Gangs Blamed For San Jose’s Soaring Homicide Rate

KCBS reports on the rapidly rising murder rate in San Jose, California.  The city’s nickname is “Capital of Silicon Valley.”  Households in the city have the highest disposable income in the United States for cities over 500,000. (1)

The city laid off 70 police officers in June. (2)

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SAN JOSE (KCBS) – The homicide rate has reached a 20-year high in San Jose, and authorities point to gang activity as one reason for the soaring crime rate.

There were 20 homicides in all of 2010. Even before reaching the halfway mark of 2011, San Jose’s homicide rate had already passed that figure. Police attribute more than a dozen of the 2011 homicides in January through June to gangs.

“That’s what’s really troubling,” San Jose councilman Pete Constant reacted. “Because I believe it’s the gang-related homicides that we do have the ability to intercede and prevent if we can put enough resources on the street.”

Read the entire article here.

Related articles

• Silicon Valley city battles surging homicide rate (sfgate.com)
• Silicon Valley city battles surging homicide rate (seattletimes.nwsource.com)