Take a Tour of L.A.’s Gangland
Visitors to Los Angeles have many tour options. Many people opt for (choose) star tours, which are tours that take visitors to the site of celebrities’ homes (or at least the outside of what are supposed to be their homes). Others like to visit famous Los Angeles sites, such as Disneyland, Universal Studios, and the beaches.
Now, visitors coming to Los Angeles have a new option: a tour of areas with high (a lot of) gang activity. Gangs–organized groups of criminals, usually of young people–have been part of Los Angeles for a very long time. Creator of LA Gang Tours, Alfred Lomas, thinks it is time for people to learn more about this aspect (part) of the city. Lomas is himself a former gang member, and the goal of the non-profit (not mainly to make money) LA Gang Tours is to make profits (earnings) that can then be used for micro-loans (small loans) for businesses in the community to promote more jobs.
To make the tour safe, Lomas says that he has the assurance (promise) of four gangs that they will not harm or harass (frighten and bother) the tour bus as it goes through their turf (territory). If you go on one of these tours, however, you know that there is some inherent (built-in; essential) danger. In fact, each person who goes on one of these tours has to sign a liability waiver, which is a legal agreement that says that the tour company is not legally responsible for anything bad that happens to you. Even with these dangers, however, the tours are very popular. The tour itself is two hours, includes lunch, and makes 12 stops.
These gangland tours are not without critics (people who think they are a bad idea). Some local leaders believe that the tours will give people an even worse image of these parts of the city, turning away potential investors (people who might put their money into something, which they expect will make them more money).
Here is a quote from the Los Angeles Times story that I think sums up (summarizes well) the controversy:
“Everybody says we are the gang capital of the world, and that is certainly true, no denying that,” said the Rev. (Reverend) Gregory Boyle, who has spent decades trying to steer people out of gangs into legitimate work. “It’s hard to gloss over that. But there are two extremes we always need to avoid. One is demonizing the gang member, and the other extreme is romanticizing the gang.” (see definitions below)
So what do you think? Are tours of this kind a good idea? Are you ready to take an LA Gang Tour?
~ Lucy
to steer = to guide
legitimate = legal; following the law or the rules
to gloss over = to hide something bad under a false, good image; to make something seem better than it is
extreme = highest or lowest; best or worst
to demonize = to show something as evil or completely bad
to romanticize = to show something as better or more appealing than it is
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:26 am
NO, THANK YOU.
I would prefer giving the money of the tour to this man Mr. Lomas, and going to see ELS podcast office, Jeff, Lucy and the other team members., say to them HOLA I am emiliano, and afterward have a look of the beach, Sunset Boulevard, L.A. City Hall, have a good lunch in one of the best restaurants searching the oportunity of seeing Angelina Jolie or Cameron Diaz, and so on.
Again, no thank you, I don´t like this tour by all means.
But the idea is good, I think, there must be all kind of people and some would like to go feeling the danger of having the posibility of living a dreadful event.
Is there any other tour in N.Y. or Detroit to see other gang´s places?.
In my opinion there are dangerous places all over the big cities round the world, one of the best (or the worst it depends of the point of view and what kind of things do we like to see) may be Nairobi, Mogadicio, Bogota, or Ciudad Juarez. But every country has some of this gang/dangerous sites where is dangerous to walk at certains hours of the day or night, and Madrid isn´t an exception of course.
Going some place I would like to sea always nice buildings, streets, countryside or even nice and kind persons.
Gloss over?…….Steer? good Lucy, I didn´t know them, thank you again.
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:11 am
What a grat idea:) What’s unusual is that it didn’t occur to anybody yet. Especially in LA:)
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:33 am
I’m afraid the LA Gang tour is’nt exactly my idea of an enjoyable afternoon in a big city. Could it be, the ESL-studio is situated somwhere along the Gang-route ? Then of course, I would make an exception.
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:49 am
I think Rev. Gregory Boyle spoke wisely.
He surely knows well the place
If going there would be a way of helping this people , I would take the tour. Maybe with a bulletproof jacket.
If the tour will have success we (Italians) can gift the city of L.A. with a few southern Mafious people.We have plenty of them.
