in for a robbery," and we both laughed. I held her as I called WIND.

The WIND employee offered to send a car to pick her up. As I spoke with the WIND employee, tears filled my eyes. Now two more people were with us in the dark to help this girl.

When WIND called me back, I explained the situation. "I am with a young girl. I'm calling for a women's shelter. But my name is Rhonda Erwin." He said, "Ms. Erwin, how are you? It's been a long time since we spoke." I then recognized his voice. And I cried. I cried because I knew she was in good hands. I was not going to send her to ride with strangers. "Othello!" I screamed. I had worked with Othello a couple years ago addressing youth violence and attended many summits, workshops and planning meetings with him. I had no idea where he was or what he was now doing. It was beautiful.

Within 15 minutes Othello arrived. I knew she was nervous. I gave the girl my number. I told her if I was worried about the man who picked her up I would get in the car and ride with her. But I knew she was safe. Othello explained the services of WIND and gave the young girl their pamphlet. I wrote my phone number on the material and told her to please call me any time day or night.

She held me so tight and cried, "Thank you, ma'am, thank you." I held her as tight as I could and told her, "No, thank you. I needed to leave my house tonight and meet you. I needed to see the services provided by the city of Sacramento 3-1-1. I needed to see the services provided by WIND. I needed you tonight. We were all sent to each other. God is good. God, my child, is love."

She drove off with the services of WIND beneath her wings. I waited in the area for quite some time. I did hope to see her 21-year-old, sister come back to the bus stop. I pictured the headlines in my head.' South Area Youth Activist Accused of Assaulting 21yr-old Youth." I was filled with love but angry that this woman left her sister at the bus stop with no money, no coat, no phone to leave with her boyfriend. No one appeared to be coming back for the girl, so I walked home giving God all the honor, praise and glory for showing me the love this city has to offer.

As I prepared for bed I called WIND to check on the girl's arrival and emotional condition and a female answered. "The girl is sitting right here with me and she wants to say, 'One more time, thank you.'" I hung up, closed my eyes and said, kudos to the city of Sacramento 3-1-1 services and kudos to WIND. So many of us are proving to be the wind beneath the wings of Sacramento teens and youth.

Rhonda Erwin

If you know of youth ages 11 to 22 needing services, please contact WIND. Youth can drop in for free: breakfast and lunch, food boxes, clothing, showers, laundry facilities, lockers, computer lab, daily activities, nurse on site two days a week and housing assistance. Shelter is available for ages 11 to 17. The number listed on the brochure is 443-8333.

I feel like Rockwell: Is Somebody watching me?

2009-11-05T17:24:42Z

I feel like Rockwell: Is somebody watching me?

This morning I received a phone call at 8:03 a.m. from a friend I've been waiting to speak with. She stated, "Hi, Rhonda I have the stuff."

I replied something like, "Oh good. I haven't burned none in about two weeks. I ran out. You called at the right time. I've been under stress, angry at so many. Wow, it's good to hear from you, today of all days I need to burn some."

I met her on a Native American Woman's Retreat. She makes her own soap, chap stick and candles. She's also shown me how to burn sage, cedar, sweet grass to release negative energy and bring in positive energy.

She said she has to drop her son off at school and will meet me halfway and asked where we can meet? My friend lives far son instead of coming all the way to my house we agreed to meet at the Goodwill on Franklin and Florin Road.

She said, "I'm in my mom's old ugly car."

I said, "I'll be using a car that's old too, a banana boat. It's yellow and old." We laughed and I began to get dressed.

I was running late. My friend called and I said I'll be there in about five to ten minutes. She arrived at Goodwill before I did. I pulled in to the parking lot and pulled in next to her car. We both got out our cars and we hugged one another and began catching up on events since the retreat.

As we stood talking and about an hour later, I noticed two men in the car in the next row were not getting out their cars. I noticed they didn't appear to be waiting on anyone. I noticed they both appeared to be staring in my direction. One was in a small nice car directly facing me. The other was in a nice truck parked next to the car facing the opposite direction. But it was the one in the opposite direction which caused me concern and caused me to also notice the man parked next to him.

