The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

Civil rights leaders react to DOJ findings, call for citizens review board

by •

Surrounding by leaders of various local civil rights organizations, AV-NAACP President V. Jesse Smith speaks at a press conference at Antelope Valley courthouse to address the results of a Justice Department investigation.
Surrounded by leaders of various local civil rights organizations, AV-NAACP President V. Jesse Smith speaks at a press conference Tuesday at Antelope Valley courthouse to address a Justice Department investigation that revealed racial discrimination in the Antelope Valley.

LANCASTER – Leaders from various local civil rights groups gathered for a community press conference Tuesday morning in response to a Justice Department investigation that revealed discriminatory policing and racial bias in the Antelope Valley.

“The report from the Justice Department confirms what we have said all along, that African Americans and Latinos have been the victims of racial profiling in the Antelope Valley,” said V. Jesse Smith, President of the AV-NAACP. “It confirmed also that those who are a part of Section 8, in fact, were targeted because they were Section 8 vouchers [holders], and they were targeted because many of them happen to be African American and Latino,” Smith continued.

The Justice Department Civil Rights Division on Friday (June 28) announced the conclusion of a nearly two-year investigation, which found that deputies from the Lancaster and Palmdale Sheriff’s Stations routinely targeted African Americans and Latinos for stops, seizures and excessive force and that local deputies and housing investigators intimidated and harassed African-American housing choice voucher holders.

Lancaster Mayor Emeritus Henry Hearns opened the press conference with prayer for a better system.
Lancaster Mayor Emeritus Henry Hearns opened the press conference with prayer for a better system.

In a letter to Sheriff Lee Baca detailing its findings, the DOJ stated that “racial intolerance” was “an unfortunate part of the history of the Antelope Valley.” The report cited multiple examples of racial bias, from the 1960s, when “African-American families who wanted to live in Lancaster and Palmdale were directed to the historically minority neighboring community of Sun Village…,” to an incident in 2010 when an “LASD deputy took photographs of luxury vehicles in a home’s garage during a Section 8 compliance check, and sent them to the administrator of the ‘I Hate Section 8’ Facebook page,” which resulted in the home being vandalized with racial slurs. Read the DOJ’s findings letter/report in full here.

“As I read the report, I literally, literally came to tears, because while I knew that racism existed, I didn’t know it was that pervasive,” Smith said.

“We look towards the day when Latino immigrants and U.S. born citizens alike can walk the streets of the Antelope Valley without fear, and some of us, without terror,” said Javier Flores of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

Sheriff’s officials disagree with many of the DOJ’s conclusions, but said the department was committed to working closely with the DOJ to assess what, if any, changes need to be implemented. Read the LASD’s statement of intent here.

The County Housing Authority has also committed to making changes and to paying “monetary damages to persons whose fair housing rights were violated in the course of HACoLA’s enforcement of the voucher program in the Antelope Valley from 2004 to at least 2011,” according to a statement of intent by the County Housing Authority.  “The Parties will negotiate the exact amount of monetary damages,” the statement reads. Read the County Housing Authority’s Statement of Intent here.

A recent news story in the LA Times put the figure at around $12.5 million dollars.

“They deserve even more as far as I’m concerned,” Smith said, before adding that the situation was about much more than money. “What Section 8 folks and people of color experienced, being harassed by the police, money can’t compensate that because that’s going to live with them for the rest of their lives. But it will provide for them some measure of justice and some measure of comfortable living.”

Jerome Reynolds shares his story with the crowd.
A month after the DOJ launched its investigation, Section 8 recipients packed a community forum to give first-hand accounts of what they called abuse and harassment by local deputies.

The Justice Department’s investigation was launched in August 2011 (read more here), just two months after the local NAACP and other civil rights groups filed a federal lawsuit claiming black and Latino families using Section 8 were victims of constant, unbearable harassment at the hands of housing authority investigators, sheriff’s deputies and local politicians (Read that complaint here).

