| Author |
Message |
    
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 894
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 12:26 pm: | 
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Please make time to attend this very important and informative.
N.A.G MEETING (Neighbors Against Gangs)
Time: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Information: Guest Speakers Include:
1)David Cross - Maplewood Police
2)Ron Holvey - Gang Intelligence Division
New Jersey Department Of
Corrections 3)Question and Answer Session
At Seth Boyden School
Contact: Eugene J Brown
Phone Number: 973-761-0939
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C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 1615
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 12:51 pm: |
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I believe the date is Monday, November 24th for this meeting. See you there.
Cathy |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 895
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - 1:00 pm: |
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Monday, November 24th is the date! |
Squeaky Wheel
Citizen
Username: Squeaky_wheel
Post Number: 15
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 9:16 pm: |
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Thanks Marie!
I will be there!
Searching for solutions to community problems.
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marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 911
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 1:29 pm: |
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Just a reminder - tonight's meeting will take place at the Seth Boyden Auditorium at 7:30. Please attend and bring a friend. No children tonight please. |
Jackie Day
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 200
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 1:39 pm: |
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Is this a newly formed group in response to the gang issue I am now starting to hear about? Is it grass-roots based limited to Maplewood, or a local chapter of some larger organization? |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 912
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 2:42 pm: |
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NAG is a grass roots, community based group. The best way to find out what they're all about is to attend the meeting tonight. The information to be discussed tonight is pertinent to everyone who lives in our community. Again, everyone is encouraged and welcome to attend. Get there early if you want a seat as attendance is expected to be high. |
gozerbrown
Citizen
Username: Gozerbrown
Post Number: 254
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 6:10 pm: |
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After the meeting, can someone post what took place there? I'm unable to go but am interested in the topic. Thanks. |
mem aka "toots"
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 2319
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 - 9:14 am: |
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Marie,
How did the meeting go? I really wanted to be there but I am preparing for guests arriving from abroad for the holiday. |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 915
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 - 7:28 pm: |
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Mem,
I arrived about 20 minutes into the meeting and missed the introduction, but was there for Officer Cross, Sargeant Rivera (from the Irvington Gang Task Force) and Chief Cimino's presentations. Chief Cimino commented that in his 20 plus years of duty in Maplewood he had never seen such a large number of residents show up for a community event. I estimate there were between 300 - 400 people in the auditorium.
Officer Cross presented information on gang "culture" and gave examples of specific signs to be on the alert for ; clothing - large white t-shirts often layered so that a gang member whose shirt has been dirtied or ied can "peel" off that shirt to avoid being detected. He showed a video of a very complicated and intricate sign language that gang members will use to identify themselves to each other, played lyrics from rap artists who are known gang members and also had examples of identifying grafitti. A board mounted with "homies" small plastic figurines of gang members sold in local grocery was passed around to the audience to further the point about how our children are inundated with gang culture without us even being aware of it's presence. He kept reinforcing the importnace of the community working with the police in helping to keep gang activity in Maplewood from proliferating - If someone sees something that looks suspicious, it should be reported to the police. Officer Cross assured residents that the MPD will "be there" to combat gang infiltration. The community needs to be the eyes and ears of the MPD in this fight.
Sargeant Rivera tried to allay fears by stating that "Maplewood isn't Irivington" - he compared the differences between the two towns and repeated Officer Cross's message that Maplewood won't become Irvington because we are a community that won't allow itself to be overtaken and that community involvment is absolutely key in preventing gang and infiltration.
Chief Cimino answered questions that related to "high" crime areas in Maplewood, the MPD's role in our schools, the eight criteria for identifying true gang activity, how we can help the police to help us etc.
NAG encouraged folks to sign up for block watches and to volunteer to help in the formation of open basktball nights and other activites to help keep kids off the streets and out of trouble.
Overall, it was an extremely enlighting evening and I highly encourage everyone to attend the next meeting where Ron Holvey from the State correctional division and an inmate incarcerated for gang acitivity, will talk on the subject.
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gozerbrown
Citizen
Username: Gozerbrown
Post Number: 260
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 26, 2003 - 3:59 pm: |
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Thanks for the update. I can't say that it makes me feel any better, though. I already knew most of those facts given regarding gang activity. Maybe the inmate they bring in will be a little more enlightening on how to prevent this stuff from getting out of control. Please let us know when the next meeting is. Thanks. |
lumpyhead
Citizen
Username: Lumpyhead
Post Number: 542
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, December 1, 2003 - 1:24 pm: |
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Gee, I can still remember the day on MOL when Marie was scoffed and mocked for even hinting that there was gang activity in Maplewood. What's next Marie?? |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 922
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 1, 2003 - 2:21 pm: |
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Lumpyhead,
Bush will win in 2004!  |
tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 1582
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 1, 2003 - 4:53 pm: |
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<ugh> |
marie
Citizen
Username: Marie
Post Number: 924
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 1, 2003 - 8:15 pm: |
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I knew that one would get ya Tom ;) |
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