The man in the truck wore semi-dark glasses and he never looked away from his driver side mirror. His was continuously looking at me through his mirror. I wondered why he just didn't turn the truck around to face me since he would not take his eyes off the mirror looking in my direction.

I was there for nearly an hour and a half. I hadn't seen my friend since our retreat and she was bring me photos of the retreat as well as soap and cedar. At the mountain area we took some cedar, left an offering and she kept it to dry out since I am unfamiliar with processing it (drying it out). I recently learned to burn sage, cedar and sweetgrass during difficult times as a Native American ceremony to let the smoke take away negative energy. It's a relaxation method.

My friend and I had lots to catch up on talking about our children, relationships, community events ... I told my friend there is something wrong here, those men are watching us. She said they came around when I came. "They moved to where they are before you came," she said. "They aren't watching me, they seem to be watching you. Who did you make mad?"

I replied, "Heck, in one paper I criticized Homeland Security funding to the Sacramento Police Department for camera's to spy on community members, and in another I criticized the Mayor. I recently criticized Sacramento Police Department on DUI grant funding. In my son's appeal I criticized the Sheriff's detective misconduct and recently, the last two days, I've criticized an officer at the Sacramento Police Department regarding youth and gangs. Shoot, it's like who shot JR Ewing? Take your pick."

We both laughed and our laugh grew as we both suddenly recalled our 8:03 a.m. conversation where she said, "I got the stuff" and I said, "I haven't burned none in a while." We nearly fell to the ground laughing.

I have a few questions maybe I could ask officer Michelle. Can a person's phone be tapped by law enforcement without a warrant? What grounds can a persons phone be tapped? What part of a conversation can be used? Heck I feel so bad, I was mad at family members.

She was mad at her spouse and children. If we ever had to go to court, I don't think our family will be with us for support if a tape of our conversation is used. But seriously, how can a person find out who the heck is watching them? For the life of me, I don't know what circumstances will allow a warrant to be granted against me to tap my phone. I don't use drugs, I don't buy drugs. I don't sell drugs. I don't transport drugs. I'm not a terrorist. Heck, when you speak out about nearly every branch of law enforcement, you really shouldn't go around breaking laws. And I don't.

I just don't know why my phone would or could possibly be tapped. The whole event was really strange as if they were waiting on me to arrive. And it was not until this morning that my friend called and I told her to meet me there. This was not a planned meeting.

This is not the first time something strange has happened. A couple of years ago I was walking downtown on I Street headed to the light rail. I crossed the street, talking on my cell phone, arguing about a sheriff detective misconduct, and suddenly two people - a black male and a white female, actually dressed like tourists in flower shirts, walked away from the crowd and headed straight to me pulling me aside and asking for my identification.

I was caught off guard and without questioning their motives, I reached in my purse and handed my driver's license to them. Then they looked at it and apologized and stated I matched a description. A car came up the alley and they got in and left and I never learned who they were. Until today I thought no more of that occurrence.

Several events by themselves didn't cause me as much concern but now when they are all put together it is becoming concerning. I've had a sheriff detective email removed from my computer and replaced with different photos after I complained I could prove misconduct.

Last month after I debated with the mayor's assistance that I saved emails and as I was again doing my son's appeal, all my 2009 and some of my 2008 emails were removed by someone from my computer. I filed a police report but I haven't heard anything from it. Then today it appeared I was being watched in the parking lot at Goodwill.

After going on two hours and after I waived at one who I believe to be an officer and he waived back, they both drove off and moved over one row. After my friend and I replayed our conversation laughing at what we had said on the phone and things we said about our family members, children, white T-shirts and youth, the two men who previously ignored one another the entire time backed out the parking spaces began talking with one another and drove off.

I wish now I would have walked to the car and truck and asked what agency they were with, but at the time I was too busy laughing with my friend. We were not laughing at the officers. We were laughing at the phone conversation we had and just how it really sounds and how someone could misinterpret it as being criminal.

I told my friend perhaps I should be honored, maybe I am the safest person in Sacramento with my own private security. I feel like the mayor. Heck, if I am robbed, at least an officer will be nearby.

I do not believe in conspiracy theories and unlawful plots against citizens. I do not believe their is a conspiring group against me.

I do not criticize all members of law enforcement. I do not generalize. I do respect, appreciate and value the services provided by Law enforcement.