Though not named in the federal lawsuit, the County of Los Angeles reached a settlement related to the allegations in late January of 2012 (Read more here). The City of Palmdale settled about a week later, but did not admit to any wrongdoing and called the lawsuit “frivolous.” (Read those details here). Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris, the most vocal critic of the lawsuit (read more here, here and here), announced that the city was resolving the lawsuit in October of 2012. (Read more here).

Both local sheriff’s stations have also undergone changes since the Justice Department investigation began. Each has created its own Community Advisory Committee to strengthen the partnership between the community and law enforcement. (Read more here and here). Earlier this year, new Sheriff’s Captains were announced for each station, as well.

Civil rights activists are calling for an independent Citizens Review Complaints Board, which will assure the public that complaints against deputies are investigated completely and fairly.

“The citizens have got to feel empowered that when police misconduct takes place out here, they have some kind of authority to be able to rectify the situation and hold law enforcement accountable,” Smith said, adding that the citizens review board must have subpoena power.

The civil rights groups will be holding an “educational meeting” next week that focuses on the DOJ’s conclusions.

“For the purpose of educating the community on what the report actually entails and then where do we go from here…” Smith said. “If you were a victim of racial injustice, you are going to be compensated for that in some form or fashion at some later date.”

He says the meeting is also open to residents who may disagree with the way the Section 8 program is administered. Those residents are welcome to the meeting, so that community leaders can address the misconceptions about the Section 8 program, Smith says.

“What we want to say is, ‘not every person who is on Section 8 is a criminal, not every person who is on Section 8 is African American or Latino, and not every person on Section 8 is bringing down the community…” Smith said, adding that the Justice Department’s report revealed that there was no connection between Section 8 and crime in Lancaster and Palmdale.

The first in a series of educational meetings to address the DOJ’s findings will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10 at a location to be announced, the group said. Activists are hoping that representatives from local law enforcement will attend the meeting, as well.

Civil rights organizations taking part in Tuesday’s press conference included the Antelope Valley Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, The Community Action League, the Merit Commission, the local chapter of the Nation of Islam, the HELPER Foundation, the League of United Latin American Citizens, One Way Up, and the High Desert Alliance of Black School Educators.

UPDATED 7/10/13: The community meeting to address the DOJ’s findings has been rescheduled to  a date in August, according to AV-NAACP President V. Jesse Smith. The exact date, time and place will be announced in the near future, Smith said.

–

97 comments for "Civil rights leaders react to DOJ findings, call for citizens review board"

  1. Where are these local activists when young black men are being murdered right here in the AV…? Where is the outrage and megaphones…? That is always conveniently glanced over …

    Maybe our ‘concerned’ AV African American leaders can address these valid points made by Bill O’Reilly in this video from tonight’s segment. He has the intestinal fortitude to ask some very sensitive yet valid questions/statements. I have but one question: Does any of our local civil right activists have the same intestinal fortitude to come out of the woodwork and offer some answers and feedback…?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yswEJ81hnWA

    • While I will agree with you that the silence is often times deafening from the civil rights leaders on this issue. I believe that we must not allow for crimes or injustice of any sort to go unchallenged and to be quite honest it is much easier to go after the establishment (law enforcement, politicians, etc.) than the very same people that you claim represent, but until these leaders begin to do so, it will be hard for me to take them seriously.

  2. Would be nice if we could add an interactive thought bubble above Stan Muhammad’s head in these pictures.

    I wonder if all of these very important community LEADERS will speak out against Mr. Muhammad’s homophobic speech? Que the crickets………

  3. Denial denial denial. “We can’t believe the DOJ because Holder is in Washington”??? Fine, so you can’t believe Merrick Bobb either? How about the LASD’s own special council? 3 different authors. The same findings, over and over and over. LASD discriminating against minorities in the AV.
    I could find more if I cared to. Because this goes back to the 60’s. Nothing changes if you can’t admit you have a problem.

