It's Called "Gangland"!
What could be a more wholesome pastime than taking your kids to the fair? After all, what is more American than that?
I know how I would have answered those questions a month ago. My opinion on the subject has changed considerably however, since I took my 15 year old daughter and her best friend to the California State Fair.
It was 104* that day and we pretty much melted. We went on Friday (opening day) and there was hardly anyone there...until 10:30 p.m. or so, that's when everything changed! I've never seen anything like it! There we were just going on one ride after the next with our unlimited ride wrist bands when we realized that the whole crowd had totally changed. No more families or cute couples! It was all gangs!! I don't have a prejudice bone in my body. It wasn't the color of everyone's skin that bothered me, it was the way they were dressed, their attitude and their language. At 11:00 we decided it was a good time to leave. We made it to the front gates while ignoring the many vulgar and threatening comments thrown our way. I stopped by some cops there to fish my keys out of my purse before we headed into the parking lot. Guess what? They weren't in my purse anymore. As I was searching I heard comments behind me like, "She be one fiiiine piece a ass!" and "That there be one hot, sexy mama!" and Maya's personal favorite as I desperately searched for my keys, "She be lookin' fo her crack pipe!" Wow! Good times. So, without keys we had no way to get home and no way to get in when we got there! Soooo, we headed to the lost in found...no keys. Hmmm, they be lost somewheres in da state fair! Bummer. I probably should've left the girls in the lost & found office but I didn't think of it at the time so we three headed out into the concrete jungle to find my "keys in a hay stack!"
We passed several (and I mean TONS) of groups of cops and asked each group if anyone had turned keys in to them. The answers were all the same; "No, and you girls shouldn't be here now. It's not safe!" DUH!! Then one of the cops pointed out how all of the groups of kids (ranging from 11 and 12 all the way up to late 20's) were wearing solid colored, matching t-shirts. Sure enough, there were groups in white, blue, red...whatever. The officer pointed out that they were all gangs and it didn't matter what color that particular gang wore, none of them were "nice guys" and we should get outa there. Great advice! I pointed out that I'd like nothing better but that, without my keys that was quite impossible.
That officer then pointed out that the area that we were walking into was the most dangerous. It was the Midway area and apparently the center of hoodlum hang out! He escorted us part way in when he announced he had to go back? Guess he got nervous. The thing was, the girls and I figured that we knew the most likely place where I would've lost my keys so we had to head back to that ride...regardless of where it was! We trudged deeper into the gang ghetto area of the fair until we reached the ride. The attendant was sitting outside the ride with, (TA-DA!), my keys hanging on a bucket next to him!!! Yay! I can't tell you how relieved we all were. We were then faced with the task of making our way back out of the "Riot Waiting to Happen" haven, and get out to our car in one piece. No small task.
The comments made to me earlier were nothing compared to the comments and vulgar suggestions that were being tossed at us from all directions as we attempted to inconspicuously slip out of there! Gangs of opposite colors were all around us and when they weren't yelling racial slurs back and forth to each other (which I find to be funny since they were ALL black, yet throwing the "N" word around like they could insult other African Americans with it, yet it wasn't an insult to themselves?) and trying to start fights, they'd focus on us and what "fine pieces of white ass" we were. Trust me, I'm sparing you the vulgar comments! I really would have been fine and not nervous at all if it was just me, but having my 2 pretty, teenage girls with me and the focus of so much gang attention and hostility was turning my stomach. Cops were everywhere but I guess they wait for someone to throw the first punch or wave the first knife before they do anything.
Well, we made it to the gate, with my keys in hand and I asked one of the 20 or so law enforcement officials standing there how well the parking lot was patrolled and if I'd be safe taking my 2 pretty girls out there. They said they had between 75-90 cops in the parking lot alone!!! Wow! If you wanted to commit a crime anywhere in Sac between 11:00 p.m. and midnight on any night of the Sate Fair, I'd say there wouldn't be a cop available to stop you!
So we practically ran to the car. I unlocked it with the fob on my key chain when we were within a few feet of safety and the girls practically dove into the car, slamming their doors! when I got in they were yelling, "Lock the doors! Lock the doors!!!"
As we drove out of the lot we saw several areas where squad cars had corralled groups of kids...okay, "gangs" and were either questioning them or arresting them.
Moral of the story...the state fair is just not a "family friendly" activity or place to be after 10:00 at night!
We passed several (and I mean TONS) of groups of cops and asked each group if anyone had turned keys in to them. The answers were all the same; "No, and you girls shouldn't be here now. It's not safe!" DUH!! Then one of the cops pointed out how all of the groups of kids (ranging from 11 and 12 all the way up to late 20's) were wearing solid colored, matching t-shirts. Sure enough, there were groups in white, blue, red...whatever. The officer pointed out that they were all gangs and it didn't matter what color that particular gang wore, none of them were "nice guys" and we should get outa there. Great advice! I pointed out that I'd like nothing better but that, without my keys that was quite impossible.
That officer then pointed out that the area that we were walking into was the most dangerous. It was the Midway area and apparently the center of hoodlum hang out! He escorted us part way in when he announced he had to go back? Guess he got nervous. The thing was, the girls and I figured that we knew the most likely place where I would've lost my keys so we had to head back to that ride...regardless of where it was! We trudged deeper into the gang ghetto area of the fair until we reached the ride. The attendant was sitting outside the ride with, (TA-DA!), my keys hanging on a bucket next to him!!! Yay! I can't tell you how relieved we all were. We were then faced with the task of making our way back out of the "Riot Waiting to Happen" haven, and get out to our car in one piece. No small task.
The comments made to me earlier were nothing compared to the comments and vulgar suggestions that were being tossed at us from all directions as we attempted to inconspicuously slip out of there! Gangs of opposite colors were all around us and when they weren't yelling racial slurs back and forth to each other (which I find to be funny since they were ALL black, yet throwing the "N" word around like they could insult other African Americans with it, yet it wasn't an insult to themselves?) and trying to start fights, they'd focus on us and what "fine pieces of white ass" we were. Trust me, I'm sparing you the vulgar comments! I really would have been fine and not nervous at all if it was just me, but having my 2 pretty, teenage girls with me and the focus of so much gang attention and hostility was turning my stomach. Cops were everywhere but I guess they wait for someone to throw the first punch or wave the first knife before they do anything.
Well, we made it to the gate, with my keys in hand and I asked one of the 20 or so law enforcement officials standing there how well the parking lot was patrolled and if I'd be safe taking my 2 pretty girls out there. They said they had between 75-90 cops in the parking lot alone!!! Wow! If you wanted to commit a crime anywhere in Sac between 11:00 p.m. and midnight on any night of the Sate Fair, I'd say there wouldn't be a cop available to stop you!
So we practically ran to the car. I unlocked it with the fob on my key chain when we were within a few feet of safety and the girls practically dove into the car, slamming their doors! when I got in they were yelling, "Lock the doors! Lock the doors!!!"
As we drove out of the lot we saw several areas where squad cars had corralled groups of kids...okay, "gangs" and were either questioning them or arresting them.
Moral of the story...the state fair is just not a "family friendly" activity or place to be after 10:00 at night!
At least, not in MY opinion!
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