But my mind goes back to a song by Rockwell, 'I always feel like Somebody's watching me' and I have no privacy. To my knowledge I don't have enemies. Or perhaps I do.

Mayor Johnson - Driving Under the Influence

2009-10-21T05:19:52Z

'People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader works in the open, and the boss in covert. The leader leads, and the boss drives." -- Theodore Roosevelt --

I would love to give Mayor Kevin Johnson the benefit of the doubt and call him a leader. But as time goes by, I see less of a leader and more of a driver.

Heck, with lessons, anyone can drive. With a GPS navigation system of special assistants, a campaign manager, volunteers and a spokesperson it certainly may appear the mayor is leading the way. But even with GPS and a car full of backseat drivers, people have gotten lost.

A GPS navigation system can't prepare Johnson for traffic conditions, debris left in city streets or points of interest that are of concern to residents.

Will the "strong mayor" initiative drive us down a one-way street against traffic, causing a collision? Will we want to be a passenger if the "driver" suddenly begins to drive recklessly or appears intoxicated (full of himself) and is driving under the influence of deceit and trickery? Will we want to be on the road with someone under the influence of special interest?

Should we stand by while the mayor, who could have a suspended license, suddenly begins to drive exceeding speed limits to get to a strong mayor proposal?

Drivers who are not leaders don't always reach their destination. Mayor Johnson appears simply to follow drivers of other cities. He doesn't appear to be a mayor leading the way. We've heard Fresno has the strong mayor charter, Oakland has the strong mayor charter. Many residents in Fresno and Oakland have become hit-and-run victims because of the strong mayor charter as the mayors driving their cities overlook and run down the cities' underprivileged residents.

If Mayor Johnson were driving in the open and giving residents a map with clear directions on the strong mayor proposal before blindly gathering signatures, perhaps he could renew his license without taking another drivers course. If Mayor Johnson showed respect, consideration and courtesy and valued the cars, bikes and pedestrians on and near the road and called community meetings before the proposal was written in stone and before the proposal was taken to the City Council for a vote, perhaps we wouldn't drive now with so many calling out for speed bumps because of unsafe drivers masquerading as leaders.

Our mayor is a driver who appears not to value community input. The strong mayor proposal does not reflect the desires of the community. The strong mayor proposal reflects the desires of the mayor and outside influences. The community was of no value to the mayor until signatures were requested by hit-and-run signature collectors who carried no insurance. Many, if not all, of the paid signature gatherers I spoke with had no knowledge of the petition for which they were gathering signatures.

Traffic control is called out in the form of a Charter Review Commission. After a comprehensive study that listened to drivers, pedestrians and motorists of other cities, it was determined that the strong mayor proposal could be hazardous and cause slippery roads and unsafe driving conditions. But the mayor appears to drive the proposal by any means necessary, through thunders of confusion, rains of deceit and the thick fog of trickery. Now we are left with a measure that CalTrans cannot revise. The strong mayor proposal is written in stone.

Mayor Johnson appears to drive without insurance. Residents have asked but have not been told what specifically he can do with the strong mayor charter that he could not do with the current form of city government. Perhaps we wouldn't mind him going slightly over the speed limit if we knew where he was going. Perhaps we wouldn't call our council members to complain of high speed traffic racing through our neighborhoods to get to a strong mayor proposal, if we had a leader working in the open.

Perhaps if the mayor would appear as a leader and not a boss who simply is following drivers of other cities we wouldn't have to call our representatives and request that the mayor pump his breaks, slow down or get his car (strong mayor proposal) towed for driving with a suspended license, driving under the influence, hit and run, reckless driving and causing so much road rage.

Community members are no longer riding blindfolded with the drivers elected into office. There's been too much propaganda and too many promises that have fallen to the curbside or become road-kill once the politicians' self-absorbed goal is reached.

Sacramento's mayor can drive but can he lead? After all, he is a political adolescent behind the wheel. Motorists cannot dismiss the fact that Mayor Johnson has had some fender benders, causing a collision or two with St. Hope, loaning SAG $25,000 in June without notifying our insurance broker- Eileen M. Teichert, city attorney that he forgave the loan and made it a gift. Mayor Johnson has been known to hit and run and contact his collision specialist attorney to make the problems go away. A mayor without full coverage insurance and no past experience with driving should not expect the public to rush into traffic for a strong mayor proposal.