    Is there anyone the people here would believe if they said the LASD discriminates against minorities in the AV? Jesus? Gandhi? Clark Kent?
    My bet is no one. As minorities become the majority, you all might want to hope they don’t treat you as they’ve been treated! Keep hiding your heads in the sand. And we the tax payers will continue to pay out for bad policing.

    http://zev.lacounty.gov/news/public-safety/sheriff-race-bias-in-lancaster

    http://www.parc.info/client_files/LASD/32nd%20Semiannual%20Report.pdf

    • This is the second time in two days that I have read in print ‘veiled’ threats about how things are going to be different when minorities assume majority status. One was a letter writer in yesterday’s VALLEY PRESS and now this post. HELLO. African Americans and Hispanics are the majority in LA County and the AV. The President is black, U.S. Attorney General is black, CA Attorney General is black, and the LA district attorney is black. Tomorrow is here! And we the same crap that minorities are discriminated against by everyone. Get real!

      • So Mr. Rives. Which report is lying? And there is no threat. But there are facts. Fact that whites in America are going to be the new minority.
        But look how this works. 3 reports all saying the same thing.
        Yet I’m supposed to believe YOU having something to worry about as a white man because of responses in two publications? But minorities have had nothing to worry about? But the white man does? Minorities no. YOU, Michael Rives yes? Let me guess, the 2 responses represent threats, but years of abuse by the LASD doesn’t? WOW! Not going to handle being a minority well, are you Michael?

        So, are you going to call the DOJ because you’re being persecuted?

  4. Has anyone really read the DOJ report? I read and re-read it, and what I found was a bit disturbing. Maybe cause I lived in Missouri, but “Show me” where all this discrimination is. The report was long on talk, very short on numbers. Mark Twain said, “There are three kinds of lies, lies, damn lies, and then there are statistics!

    Q: Was there, or was there not, abuse of the section 8 vouchers? Yes/No (Please DOJ, please comments on your findings. Is the voucher abuse is real or imagined!)

    Q: Did all the violators get their vouchers revoked? Yes/No

    Q: Where the violators get their vouchers revokes because they were one particular ethnicity, or did the violators get their vouchers revoked because of their actions?(regardless of their color?)

    Q: Who wrote this report? A bunch of DOJ lawyers! Did they swear an oath to tell the truth? Yes/No
    Q:Why? A:Because they were sent here to investigate this discrimination.

    Q: How long do you think you would keep your job in the DOJ if you are sent by Eric Holder to document something, and then failed to find it?

    Q: How many times has the DOJ investigated a police department, and failed to find what they were looking for? What are the numbers? I would like to hypothesize that if you go in looking for something to justify your preconceived notion, then you will always find it!

    Q: If they found that a official kicked somebody out their house, based on their color, why hasn’t the DOJ charged that person with a civil rights violation? Why, isn’t that what the DOJ does? Why aren’t a bunch of officials being led away in handcuffs?

    Q: If the District Attorney who prosecuted and the judges who convicted are also participating in this fraud, why not name them in the lawsuit? Why just focus on the police?

    I think perhaps, what has occurred is that people have not used their critical thinking skills, and just bought off on the DOJ report as accurate, without asking some tough questions. I purpose, show us all the unvarnished numbers, from whence you made your report. Let the public decide!

  5. Im sure that AV NAACP, TCAL, LULAC, Merit Commission, Nation of Islam HELPERS, One Way Up, and the DOJ are going discuss at their July 10th “Educational Meeting” how they are planning to hold their next press conference to ask for the public to help in finding those who are responsible for the double murder of two young men of color two weeks ago. I believe they are also going to offer a large reward to entice those with information to come forward. Be patient, I’m sure our civil rights groups will step up when and where they are really needed…… Im sure….

  6. If the demographics of these two cities are Blacks, Hispanics, and White(in that order,) how that constitutes “profiling.” Isn’t that just law of averages?

