Update on Jamiel's Law

Quel surpris! The corruption continues....

This case has roused intense passion and discord among city officials and the public it serves. The city leadership continues to defend and misinterpret Special Order 40 and labels dissenters as racists and demagogues. They've spent a lot of time trying to quell efforts to bring Jamiel's Law and our broken system into the light.

There's been a number of accusations. Jamiel Shaw Sr. says city personnel offered him payoffs including a position on a city committee if he would just tone it down on Jamiel's Law and keep away from the media. Then, Michelle Hennisee, LA prosecutor of alleged murderer Pedro Espinoza in trying to determine a motive for gunning down Jamiel Shaw concluded without merit or evidence that the victim was himself a gang member. According to Mr. Shaw, she informed him that she'd planned to proceed in this vein during Espinoza's trial. Rather than seeking the truth (which is more than likely a black/brown hate crime - something else our fearless leaders refuse to acknowledge) the prosecutor eluded to Jamiel's complicity since he was sporting a Spider Man backpack. The backpack obviously depicts known gang colors so he must have been affiliated with a gang or the gunman simply mistook him for one. D.A. Steve Cooley has since taken her off the case.

In a sidebar note of interest, two of the best gang crushing cops have been removed from the beat thanks to councilmember Janice Hahn. The LAPD fields complaints from the public regarding officer conduct and takes corrective action if the complaints pile up. The gangs are well aware of this policy and file complaints deliberately to build up the file.

Why is this happening? Ahhh, the $64,000 (adjust for inflation) question. The conclusion that I draw - with no basis, BTW, just because I'm cynical and suspicious - is that they are all on the take. Gangs wield so much power in this city and nobody possess the political will to take them down.