como los gringos ven a las "gangs" pff

While much attention has been given to the association of street gangs with drugs, there has been little public discussion of the economics of this association. In the past, those street gangs that depended upon crime as a source of income were limited to the traditional methods of extortion, robbery and burglary as a means of providing that income. Because of the opportunistic nature of such crimes, coupled with the risk of personal injury and/or being sent to jail, many of the gang members could be lured away from the gang by positive alternatives such as: a chance to learn a skill and obtain gainful employment.

The availability of cocaine and the ease with which it can be converted to "crack" has changed the route through which the gang obtains its income and as a direct result, the nature of the gangs response of offers of positive alternatives. By way of illustration, consider the following:
On an initial investment of $2,500.00 worth of cocaine and using two readily available household chemicals, $10,000.00 worth of "crack" can be produced. In areas of high demand it is not unusual for a gang to "turn over" (increase the profit on) its initial investment by a factor of four. Therefore, the $10,000.00 worth of crack becomes $40,000.00 by the end of the day.

Typically the gang will employ one person to collect the money for the drugs, one person to deliver the drug to the buyer and two look outs/security men. Their pay can be as low as $50.00 per day each. Often a percentage is offered to the team for sales over a certain amount per day.

If the $200.00 per day cost of the team is deducted, the profit for the day would be $29,800.00. That's tax free money and continues seven days a week, three hundred and sixty five days a year.

In light of these facts, it becomes clearer why gangs resort to violence in disputes over the best sales areas and why the mere offer of a job at minimum wage does not readily deter a youth from this profitable enterprise.

Gang enterprise, justified through the gang system of values, incorporated into the gang structure, and embraced by the gang as an acceptable economic foundation for the gang society, will prove to be a monumental challenge for communities determined to eliminate the gang phenomenon.