      • But the demographic of the section 8 of those two cities is black, Hispanic, white. I believe it’s over 70% black. And less than 10% white.

  7. Notagain
    THIS ISNT ABOUT RACE! ITS ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THEY CAN GET! I WONDER WUTS NEXT!

  8. Gee, I didn’t see any references to civil rights violations by gang members trying to intimidate elementary school kids to join their gangs, an inevitable death sentence.
    Why is that?

    • Does the County know that one of their employees is playing on the internet while you should be rubber stamping useless forms and planning your lunch?

      You’re a a real hard charger playing internet philosopher :)

      110 or 260?

        • Probably not….he can’t handle the truth like so many in the AV. Blinders are everywhere!

          • What?… I’m just no match for you two. SackOTard Your one sentence micro-rant (typical) made no reference to what was in the article (off topic) and may constitute valid discourse on some planet. You’re always worth a good laugh. You impresses yourself with what I’m sure you would characterize as intellect.

  9. Last year before the Human Relations Commission meeting which Darren Parker chaired, I was running for Lancaster City Council and I called for the establishment of a Civilian Review Board because of a shooting of one Hispanic man and one African American man. The Sheriff responded by appointing a group in Lancaster and Palmdale comprised of people prominent in the community. Okay, now we have the situation where Section 8 recipients are said to have been harassed by LASD, Housing, and Parole agents. Let’s get specific. Who had what rights violated? Did those who said they were violated get arrested for Section 8 or Parolee violations? Also, what complaints were filed with LASD and the LA County Housing Authority? If specific people were injured by the Section 8 sweeps, they may be compensated, but, not every Hispanic or African American who is on Section 8. Fair enough? I call again for established of a Civilian Review Board and the contracting out to another law enforcement agency in Lancaster for financial and appearance’s sake. I suggest Kern County Sheriff next to us if they are less expensive and provide more deputies.

    • Kern County sheriffs? Are you absolutely nuts? They’re the worst of the worst! Ask anybody who lives in Rosamond how they feel about the Kern County Deputies.

  10. Oh Henry Hearns, you will do anything to stay relevant. I am suprised he didn’t bring his daughter to sing (and sell CD’s) at the press confrence. Go away Henry Hearns, we don’t need you or your drawn out prayers.

    • I just had a terrible thought. What if old Hearns is doing this to drum up publicity in order to run for mayor in the next election.

      Who would I vote for Hearns or Parris?

      Crap!

  11. They just heard about the money and now they are all there.

    “Where’s my money?”

    My tax money you mean……

  12. What is the percentage of individuals that are on section 8 that are Hispanic or Black? Roughly 72% in the antelope valley. Now if 72% of section 8 is one of the above minorities then there will be an equal proportion of incidents and crimes. That equated to 72% of section 8 violations would stem from the minorities because of pure numbers. Not racially profiling but dealing with facts.

  13. Ive been living Palmdale for many yrs I am white female and I dont get in trouble ever. I dont trust any of these sheriffswith my life, Hell no. I ve seen how they treat the people. The Sheriffs are so wrong. [removed]. I have never seen anything like it anywherelike I see it here. How sad is this, I can never and will never trust my lolcal law inforcement. What happened to you should be able to trust the Shirff. Very Sad. We need to replace the whole antelope Valley sheriff department. It tey then nothing will ever change

  14. Check this out, wouldn’t it make sense to create and give people more jobs that are on the county? I mean, how much does it cost to house an inmate? I heard it’s like $70,000 a year, $70,000 dollars per inmate. WOW, CRAZY… That is a whole lot more than what GR gives someone, and who is benefiting from the money they get to house an inmate? It makes the richer, richer. Too much money is being giving to one person instead of spreading the money around to everybody. Look at how much some people make, and really don’t do a whole hell of a lot to make it. But yet we condemn and look down on the people who probably work harder for there little pay check. That little pay check is barely getting them by. Why can’t we come up with something to give people hope, I mean most people are happy they get a minimum wage job these days. Why not take half the money we spend on an inmate for a year and put it into giving people a job instead, and lets see what happens. We’ve got to do something. But, No keep ignoring the problem and not doing anything about it. The best thing to do is help people to become better, not worse. If there were more opportunities and people were able to get them then we would see do better.

