Difference between revisions of "Albuquerque, the Hidden Cultures"

Revision as of 11:59, 24 October 2011

Sitala is writing a book about the darker side of Albuquerque. She's enlisted the help of a motorcycle gang for protection and will be spending time talking to the people on the other side of the law, or who are part of not exactly illegal but darker activities (e.g. prostitution). I'm intending to post excerpts from it, as well as detail what sections are in the book so that people can RP having read it, if/when she gets it published.

Introduction

With a population of almost five hundred and fifty thousand people, Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico. The city holds such interests as the University of New Mexico, the Sandia Mountains, the Petroglyph National Monument and the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute. Between the parks, the Pueblo Revival architecture and the significant artistic pursuits, Albuquerque has a lot to offer.

So it can come to a surprise to many than beneath the surface lurks a hidden depth to the city. The Southeast Heights, a fairly large portion of the city, is ruled by gangs and criminals. Police fear to go into the neighbourhood as just stepping past the border of San Mateo Boulevard is enough to take their lives into their hands. But how did this area of the city, known as the Warzone, come to be? One reporter decided to find out, and write about her discoveries in the underbelly of Albuquerque.

The History of the Warzone

The war zone, it has been referred to by some. A physically land-locked walking community, the area is framed by Lomas and Central and Louisiana and Wyoming. One of Albuquerque's first post World War II neighborhoods, it is home to much of the City's immigrant population and largest Native American community. The low socioeconomic neighborhood is scene to high crime, gangs, and rampant drug activity. It is also where young families with children are trying to live, work, learn, and get established in America. [1]

In this chapter, Sitala examines a brief history of Albuquerque and the Warzone in particular, focusing on how it came to be the dangerous place it is today.

The Bikers of New Mexico

Some outlaw motorcycle clubs can be distinguished by a 1% patch worn on the colors. This is claimed to be a reference to a comment made by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in which they stated that 99% of motorcyclists were law-abiding citizens, implying that the last one percent were outlaws. The comment, supposedly a response to the Hollister riot in 1947, is denied by the AMA—who claim to have no record of such a statement to the press, and that the story is a misquotation. As a result, some outlaw motorcycle clubs used it to unite or express themselves and are commonly referred to as "one percenters". [2]

There are a disproportionate amount of these one percenters in Albuquerque - if the statistic is true, then most of those 1% must be in the Warzone. However, these clubs still have their own laws, their own structures and are far from the disorganised, purely violent rabble imaging that might be conjured up by the uneducated.

This chapter contains an explanation of the motorcycle clubs, with how they organise their hierarchy. It also contains some of her own experiences in being protected by one club, that she doesn't name, and how their violence is centred around rival gangs rather than random, innocent people.

Drugs and Dealers

In Albuquerque and other urban areas of the state, violence is often associated with drug-related gang activity. There are approximately 680 gangs totaling 13,800 members in New Mexico. Many of these gangs are involved in drug-related activities. Among these are prison gangs, including New Mexico Syndicate and Barrio Azteca, and street gangs, such as the 18th Street, Los Padillas, and San Jose gangs. The retail distribution of illicit drugs is the primary source of income for gangs in New Mexico. As a result, gangs often resort to violence to protect their turf and distribution base. The competition for drug distribution has intensified gang rivalries, leading to violent confrontations and adversely affecting public safety in the urban areas of the state. [3]

This chapter contains an interview with a Drug Dealer in a gang in the Warzone. It details how the guy got into the gang because of family issues, gew up in the 'Zone and how the drug trade flourishes with addicts always needing their fix. It's written in a fairly unbiased way, without romanticising or condoning drug use.

Organised Crime in Albuquerque

Once a gang shifts away from turf orientation and petty crimes ("First Generation Gang") and begins organizing illegal activities with a money making focus, they become what is characterized as a "Second Generation Gang". Second generation gang activities tend to be drug-centric, operate in broader areas and have a centralized leadership. Most urban gangs fit into the first and second generation characterizations.

Organized crime is defined by the FBI as any group having a formalized structure whose primary objective is to obtain money through illegal activities. Gangs perpetuate control of enterprises and illegal activities through threatened and actual violence, graft, and extortion. Turf wars and gang pride are still important however, the focus becomes more about the money. [4]

This article touches briefly on the Mafia and on their presence in Albuquerque. It quite carefully doesn't mention any names or places, although talks about strippers, protection rackets and threats.