Dear Mayor Villaraigosa,
"Whenever I take a step outside of my house I feel worried and scared that something might happen to me. . . . You probably don't even know how I feel when I'm here. I feel angry and furious seeing gangsters tagging, smoking . . ."
Here's another:
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa,
"Monte Vista ES is a fun school because of all the programs we have. However, there has been a lot of violence on the street. . . . I would like it if you could get our community back on track."
And one more:
Dear Mayor Villaraigosa:
"Lately I don't feel safe anymore in Highland Park where I grew up. It's been horrible, there are gang bangers in our barrio, there's shooting, murders and every day we have lockdowns in my school. I'm asking you to help us. I was happy, but now I feel scared, sad and furious of all the commotion . . .
"Some people die very young by getting shot. One day this guy got shot in a drive-by, which is when your enemy drives by toward you and just shoots you. You can replace anything but not your life. If they shoot you that's it you're dead and done. I want you to understand what's happening."
--
steve.lopez@latimes.com
