Gang Crime Living in a large urban center often equates to living near or within the criminal epicenter, especially for inner-city dwellers where crime is most concentrated. That means that killing is an everyday occurrence, and it has been that way in Los Angeles for decades, and during the late 1980s and early 1990s the City of Los Angeles averaged 2.73 murders per day. But what can be done about the recent increase in crime and the murders taking place? Much of what I hear is pure rhetoric and posturing with very little long-term solutions. When crime was reaching record low numbers from the mid- to late-1990s, everyone was taking credit. Hahn and his gang injunction strategy, three strikes, community policing, stricter gun laws, heavier sentencing, more prisons and grass roots organizations. Are we now experiencing a breakdown in all those institutions and policies simultaneously? Now all you hear and see is finger pointing and name blaming of others for the recent street killings. For example Mr. Hayes, an advocate in Los Angeles, believes that the black leadership in Los Angeles includes Danny Bakewell of the Brotherhood Crusade, Rev. Chip Murray of the First AME Church, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, for creating a community of dissension that is frustrated with the establishment where race is a central issue that has resulted in minority youths lashing back violently. Mr. Hayes brings up some excellent points regarding the selfish political agendas of these people, including Jesse Jackson who has been associated as a shakedown artist that has been successful at convincing corporations to large financial settlements for alleged racism, but Hayes' link between the recent crime spike and the selfish political agendas of so-called leaders, is poorly thought out, and flat out wrong. The Black political leadership has been operating in the same fashion since the early 1970s when Mayor Tom Bradley was in office and throughout the 1990s when crime was an insignificant political topic the Black leadership was doing the same thing. Nothing is new Mr. Hayes. Larry Elder, radio talk show personality, has simplified this problem as a law enforcement issue. He states that having more officers will equal more arrests resulting in less crime. The LAPD is believed to have one of the smallest police forces for a large city and it has been a political hot topic for over 20 years but this issue only makes headlines when crime increases. We must not forget the results of suppression techniques that poured more officers on the streets, such as former Chief Daryl Gate's Operation Hammer where intensive gang sweeps were implemented from 1988—1990. Additionally former Chief Willie Williams attempted aggressive police strategies in 1995 and both these Chiefs drastically failed in their efforts. More police officers have never been the answer to increased crime. In the first paragraph, the author seems to allude to