It seems Sacramento roads are beginning to fill with curves, bumps and debris. The community is expected to trust the mayor not just on highways but now on the freeway as he takes off on a high-speed chase to a strong mayor proposal. We have no idea what the destination is and don't really trust some of his passengers. After all we haven't been told what he can do as a strong mayor that he cannot do under the current charter and we haven't been told if he picked up hitch-hikers or who exactly went along for the ride.

Our view is obstructed as we are told, "People who don't want the strong mayor form of government are afraid of change." Some of us are afraid of collisions by a mayor driving without insurance.

Our mayor appears to disregard others on the road as he races by the council members who we voted into office. The mayor did not consult with experienced drivers, some of whom have lead their districts; he did not value their input. Our mayor appears to disregard pedestrians and did not consult city residents to listen to their desires, or allow them to voice their concerns and offer their input in changing the city's charter. Those opposing the mayor are not consulted to see if there is a charter suitable for the vast majority of residents. It appears that the mayor requests that residents vote "yes" on the strong mayor proposal blindly, in the dark, and without lights or reflectors.

Yes, the mayor will drive with passengers, as he rode with arts liaison Sharon Gerber, to assist with bringing arts to Sacramento. He can be a boss. But he doesn't appear to have the drive to ride in the carpool lane with the community.

As a resident of Sacramento I would not wear a blindfold while a person with no driver training gets behind the wheel and starts racing down the city's streets. I do like Mayor Johnson's energy. I do like the fact that he can charm a crowd. He can be a good boss. But he is new to city government and passed a written test but has not quite passed his driving test nor received his driver's education certificate.

I would like to give the mayor the benefit of the doubt and call him a leader. But right now I see him as a boss. Perhaps I've become frustrated with so many of the drivers whom we elected to drive on our roads. Now the roads have become congested with heavy and dangerous traffic, causing accidents. Now I, too, have road rage.

Rhonda Erwin

Disclosure: I am a community member looking for a leader who works in the open, not a boss working in secrecy. I am looking for a leader who leads, not a boss who drives with so many intoxicated passengers and backseat drivers.

OUR CRIES ECHO FROM ONE SACRAMENTO NEIGHBORHOOD TO ANOTHER- Part One

2009-10-13T22:38:25Z

"Please don't make me do it. Please don't make me see him covered in dirt." I trembled as I heard Debbie's cries.

Tears flowed down her face as her husband picked her up and carried her to the grave site. Debbie fought with all her heart not to see a casket holding her 17 year-old son Robert laid in the ground.

"You have to do this Debbie, you can do this," her husband said. I watched a mother praying to take her breath and give it to her child. She laid over his casket wanting him to breathe. It was painful.

For months I would see Debbie with a blanket lying on the ground where Robert took his last breath. I watched her go to the murder site and place a little white gate the size of a coffin where his body had lain.

She put photos of Robert’s smiling face all around the memorial and then she laid there sobbing.

A crew would remove her memorial and she'd go back and set it up again until she was told she could no longer set it up.

Debbie told me, "I moved here (to Meadowview from Oak Park) so he would live. I wanted him to be safe. There was too much violence in our old neighborhood". She cried, blaming herself. I held her and told her, "It's not your fault. The violence is everywhere we can afford to live".

I stood where 17 year-old LaMarr was shot and killed. LaMarr's body laid covered in a tarp in the middle of the afternoon.

He was shot and killed in the middle of a busy street. Teenagers walking from a nearby high school gathered and stood sobbing. There were no grief counselors.

In fact, during this time a Harry Potter film was being shown at theaters. I watched the news and saw grief counselors were sent so moviegoers wouldn't be traumatized when a lead fictional character died. I went to the county supervisors time and time again asking, “Where are our grief counselors?"

I never saw grief counselors at the sites where youth were dying -- where real humans laid dead -- gunshot wounds in the chest, back, head, neck.

Streets would fill with friends and families of the victims holding vigils.

At LaMarr's candlelight vigil, I looked over and saw Debbie. I went to hug her and she held me so tight and cried, "I didn't know him. But I had to come. I know how I felt at Robert's vigil and I wanted to support the family."