It will drew more tourist.
Daniel.
Italy;-)
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:39 am
It is brilliant idea to take tour the gang’s area. It’s awesome of business ability. Even the gangs are pretty dangerous and scare the people, we often have curiosity about where and how they live along with. But people do not think them as object of admiration. If you ask me to take tour of that area, of course I say NO because it seems to be danger to me.
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:41 am
Hello and thank you !Jeff and Lusy.Your voices work the way that makes me calm down and think I can learn English!
I come across your blog and read comments,and I wont to ask Peter -your English is very very advance,probably you can discribe your method that you work with podcasts and learning guide?Thank you again to all.
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:28 am
Well, this is part of town that nobody knows, many tourists have a vision of glamour, but this is a way to show the dark side of the city, in fact all cities have such dark sides, it sounds interesting…., the operator of such tour is very original in exploiting these aspects of L.A
By the way, I read once that there is other operator who organize tour to visit the places where Manson’s family committed their famous murders….
Very curious how people are very creative in doing business….
Rodrigo
Venezuela
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:45 am
It’s the first time I hear something so strange: a tour guide through gang territories. mmmmhhhh….Sounds interesting but odd! I’m not saying it’s bad but I think it’s a way of saying that there are some parts in LA to avoid if you are a tourist! or to go there if you are braver! point of views…. I’ve been to LA twice, never been to a Gang Tour but I think it’s worth trying also this kind of new activity!
Thanks guys for the topic.
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:25 am
It seems a good idea, at least for me.
If it’s true that the benefits obtained are used to good things, I say “go ahead”.
So, in this business there are two parts clearly different, the visitors and the people visited. However, It’s also true this has a risk.
The visitors run the risk to be harmed, and the people visited run the risk to lose this great opportunity.
Time to time and we will see.
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Great article, Lucy.
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:49 pm
I know there were in Moscow bus tours that called something like “Criminal Moscow”. These tours didn’t suggest nothing a kind of risky or dangerous, only an excursion with different stories around the city. Certanly almost every sity has places which somwhere were connected with criminal incidents. It’s difficult to explain, but people like these sort of things, often they would like to hear details of something phohibited, unnormal.
Also this excursion included a visit to investigative isolation ward, and peple like it, couse this is hidden part of life, closed and scary.
So, anyway is it ok or bad, people will like it and will be ready to pay for gangland tours.
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:24 am
Hi ! If you are dependent on adrenaline or you are a psychiatrist , an sociologist, policeman or you are involved in a charity organization for sure you have to visit L.A.’s Gangland .
Or you are a philanthropist and you want helping people in need …
Many women send letters , correspond with men from jail …maybe they are curious to see gangs , gangsters …
But without demonizing , without romanticizing .
The very poor people frequent the gangland or live there . And the poverty has not the nicest smell .
But to have the chance to visit L.A. prefering a tour of Gangland… It sounds strange .
Tania
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:31 am
Hi ! Dear Alena , I agree with you . We all love detective novels , thrillers .
Tania
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:39 am
Hi , Elcomandant ! No sign from you for a long time . I wish you a Happy New Year .
You used to write us very often . What happened with you ?
All the best for you all ,
Tania
February 3rd, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Like has in the Rio de Janeiro- Brasil. For long time in the Rio de Janeiro there are these tours throughout the “favelas” , are places when there is the great poverty and the most dangerous thiefs and drugs dealers normally hides itself, then turning the place dangerous to visitors and residents, because the major population in these places is made of honest people, but lack State presence and the bandits decide taken for themselves the controll under the local. The worst yet is that the city of Rio turned itself in one of the most dangerous of all the world. Now, is very commom to see bandits exchanging shots against police, months ago they shot in a police helicopter and the policeman pilot only it had time of land the aircraft before explosion of the combat’s helicopter, one of the team policemen was killed in action. The geographical position is hard to the police to launch attacks , ’cause the “favelas” stays located on hills and mountains around Rio city. During police attacks the bandits try defend its position, like war, it does use firearms very powerful and the bullets goes on direction to city that stay bellow and these bullets flying so-called: Lost bullets sometimes achieves a citizen there bellow in the head and he/she die without know of nothing, is a threat common in the Rio city.
