Stabbing on the Westside

"Police Allege Confrontation was Gang-Related"

Uh, duh, ya think Wilbur? Should've let them do to each other what they love to do to each other most, save some taxpayers $$$ so maybe they can get the Blue Line Project going or invite more bums to town. I hear some benches need work.

"They were booked into County Jail, while a 14-year-old male was released to his parents."

HAHAHAHA! Yeah, like maybe the parents don't have gang affiliations? If they weren't aware what Junior was up to, they sure are now, granted they weren't part of it. Should've kept him locked up if he wants so much to be "hard." Coddle & appease, it's what we do best folks :) henry

Punk on punk violence. At least they're keeping it in the shallowest end of the gene pool.

We'll see these punks again as they tirelessly prepare for their promotional careers as professional prison inmates.

Coddle and appease or just ignore the problem until it happens downtown.

Pass them by, cross the street, you know what to look for, stay away. These little macho maggot fools can go ahead and kill each other off, they are just taking up good air. Shame, waste of a human soul.

**Chief Sanchez Says He's 'Had It' With Gang Violence**

Yes... we can see they are running scared!

Why do they just say Bohnett Park and not point out that it is connected to the Westside Boys & Girls club where young kids go to be safe and stay out of trouble? It makes it especially disgusting that they are doing these things at a place that is made for kids... why is it not better lit and fully gated? I live a few blocks away and we can hear the fights and what sound like semi regular gunshots coming from that spot at night but we seldom hear police sirens... if the police presence was higher there would be less of an issue at that location. UP THE POLICE PRESENCE!! Put in motion sensors, fences, lights, cameras, alarms, security guards, etc. SOMETHING to make it safer!

I love SB but I am disturbed that $2mil is being allocated to the courtyard at the library when it would cost a lot less to make places like Bohnett Park safer. It's like this park was created to give people a place to put a needle in their arm, deal drugs and have gang fights with the little dark and hidden walkway between San Pascual and San Andres. There are lots of hiding places for sure and there shouldn't be a place like that in the middle of gang land. What the heck is the matter with the planning people??

The Usual Suspects commiting the same crimes over and over. Big surprise. Look at what is happening S. of the border.
Highest crime rate/murder rate in the WORLD right now. Exporting that mentality of macho and gangs and settleing everything with stabbings and shootings and gangs etc. etc.

I 'm sick of it but I guess the community as a whole is not sick enough of it.

The areas of danger in SB have grown ten fold since I moved here in 1974.

Just great.

Bohnett Park aka Westside Park.

aka playground for the boys & girls club... where kids go to be in a safe and GANG FREE environment... see the irony here?

I see the silly notion that it would be considered a safe zone with so much going on.

city needs to sell this park to developers and build single family houses or mixed use. maybe with proceeds they can relocate a few stop signs or build some traffic circles. this park is a magnant for westside gang bangers and the police presence is a joke. i do not feel safe even driving by this park afraid would be caught in the crossfire. this is sad since i live only few blocks from this park. i have thought of many ideas to combat the gang presence and filthy conditions of this park and honestly, keep coming back to private development. any other ideas that we could propose to city would be appreciated.

How about making it a "safe zone", like a school zone, there would be stricter penalties for violent or drug offenses. Also, if people are really concerned they could always set-up a neighborhood watch type program, even though I really doubt the police would answer anyone's calls. On second thought vigilantism is always an option. Where is Charles Bronson when you need him?

Legalize drugs?

For once I agree with billclausen IF he is endorsing by his question the legalization of substances I have no interest whatsoever in partaking of. That war has long been over and its time not to make legalized online gambling the only new game in town but to regulate and tax drugs as well.

And I agree with santabarbarasand---the library doesn't need all that beautification money. Illuminating the westside park, whatever you wish to call it, just might cause these worthless roaches to run for the darker corners of their blighted little souls.

How long are we going to willfully remain hostages to the same generational loser gangbangers over and over again?
Until these things and a whole lot more happen, AZ2SB's second thought might be the only option remaining.

My heart be still...Draxor paid me a compliment!

Yes Draxor, I am saying "legalize..." I mean "RE-legalize drugs" and take out the Black Market value. Drug trade is very conducive to gang turf wars. Moreover (for the moralists who take about "the children") with the profit removed, there will be less incentive to push drugs so the probability of people standing around schoolyards trying to get your kid to use drugs is reduced.

When will Santa Barbara's keyboard commando's finally take a stand? Never, you all sit on this site and talk. Thats all you do is talk without actions. No better then your favorite target Sanchez. If Santa Barbara is so bad move. I 'm born and raised in SB and have had my fair amount of run-ins with Westsiders, Eastsiders Rock Creek, and G-13. They run on fear and intimidation. Yes, many come from broken homes with no dad. But many come from homes with double income and a lack of a responsible adult. Most of you have some great ideas. When will you come together for the better good of this one time great city and implement them? Everything else falls on deaf ears in this city.