    • Yeah, the biggest moochers in our society are the greedy corporations who shift operations to other countries to avoid paying taxes on huge amounts of profits. Not to mention the financial institutions and other corporations who get large economic incentives from the government and do not re-invest in Americans.
      I hear lots of people whining about their tax dollars being squandered on welfare and section 8 recipients, but their Iphone dollars feed greedy Apple shareholders and a few Chinese families. Their Walmart dollars provide a living wage for Indonesian families, yet here at home many of their employees have to add food stamps to their incomes just to make ends meet.
      Comments here seem to come from self-righteous, judgmental citizens frustrated by their own efforts to keep a home and maintain a sufficient income. Instead of being upset at the system that drains us of the ability to sustain our families by the richest Americans and corporations, they would rather blame the poorest of the population for taking advantage of one of the last resources available to them in this broken economy. Don’t act as if you are paying someone elses rent or you are directly paying for the welfare program. Your tax dollars and military efforts are geared more directly into increasing corporate profits and global access. Its hard on ALL OF US!

      • Lemme guess….Democrat? Corporations are not living breathing individuals, so they’re not capable of being “greedy”. The shareholders and corporate officers are paying taxes through the nose. A corporation’s purpose is to make money for it’s shareholders. Any way they can legally do it is fine with me, and it should be fine with most hard working individuals whose retirement (401k, etc.) is hinged on corporations doing well. If we want ’em to stop using China and other countries, we should make the USA a business friendly place…which it’s not, because of ridiculous regulations. The wealthy are paying way too much in taxes…the poor need to do their fair share.

        • Why isn’t you annoyance directed at the Section 8 landlords who actually get the money from the government to rent their properties?

          That fact seems to get no attention.

          • I’m not annoyed by the landlords or the residents. I don’t blame anyone for accepting a handout if it’s offered. I am annoyed by the Section 8 program itself. It shouldn’t exist…then nobody could complain about the free-renters or the landlords.

          • No, then they’d just complain about the hundreds of thousands of homeless children and elderly and sit on their high horses and look down on them. And corporations may not be people, but when you have a President in the petroleum industry that invests millions in military efforts to protect the oil fields of another country while you steadily increase the cost of gasoline for your own citizens and offer hefty labor contracts to your business associates, your shareholders win at the population’s expense.
            Most of these section 8 recipients are or were the people who bought the crack, that funded the rebels, that fought the commies, who bought the guns, that came from the corporations who live in the house that jack built.
            I swear, the people who run this country have lost any resemblance to a human group. And most of its citizens are possessed by the spirit of money to the point that they see their fellow man as a check or a bill.
            Then they feel that they have the right to treat someone else bad because they are less fortunate. That’s the reason most of them left europe in the first place.
            It’s sad and only GOD can fix it. “Thy Kingdom come.”

          • Holy cow…gas is just about as cheap as it was in the 70s, taking inflation into account! And what happens?…the oil companies all get together over some secure phone line and agree with each other to raise prices in a similar fashion? They compete with each other. That’s why gas is still cheap. Ever travel outside this wacked out State? Gas is about 40 cents cheaper…that is because of all the taxes and additives required by the enviro-nuts.

            And the rich wouldn’t complain about the homeless, because eventually the homeless would disappear if they didn’t receive free stuff. They’d either get a job, live with friends, or starve.