A mother whose son was murdered goes to the vigil of another murdered child and relives her pain over and over.

We lit a candle and said a prayer. I recall leaving Robert's memorial and going next to one for 18-year-old Shaneel. Shaneel and Robert were shot and killed a day apart.

Two families stood in vigil over the site where their loved ones took their last breath. It never surprised me to see the family of a murder victim in tears, supporting another murder victim’s family.

For a while after Shaneel died, someone in his family would hang a sheet on a pole near where he died. I would see youth standing there at the site. One boy would just stand and talk as if waiting for Shaneel to reply.

I spoke to the family of 19-year-old Derek. His sister held her younger brother as he lay dying in her arms. He looked up at her and his last words embedded in her memory are, "Please don't leave me. Please don't leave me."

She held him with his blood covering her shirt, screaming, “Where are they? Where are the paramedics?”

She cried, "No, Don't you leave me. I told you I won't leave you. Don't you leave me," as he took his last breath. I didn't know Derek. He died and I was two blocks away at another funeral. His family gave me a picture of him with members of his family in appreciation to a stranger who showed them love in the midst of so much pain.

I loved Jack with all my heart. He was a 16-year-old neighborhood youth with a smile like Denzel Washington. I was taking my son to the Folsom Outlets to buy a winter coat and Jack asked to ride along. When we got to the outlet store I pulled my son aside and told him, "I can buy you this one coat which costs a little more or I can buy two jackets, one for you and one for your friend Jack."

My son said, "I'll take the cheaper one. He doesn't have a coat." The boys wore the coats home, looking like twins, with smiles as radiant as can be.

I began planning a march and rally to bring awareness to the violence. Jack looked at me and said, "No one cares." I told him, "People do care. I'll show you just how much. I'll show you the pen is mightier than the sword."

I began writing of all the deaths. Jack smiled every time he came to the house and saw me busy at work. He said, "You are going to show me, aren't you?"

On March 11, Jack came to the house saying Dontehad been shot and killed that afternoon in an apartment complexthat was supposed to have a police substation.

The following day, Jack came to the house and said, "Deantwean was shot and killed. He was with a friend and he was shot, too."

The following day another 18 year old was shot in the head. By the grace of God, he survived. I wrote letters and e-mails, speaking of the deaths mounting in a community divided into victims and suspects.

I was on a Regional Transit bus about to go home. The street was filled with commotion. Youth were standing on both sides of the street. I asked the bus driver to stop.

I ran to the scene and heard: “It’s Jack. They shot Jack.” 18-year-old Jack lay at a mini-mall, gunshot wounds to the chest.

I held his 15-year-old friend, whose shirt was covered with Jack's blood. The ambulance drove away. I waited for the 15 year old's mother to arrive, then drove with a girl at the scene, to the hospital.

I ran to the registration counter and gave Jack's name. I was asked, “Are you family?" I said "Yes." They took me aside and said, "I'm sorry he didn't make it.”

Jack died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. I felt ill. Youth are not life-flighted to area hospitals. There were two hospitals close to where Jack was shot but he was taken by ambulance across town to the medical center, where he was dead on arrival.

I begin to wonder if Jack was closer to the truth than I. Does anyone care? Our children are dying. Families are mourning. People are suffering. Our cries echo from one Sacramento neighborhood to another.

I sat at David's funeral. Shortly after the funeral began, a petite woman walked to the microphone, hands trembling, and said softly, "I need this funeral to go as quickly as possible. I just buried his brother."

Her movements were so slow and painful. It appeared as though pain carried her. David's brother Damon was murdered less than two years earlier. Their mother then began to tell the people in attendance, “David was a good boy.”

A mother whose son was dead wanted people to know her son was a good boy.

I went for a walk early one morning and gazed down. Printed on the sidewalk were the words, "Here lays my 2 brothers Anthony and Albert shot and killed, They dead. They with God now."

My mind drifted to the family of 18-year-old Gregory and 20-year-old Hudson, two other brothers shot and killed, dying minutes apart. Another family having to bury two of their children in Sacramento, the city of Trees. A city with so many distractions that youth death and youth arrest always seem to get overshadowed with yet another agenda.