In relation the asks, my humble opinion is who has courage should go to see the real world.
Who comes to olympic games Rio 2016 and world football championship 2014 should bring bulletproof jacket and helmets in the suitcase. I would like to thanks Jeff and Lucy and all team of the marvelous ESL Podcast, by great job developed. Thanks so much.
February 4th, 2010 at 12:37 am
I don’t love it. too dangerous to think about it only.
February 4th, 2010 at 1:53 am
Hi , Brasil ! Your comment is really interesting . With more details it could be a short detective story . Please , write us weekly .
Thanks for the heads up !
All the best for you all ,
Tania
February 4th, 2010 at 1:58 am
Hi ! Thank you for the difference between “you and me , both ” and “you and I ” .
Tania
February 4th, 2010 at 3:52 am
Hi ! I hope Dr. Gupta is not the great reporter from CNN channel . Anyway he is a man . I am joking .
Nice lesson with a lot of novelties . Thank you .
All the best for you ,
Tania
February 4th, 2010 at 8:08 am
My real opinion about this tour is simple: people do anything for a fistful of dollars!.
Are We masochistic, or what? I can understand the Mr.Lomas’s goal (that is, make money),
but not the people who take this tour. I’m sure they are few because if not, I will have to
change my mindset. As for the reverend Gregory Boyle, he’s the person who has been doing
all the work for helping these communities and I am totally agree about his words and
his experience.
To sums up, I would opt for other choice in BEAUTIFUL Los Angeles such as
visiting ESL Podcast Studio or Angelina Jolie’s house (this is just an example,
of course, don’t get me wrong).
Impressive article, Lucy, as usual…
Alejandro (Elche, Spain)
February 4th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Hello, Tania thanks for reading my comment.
Unfortunately, this type of scenes is quite common in the beatiful “Rio” like we brazilians proudly calling the marvelous city. But, the criminals are taking controll. If you wish to see an informative report, just writing “helicoptero da policia derrubado” in search line on the youtube. There are a dozens of videos about it, there.
From now, I will talk a little about Brazil(Brasil in portuguese) sometimes, ok?
But, I can not write a interesting police novel, yet(kidding)
Thanks Tania, and “saudações”(greetings) for all members and participants.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Please read itself in my comment: “But, I can not write an interesting police novel, yet(kidding)”; instead: But, I can not write a interesting police novel, yet(kidding).
Beg a pardon by my mistake, always I exchange “a” by “an” before of vowel, but I saw and I’m doing a errata.
Thanks by comprehension, I’m a brazilian man and don’t never give up( another kidding of the brazilian people
February 5th, 2010 at 1:24 am
Hi , Brasil ! Thank you . We are looking forward to receive news from you .
All the best for you ,
Tania
February 5th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Hi, Tania! Tell me a little bit about your country, I would like to know something about it.
‘Cause, my country is calm down, now, for while!
Only very floodings because is raining so much over, this year.
Before I forget, I am not a Sherlock Holmes, just curiosity.
Cheers for you!
Good lucky for all.
February 7th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Hi everybody!
I live in Brazil and as “brasil” says in your comments, here we have in all the big cities this terrible problem unfortunatly.
My city is Campinas in São Paulo state and due the huge industrialization of the city without the correct distribution, the society become itself very violent.
We need to find alternatives to solve this problem and i think that what happens in LA may become even more often in other places around the world….
about the question, If i drink a little, maybe i may go in this “crazy tour” in the future =)
I would like to say thanks to Jeff and Lucy for help to improve my english every day with the podcasts!!!
April 24th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Gangland tour activity must be appealing to people who like thrilling feeling.As the article mentions, Alfred, the former gang member, has the idea of the tour , for he wants to create more jobs in community.If his idea is truely non- profit, i will in favor of it.
Gang members sometimes can be sheriffs; they’re not always villains.Through these tours, people can have the new image of gangsters, and hopefully people will extremes in the LA Times; do not demonize the gang members and do not romanticize them as well