          • The rich wouldn’t complain, it would be people like the ones on this site; the pseudo-rich (lol). The rich don’t care enough to complain.
            And the statement that gas is the same price proportional to inflation, you are sadly mistaken. Gas prices are one of the main factors of inflation. And oil companies do cooperate on prices and projections based on petroleum RESERVES! If you do a little research you will see that we, as a nation, are being financially raped and pillaged. But if you feel secure in your status or whatever based on your ideas, bless your heart. I see tribulation ahead.

    • If you want to earn more money than make yourself more employable. Get more education and training. Thats the reality. Minimum wage is not intended to be a wealthy choice. I actually grew up poor and found a way to go to college and took advantage of any and all grant options that were available, while working for minimum wage. So because I now EARN my money, which is well above minimum wage, your telling me I owe it to everyone else? Be realistic and get a clue. We are a democracy not a socialist state. You earn what you work for, not what your expected to have. Having witnessed first hand the abuse of welfare and section 8, I will under no circumstance (outside of my wasted tax dollars) help out a person unless I know they are in need and will actually attempt to better themself and lifestyle.

      • You help out someone who is not in need every single day at the gas pump. And your grants would not have been possible if it were not for an economy built upon indentured labor. Respect the help you received and feel good about being able to give someone else an opportunity. You don’t owe poor people and realistically, you are not paying them. So get over yourself.

        • Sounds like you’re anti-oil company. I suggest boycotting them…never buy their gasoline, get rid of your car, ride a bike, and put a bunch of ridiculous solar panels on your house. Watch the rest of the world (those of us who want to work hard and enjoy it) pass ya by!

          • Sounds like you base your opinions of people rather quickly and without many facts. I do ride a bike and minimize my reliance on oil. I don’t need to work hard because I have fun at what I do for a living and have no problem providing for myself and my family. Enjoy your serfdom.

          • Toil on! Rich people need the help. Fill up your tank while using your iphone on your way to citibank before you buy your heart medicine from walmart. Because CEO’s at Exxon, Apple, Citigroup, Merck, and Walmart need your money to add on to their BILLIONS of tax credit and free profits.

          • That wouldn’t be a good place for me to put my shop. And feel free to stop in and spend some of your disposable income, I really don’t care for honkers. Enjoy making other people rich!!
            And yeah, you can reply with something witty and sarcastic. I know the last word means a lot to you. Reach for the stars, you’re a winner!

        • You missed my point ROME. I already know I am taxed everywhere I turn. I am NOT anti tax, What I am is using the tax dollars for what they are intended for. Not being wasted on career criminals and low life scum. I am extremely grateful I had grants and good opportunities afforded to me, I have no problem returning the favor; but if i can do it. My path was walked and achieved through MY hard work…. You are only entitled to what YOU work for in this country. You know nothing about RESPECT. I have served my country and community and am proud to be an American. You need a reality check.

          • I wish we could all share similar views but we can’t. I am not wasting anymore time commenting on this website. I’ll take my cause to elected officials and exercise democrarcy. Anyone can hide behind a screen. Have a great 4th everyone and remember why your proud to be an AMERICAN.

  15. Me and my kids dad worked most of our life. Now, he is paralyzed and I have disabilities to deal with, and we both don’t have are parents or family to run to for help. He was a foster kid, and his foster parents passed away already, and mine are passed also. We don’t have a record, and we worked most of our life before we became disabled. When I didn’t have section-8 my kids didn’t get toys and we barely got to do anything, because I saved my money for the rent and bills. Now that I have section-8, we still barely make it every month. But I am so thankful for the help.

    • And THIS person right here is who section 8 is meant for IMO. Not the lazy people who are able to work but choose not to, not single mom who moves in the boyfriend who is working, not the person who moves in more family who are criminals or up to no good. And we need the compliance checks to make sure those who abuse the system are removed from it.

      I seriously doubt it was a spur of the moment decision to have deputies go along on CC’s. If anything the compliance officers where being threatened by those who were breaking the rules, because they didn’t want to lose their free ride.

      • Exactly Uncle Tom….the truth seems to be a hard concept for so many of our community leaders. So tired of the poor me race attitudes!

