Guardian Angels patrol Santa Cruz
By Alia Wilson -- Santa Cruz Sentinel
Posted: 06/26/2010 06:03:35 PM PDT

In two lines of 14, members of the Guardian Angels marched from downtown toward the beach area and back Saturday to send the message to predators and criminals that their activity will not be tolerated.

The Guardian Angels, who came from San Jose, Santa Clara County and San Francisco at the request of a Santa Cruz resident concerned about violent crime in the city during the past eight months, assembled on Front Street around noon before taking to the streets. Dressed in army boots, cargo pants, T-shirts and red berets, they patrolled for two and half hours. A handful of residents joined in and were given spare berets and Guardian Angels T-shirts to wear.

The Guardians sought to recruit members to form a Santa Cruz Chapter as they marched through San Lorenzo Park to Barson and Ocean streets and through the Beach Flats

"I'd like to see the community come together and start a neighborhood watch program," said Ron Knabel, leader of the Santa Clara County Chapter of the Guardian Angels.

The Guardian Angels were formed 31 years ago in New York City to patrol subways and other high-crime areas. It's now a globally recognized group, with chapters in Mexico, Israel and dozens of U.S. cities.

"Angels go in spots where people get robbed or jumped. We are a deterrent to crime," said Jerry Longoria, San Francisco chapter leader.

With a pin of Carl Reimer on her Guardian Angel shirt, Beverly Young of La Selva said she is ready to
start a chapter in Santa Cruz. Reimer, 19, was shot to death on Grandview Street April 23 by suspected gang members.

"We are too complacent here," said Young, whose daughter is a friend of Reimer's mother. "If it could happen to Carl, it could happen to anyone. Enough is enough."

Young, who is also a member of Gangs Suck and Mother Grizzlies Against Gangs, said she felt Guardian Angels would add a strong presence that the city needs.

"I've seen what good they can do, particularly in New York," Young said. "I think it's really something and it is all done by volunteers."

Having such volunteers come to Santa Cruz and not know much about the town, however, raised concerns for Mayor Mike Rotkin.

"I'm not sure whether the city would benefit from people coming from outside to patrol our streets," he said. "I think we have a sufficient police force and with the help of other agencies and cooperation of other local police departments that do their part. If people want to patrol their own neighborhoods that's one thing, but there is a fine line of what becomes vigilantism."

In addition to the Guardians patrol, Mother Grizzlies Against Gangs gathered Saturday for demonstrations on Ocean Street at the Highway 17 exit, and the intersections at Soquel Avenue and Water Street. Clusters of people held signs reading "Warning you are entering a gang war zone. You and your family are in danger."

Members of Mother Grizzlies did not return phone calls Saturday regarding their demonstrations and declined to comment on the record earlier this week.

"Of course they have the right to do what they like but it becomes self-defeating when the goal is to have people who are non-gang members claim a space and scare everyone away except gang members; not very smart," Rotkin said. "By standing on Ocean Street with signs that say this is gang territory, i.e. go home, then there is no tourist money for Santa Cruz. We'll have to lay off police officers because that's all we have left to lay off."