I spoke with 21-year-old Wesley’s father. He was in great pain: "I wanted my son to live"

Wesley’s body laid covered in blood on a grassy area in an apartment complex. There are two painful sides to a youth violence crisis: Families are mourning the loss of their beloved child -- dead. Families are mourning the loss of their child sentenced to live and die in a California state prison -- the walking dead.

In every violent death, the suspect was another youth. One dead on our streets and another walking dead in prison. I saw so many in a psychological frozen state.

Bodies found in dumpsters, gutters, middle of streets, schools basketball courts, fast food restaurants, gas stations, shopping malls, in their homes, outside their homes, on their front porch, running to make it home, North Sacramento, South Sacramento, East Sacramento and West Sacramento. I looked for a safe haven but there was none.

A Florin Honor Roll student, 15-year-old Shavtavia, was shot and killed as she left a graduation party. Phillip, 16, was shot and killed outside a birthday party. Three others were shot and survived, including a 14-year-old

Jelisa, 16, was shot and killed outside a house party. Donte, 16, was shot and killed.The body of 16-year-old Durey laid dead in the middle of the street. The body of 17-year-old Bobby was found behind the bushes. The family of 21-year-old Adrian awoke to a nightmare. Right outside their door, their son lay in their front yard.

Can you imagine opening the door to see your child dead and know they were running home to you, to safety?

Lenny, 13, stood with friends on a Sacramento street. Boom.He was shot and killed as his friends watched in horror.

Arturu, 11, was shot in the head. He lived but is blind. Curtis was another teen with a beautiful smile. At age 15, he was shot and survived. Curtis worked so hard at job skills classes and showed his life skills certificates to his grandfather. Just when Curtis was beginning to think of a future, he was shot again. He died at age 16. I will never forget his eyes. He would smile at me and his eyes would sparkle.

I received a call from Ralph. His 18-year-old son, Ralph Jr., had been shot and killed. "I had to go to the morgue to view my son's body. Eighteen bullets, bullets even in his groin."

A father cried as he spoke to me -- a stranger -- just wanting to talk to someone about the pain and suffering.

I went to the city of Sacramento seeking a Youth Death Review Team to save the lives of Sacramento's sons and daughters. But my efforts on behalf of the Youth Death Review Team were in vain. But I continue to labor through the pain.

I went to Donald's funeral. His mother, Toni, came and spoke at a rally I held. Toni was so proud of her son Donald. Can you imagine walking into the bathroom to find your son lying in a tub filled of blood? She can not get the memory out her mind.

The church was filled to capacity for Donald’s funeral. I attended the car wash by which his family, as so many others, are reduced to focusing on their inadequacies -- the fact they can’t afford to bury their child.

Can you imagine wanting and getting a job to buy nice things for your child only to have a job and not be able to afford to bury that child?

Natasha and her younger children were tied up. She will never forget the sound of the gunshot that took her son's life. When I look into Natasha's eyes, they are always teary and swollen in pain.

I can't imagine being tied up, wanting to help my son but not being able to break free, hearing him being shot, knowing that he died while I was in the next room.

Someone knocked on Debbie's door. Her son James answered it. Debbie was awakened by gunshots. She ran to her front door to find her 18-year-old son, James, dying in his younger brother's arms.

Debbie and Natasha have come to youth violence meetings seeking youth violence prevention.

I received a call from Carla. She cried, 'Rhonda, do you know what it's like to answer the phone and your sister tells you come over, your son is dying, shot dead"

Carlos is dead. I stayed on the phone for an hour and listened to her cries.

At 19-year-old Tyesha's funeral, her grandfather stood and said, "This is not a funeral. Tyesha is a Christian. She knows God. It's her homegoing."

And then the family asked for prayer for the youth who took their beautiful daughter's life.

Shirley has attended countless youth violence meetings. She has stood and addressed city officials in the midst of her own pain. At her son Michael's funeral I held a youth who was 19. When you look into his eyes you see the memories of death.

He spoke softly, "I've been to 20 funerals." A boy has been to more funerals than the number of years he's been alive. All this in the city of Sacramento, the city of trees, where it appears life and freedom are blowing in the wind. At every funeral, the church, hall, wake and cemetery are filled to capacity.