  16. Time for the working people to leave this state and then see where will they get their money. It could be the last days according to the BIBLE. It says things would get worst and this is just one example of many thing .Pray that all would read John3:16 and understand that GOD sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins. America had taken GOD of the BIBLE out every thing other than blaming when things go wrong.

  17. Mr Flores may get his wish when the tax paying, law abiding citizens leave this area.He can have the sidewalks all to himself.

  20. I have a SERIOUS problem with the profiling accusation as the deputy responses were ALL due to COMPLAINTS levied by neighbors et al. and if I remember correctly, there was about a 90% or greater conviction rate. How is that targeting???? Sounds to me that the LASD was targeted by the DoJ

    • what kind of complaints from the neighbors? Because when I moved into the house I am living the front yard was dry grass and weeds. Now that I moved here it looks better.

  22. More extortion from the taxpayers! yes, i said EXTORTION you scandalous parasites of society!

  23. stereotypes exist for a reason and are based on some amount of truth. If you don’t think that’s true you are sadly mistaken. WAKE UP! If you don’t want to be “labeled” or “profiled” don’t act, speak, or dress like a thug. It doesn’t matter what race or color you are. It’s a simple reality. Get off welfare and section 8 if you are perfectly able to work. It’s possible to go to school or get a professional skill while on the system and use those resources FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME and eventually pay TAXES. I’ve seen it happen. Stop having kids you cannot afford on your own income, and if you think you are to good for a MINIMUM wage job (and you have no HS education, a criminal record, or no professional experience) DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. It’s your own concern. Take some responsibility and grow up! The government and the TAX PAYERS are not your providers and keepers. The good citizens, residents, and LASD members now have to cater to the actions of more bad people who were involved in the nonsense. The intent was to clean up our city and hold the abusers responsible….so now what? The abuse will continue and more of MY TAX dollars go to waste. Stand up good people!

  24. This is absolutely appalling! The only thing I see coming from this is that now more people are going to become bitter and silently enraged that lawbreakers now get rewarded with even MORE money, meanwhile, people who go to work everyday and struggle have to put up with loud and obnoxious behavior of Section 8 tenants who think they can do whatever they want.

  26.     2012
    According to: http://www.aveconomy.org the 2012 demographics were as follows:
    Lancaster-White-46.1%
                      Hispanic-41.6%                       
                      African American-21.3%
    Palmdale-White-47.2%
                      Hispanic-58.2%
                      African American-14.7
    In Lancaster it’s 46.1% vs 62.9% and Palmdale it’s 47.2% vs 72.9% whites vs Hispanics and African Americans. So doesn’t it reason that Hispanics and African Americans get profiled most because they make up most of the AV population?!

    • Math must not be your forte`. Either that or some of your statistics count individuals in two or more ethnic groups. Besides, who says that it’s a “vs.” situation in the first place. Most people out here are neighborly and normal. Get over yourself. “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t really out to get you” huh?

  27. U do the crime u do the time no matter what race … Im so sick of people saying their being discriminated on becouse of color …this is simply bs there wouldn’t be anything to get u on in the first place if u were following the laws plain and simple

  28. There seems to be (to me, anyway) a misalignment of priorities with the groups listed above. Our valley has experienced several very tragic murders over the past few weeks. Our brothers and sisters are being savagely taken away from us, and our surviving family members are left to pick up the pieces. With all of this inexplicable craziness happening, I have yet to see a press conference held by the AV-NAACP, LULAC, The Community Action League, the Merit Commission, the local chapter of the Nation of Islam, the HELPER Foundation, One Way Up, and/or the High Desert Alliance of Black School Educators condemning these recent events and demanding accountability for those responsible. What I have witnessed is some members of those same groups saying that the LASD is not doing their jobs and apprehending these murderers. Now, many members of these same groups are eagerly anticipating being “provided for them some measure of justice and some measure of comfortable living.” It seems like priorities need to be reviewed. I would rather have killers taken off the streets first, then deal with a few allegedly aggressive cops later. After all, if we talk trash about LASD and rub their noses in this DOJ letter, how motivated do you think the LASD will be to help catch the killers? I’ll tell you how motivated they’ll be: VERY MOTIVATED. The LASD are professionals who will continue to successfully do their very dangerous job, and continue to protect those of us who support and appreciate them, as well as those who don’t. Just a thought…

