It is time to DEMAND Justice

Please consider attending and/or sending out this information about an important march/rally and Press Conference happening tomorrow, Saturday November 13. Some background:

With the arrest of Phillip Garrido in August 2009, the entire nation learned how broken the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has become. Investigative findings by California State Inspector General David Shaw and the State Attorney's General' office concluded that a number of parole agents over a period of nine years had failed to do their jobs properly surrounding the parole supervision of Phillip Garrido.

Other CA parolees making the news for their horrific crimes include: John Gardner (murdered Amber Dubois and Chelsea King), Charles Samuel (murdered Lily Burk), Omar Armando Loera (murdered Chere Osmanhodzic) -- to name a few. It is time to DEMAND something be done. Join me in a rally tomorrow to demand justice and accountability!  Here are the details:

What:
March and rally will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in El Sereno from 1974 N. Marianna Ave. to the 1800 block of Landsdowne Ave to demand an investigation of the Division of Adult Parole Operation and that those responsible for the breakdown in parole supervision be held accountable.

Where:
Cal State LA (1800 block of Landsdown) -- at the University Hills sign flagpole

When:
Marching, speeches and Press Conference will begin at 1:30pm tomorrow, Saturday Nov. 13

Contact Information:
carolineaguirre@sbcglobal.net, 323-254-3221 (or call me at 310-470-9955 with questions)

Links:
Ron Kaye LA announcement about rally
City Watch article by former parole agent
Mayor Sam


JOIN US!

Back To School Excitement

“It’s the most wonderful time of year.”  Yes, we’re talking about back-to-school. But don’t feel guilty: you know it’s true!  And it’s not just the most wonderful time of year for you -- it’s the most wonderful time  for our kids, too.  Why?  Because kids love stucture!  They love schedules, certainty, and routines.  And since we’re all kids deep down inside, we like structure, too!  

So, as your kids begin their school year, take a moment to add a “New School Year” resolution.  Perhaps it’s setting clothes out the night before, waking up 10 minutes earlier, coming up with a homework regimen. Whatever it is, don’t wait for January 1st to make a subtle (but meaningful) change or two. 

And for all you non-parents, or parents of adult children, use this as a time to reconfigure your life!  Think of one small thing you can do to relieve the stress, the craziness, or tensions in your life.  Maybe it’s adding an automatic email response on weekends that says, “It’s the weekend. I am relaxing/am with my family, and I’ll return your email on Monday.” 

If that’s too extreme, you can include an evening stroll with a loved one, a spouse, a friend or just solo after dinner.  Whatever it is…take a moment to make this new school year a happy one!

I know you’re probably wondering why Robin, the true crime expert, is writing about  such “fluffy” stuff.  Well, as I read the LA Times today about the snafus that VH1 made in identifying Jasmine Fiore’s (alleged) killer, Ryan Jenkins, when checking his background, I wondered how these “snafus” could keep happening time and time again. 

VH1 blamed it on “clerical” errors. Hmmm. This is the third story of “clerical“ errors in the LA Times in one month that resulted in a tragic death: Lily Burke, Dea’Von Bailey, and now Jasmine.  And while I address these in more detail in my Huffington Post piece, I still can’t help thinking that if people (clerks, included) made meaningful changes in their lives—both professionally and personally—perhaps we would see a newspaper with no reports of deaths due to “clerical” errors.

For that matter, let’s all take inventory, make changes, and make this the most wonderful year we’ve ever had.

Lily Burk Tragedy

The case of Lily Burk continues to shake my family, my kids’ school, and the city of Los Angeles.  As I wrote my article for the Huffington Post, I tried my best to focus on the issues of proactive safety, awareness, and empowerment.

But just after I put the final touches on my piece, the Los Angeles Times printed an article highlighting the criminal history and the snafus that allowed Charles Samuel, a violent criminal, out on the streets, our streets, to kill one of our own.  This was not the first time this month that a government agency messed up. I’d like to draw your attention back to six-year-old Dae'von Bailey, who was murdered by his mom’s ex-boyfriend’s, Marcas Fisher, despite a dozen phone warnings to the Department of Children Services.

This is unacceptable! Yet, where is the outrage?  Where is the disgust?  Why aren’t these unforgivable omissions being discussed national networks?  We have all heard about the exchange between Professor Henry Louis Gates and Sergeant James Crowley.  And while that may have been a case of mutual snafus, poor manners, and according to some (not me) “racism,” the event drew international attention, climaxed by a “beer summit!”

Why, then, aren’t we demanding a summit addressing the accountability of government agencies to ensure that our children are safe?

As a loyal saxfacts reader, I invite you to share my outrage.  Blog, write, or speak up and share your stories.  Share the stories of incompetency, injustice, unfairness.  Don’t keep them in—let them out, share them, and make your voices heard!!!

The only way to create change is to speak up and protest the agency laxity that leads to the death of innocent children.  If you don’t know where to write, email me at robin@robinsax.com.  I have tons of suggestions for where your voice can be heard and your thoughts can be shared!