Often, youth lined up along the sidewalk because the church was overcrowded. Sometimes I'd see some familiar faces that I saw at other funerals and more often than not I saw a few hundred faces I hadn't seen before. The deaths affect so many people, so much pain.

It has been painful to write of Sacramento's sons and daughters who died a premature death as a result of youth violence in a city that appears to have other priorities, priorities that overshadow life and freedom.

Our mayor's priority is a "strong mayor" proposal. I don't share his enthusiasm on changing the charter of Sacramento. I'm far too busy wanting to change the tide of deaths as families cry rivers of tears, and drown in seas of neglect and oceans of pain.

I couldn't get the city to fund a Youth Death Review Team. But I've learned when the mayor wants a strong mayor proposal we quickly have a strong mayor Charter Commission formed.

Can you imagine how painful it is to walk for five years in the valley of the shadow of death and be right where you started seeking a Youth Death Review Team? I've walked in a circle. I must again plead with another Mayor for Sacramento youth to have life and know freedom.

The mayor looks in one direction -- suppression -- and looks to those who want more funding to saturate communities with armed patrol. I haven't met a family yet whose child has been murdered who has not preferred prevention over suppression.

When you’ve seen so much pain, witnessed so much suffering, you can not be pacified with minimal efforts. Watching the mayor’s Youth/Gang summit was painful. A community suffering was pacified with a quick fix. Heck, it wasn’t even masqueraded as a fix.

Can you imagine the pain of seeing the mayor put a band-aid on a fracture and call it a day? Can you understand the anger of seeing yet another minimal effort that duplicates the efforts made year in and year out?

Can you imagine being in pain and seeing the crisis and tragedy in your community swept under a rug?

Can you imagine suffocating in misery, your pain blanketed until budget hearings are scheduled and a police union official says, “We need more money. If we get less we’ll do less." You and others are working with so much less and wanting to do so much more. Can you imagine seeing so many others being paid and the funding never quite reaches the community directly affected and exposed to the violence?

I used to be embarrassed that I was low income. At youth violence meetings I would wait until everyone had left before I walked out. I didn’t want them to see me walking home as they were driving away in their nice cars. I am no longer embarrassed. Being a resident of the low income community I learned to love unconditionally. Equally important I learned many of us are loved conditionally-- when and if funding is available.

Once I walked home from a youth violence meeting in the dark and the rain, but I didn’t feel rain drops falling on my head. I felt a steady flow of tears because I walked to the meeting with high hopes and sat through constant disappointment, learning it wasn’t even about us, it was all about money.

The truth is we need more resources and we are not getting them because in the city of Sacramento life and freedom takes a backseat to political games of greed and deceit. A community is divided by morgues, cemeteries, funerals, vigils, courts and prisons.

On this painful journey, I‘ve seen much love in the midst of so much sorrow. I've also stood at meetings and seen people focus on money and not on our pain and our deaths. I've seen the heartless and I've been embraced by the loving.

I stood in front of the mayor on Tuesday and he appeared to look right through me. It's painful. But I've labored for now five years without pay going to countless city hall, county supervisor, community town hall meetings, summits, workshops, funerals, vigils and car washes to bury the dead and I watched so many make everyone and everything else priority.

It seems crime does pay. A whole lot of folks are getting funding and we die. Poverty pimps circle over our dead as vultures trying to get funding for our crisis. And then we have elected officials who use the crisis, stating, "Public safety is our number one priority." But there are few doves of peace and many vultures. Public Safety is a priority for politicians to get into office and no longer a priority once in office.

Our children are dying. As I sat in City Hall attending a Charter Review Commission hearing, tears came to my eyes as I prayed perhaps one day we'll sit here for a Youth Death Prevention Commission. Tears came to my eyes as I realized I walked in a circle to again plead with a Sacramento Mayor to hear our cries and significantly address our suffering.

I've prayed that one day I'll sit in a meeting that willaddress our pain and suffering. But I won't hold my breath. I might just end up like so many more -- breathless.

Our cries continue to echo from one Sacramento neighborhood to another. Wherever we can afford to live.

Rhonda Erwin

Community Activist / Mother living in a community divided into youth victims and youth suspects