    • Awesome response. Well said. Where have these groups been except when they can pat their own backs and have something to gain. They started something and they quit and left a lot of people in the community high and dry when their publicity needs were met

    • Accountability? What a concept…your statement should be on the front page of the AV press because it couldn’t be more accurate! Thanks DW

      • The comment by Darius White was written two days ago, and a few have agreed with and support his comment. However, not one member of any of the groups mentioned in the article have responded at all. I guess the old saying “silence speaks volumes” could not be more true. SMH

  29. TCAL Do they still exist? They have no community anymore as they hold no meetings for THE COMMUNITY which would be THE PEOPLE. Their FB page has been silent for how long????? Free press is all they want and you just gave it to them. And citizens dragged to court every day and many SUFFER regardless of race and these people are NO WHERE to be found unless there is a camera for their faces to show off in. Sickening

    • Yep, and where are they when it’s a black on black crime? They LOVE to stir the pot when it’s anything but black on black crimes. They are truly a disgusting racist organization!

  30. “It confirmed also that those who are a part of Section 8, in fact, were targeted because they were Section 8 vouchers [holders]”

    Who is the Section 8 compliance squad supposed to target, Bill Gates?

    • They’re not supposed to target ANYONE for intimidation and harassment genius! What Section 8 compliance squad do you speak of? You mean the housing investigator and the deputies with guns drawn?? Deputies were not supposed to be riding along on compliance checks!! Why don’t you actually read the DOJ report and then attempt to comment from a place of knowledge.

      • “They’re not supposed to target ANYONE for intimidation and harassment …”

        You’re right, they’re not, and those that do should be held accountable, but that has nothing to do with the specific comment I was targeting.
        Section 8 compliance investigators are supposed to professionally investigate Section 8 recipients, as well as Section 8 homeowners, to ensure that they are in compliance, adhering to the rules of the program that recipient/homeowner agreed to when applying.
        They’re doing that but they’re doing it wrong.

        While not Section 8, I’ve seen similar situations where LAC police have guns drawn during code compliance checks.
        Code compliance checks are the non-Section 8 version of Section 8 compliance checks. Here, tax-paying home and land owners are targeted for intimidation and harassment.
        No one is immune.

        Thanks for the “genius” tag.
        Sometimes I doubt myself.

        • Animal Control has been illegally and aggressively targeting minorities for years. They’ll use dog issues to bring in other agencies. Then you’re in the system and open to all kinds of abuse. Animal Control one of the deep pocket Departments that often escapes scrutiny, and is guilty of race targetting. They’re one of the worst Departments motivated by race and engaged in the abuse of people, based on race.

          • License your dogs, don’t exceed the allowable number, don’t leave them in the yard barking all night, you won’t have a problem.

          • Check,check,check and WRONG. What don’t you get about wrongful, unwarranted “investigations”?

            SackOtard>… I’ll speak more slowly. The County is attacking honest people who have done nothing.

            I’ve seen you less than productive “contributions” here before.

      • In many cases, compliance checks for section 8 are because there is suspected illegal activity. Drugs, guns or felons might have been reported.

        All I can say is I am glad that as a landlord I have not yet been forced to accept Section 8 vouchers. There are cases and such working their way through the legal system that might change that though.

  31. I’m sure the “educational” meetings will discuss how people can get their share of the 12.5 million.

    • Of course….our tax dollars AT WORK for those who don’t/won’t/refuse to.