July 12, 2007

StreetTalk

by Carol Rosen

Recently, District 10 Councilmember Nancy Pyle took exception to people calling the police “pigs” and suggested “Don't look like a gang-banger if you don't want to be picked up for being connected with a gang.” How do you feel about her statement? (Asked at Via Valiente Center)


“As a pillar of the community, she needs to watch what she says. But as for her comment, if someone chooses to dress that way they risk being judged as a gang member.”

Michele Shrader, 39
Almaden
Homemaker


“That’s a tough question. There’s a certain amount of truth in what she is saying, but people shouldn’t judge others just by the way they look. However, people do judge others by the way they look.”

John Foster, 39
Almaden
Security business


“Her comment was a little misguided, but other people took it the wrong way and jumped on it to use it as a platform to make their views known. In general, Nancy Pyle is doing a good job.”

Herb Beck
Almaden
Retired engineer from IBM


“It’s very true [what Pyle says], but lots of kids like to dress in ‘grunge’ today and you can’t just say because they dress that way they are criminals.”

Nancy Brooks
Almaden
Retired


“I don’t think it’s true that much because most of the time people harass people for how they act, but some do judge on how they dress."

Kelsey Blackstone, 13
Almaden
Eighth grader at Bret Harte


"I think it’s really a broad generalization and a huge stereotype.”

Kristen Imboden, 21
Almaden
Graduate student at Purdue University


That’s stereotyping. You can’t judge people by how they dress. I’ve been attacked by a guy in a suit, so I don’t think such statements are fair. The kids today have their own sense of style."

Jerika Steele, 42
Almaden
Outside sales


“As a council person, it’s probably not a good idea to speak like that and I don’t want to be treated differently by police. What I wear doesn’t reflect who I am and I don’t think profiling is right or legal. But there are certain things the police have to do that make them more effective and there’s a certain culture that goes with that type of dress. The police have to be very careful because their job is incredibly important and very difficult. The whole topic is a minefield and this is a very complicated problem that has no black and white answer. You can’t deny there is a gang dress code and that it is incredibly hard to be a policeman”

Mark Rozhin, 44
Almaden
Software


“I think both sides are wrong. People should not call the police pigs and others shouldn’t make judgments about stereotypes.”

Darlene Robinson
Almaden
Part time

“How a person presents themselves says a lot. When the police are looking to ensure the safety of others, how you present yourself and give a first impression is all the police will get. Sometimes in looking out for our safety they don’t have time to ask questions. I agree with her statement.”

Colleen Walczykowski, 35
Almaden Homemaker