Mountain View schools seem to be doing a remarkable job of turning our gang members, drug addicts, drug dealers, and murderers. Makes me wonder how safe the schools really are for kids who are there to learn.

To the person who calls himself "enough",


Your first sentence makes no sense. Ever heard of proofreading?

MVWSD is an excellent school district with wonderful schools and wonderful teachers. Schools are responsible to provide an education only. They are not responsible for every child's actions.

Why are you so quick to blame? Throughout the world crimes are committed. Every human being is responsible for themselves, so stop blaming the schools. The schools are very safe, the question is, are you safe?

ENOUGH,

Do you know what city the suspects reside in? Exactly. We have an innocent Mountain View resident that was murdered in his own neighborhood. And you are blaming the Mtn. View schools? You seriously are crazy and should be banned from voicing your comments. Do you have any sympathy for Jose's family?

Whatever,

If you look at all of Enoughs! posts, on any topic, they are all the same tone. He/she is always blaming everyone else without knowing all the facts. Enough! has even stooped so far as to ridicule those who grieve for these young men.

I have given up on taking anything Enough! says seriously and wish he/she would find something better to do with his/her time.

I have three kids who have gone through MVWSD and am extremely inspired by their successes, as well as so many of their young friends. Their teachers and school resource officers have been very supportive!

Like you, I am more afraid knowing there are people in our community like Enough! than I am of any young person in our city.

Ellen,
Maybe after a few more shootings you might change your mind about who to be afraid of.

P.S. my experience with Mountain View schools is extremely positive.

People let's stop this. No matter if Jose was in a gang or not he did not deserve to die so young. We need to have respect for his family and let them grieve in peace. Jose was a human being who went down the wrong path. He is not the first and will not be the last.

Ellen:

My criticism is intended to call attention to the many children that are failed by Mountain View's schools--most of them hispanic. Last I heard, only 24% of hispanic students attending Mountain View schools ever end up finishing high school here. Some of these kids end up in gangs--gangs that the schools deny exist in the schools. Our school board had a chance to get some hispanic representation, and chose the Google connection instead. But why bother, there are few hispanic role models in the classrooms or as principals. But I'm sure you're all happy when dining downtown knowing that Jose and Maria are washing the dishes in the kitchen for rock bottom wages and living up to four or five to a room in a California avenue apartment.

I'm more afraid of people like you who think that just because your kids are doing well by the system there's no need to worry about other less fortunate kids--or worse yet have been deluded to believe that everything is just fine. Or, am I putting words into your mouth as you would like to do to me? Grow up and comment on the story, if you can't handle opinions of others just skip over them.

It's interesting how Whatever and Ellen never say a word about Jose Merales.

Kind of makes you wonder if they just want to tell Enough to shut up. Pretty self-centered of them.

At least Enough is offering suggestions. Let Enough enough alone!

The police offer a reward of $1,0000 for tips leading to the arrest of Jose Merales. I wonder if he were white (the non-drug dealing type), if it would be higher. Ok, now here's the chance for all you do-good liberals out there to pitch in some more for the reward money. I'm calling on you specifically Ellen to be the first one to raise the stakes.

Enough! and Observer-I am a SINGLE, HISPANIC mother of three and am proud of my children, not because they are Hispanic, but because they are human beings who have beat the odds. Both of you assume a lot; when I speak of my hopes for my childen, I am not speaking only of my biological children, but all children in Mtn View. Believe me, if I had the money I would be honored to add to the reward fund for Jose Merales. The two of you should be ashamed of yourselves. I don't hold the schools responsible, I hold myself responsible. Their father, God rest his soul, would be very proud of them, too. You continue to bully those of us who have conscience and care. If that makes you feel empowered, I am happy to oblige!

Has anyone noticed Enough! only targets women. Perhaps Enough! should "Grow up and comment on the story, if you can't handle opinions of others just skip over them."

Ellen: "beat the odds" is a curious phrase. ANd why inject your race here? I'd like to know what odds kids have to beat... gangs and drugs, racism, poverty, poor performing schools for hispanics?

It is interesting that yourself AND "enough" did not mention Jose Merales either.

Kind of makes you wonder THAT YOU ARE THE SELF CENTERED ONE and why you are defending "enough".

Obviously you don't see the point Ellen and I have made.

P.S. Thank you Ellen for your nice comment.

Sorry, that last comment was directed to O B S E R V E R

Enough!

I inject my race because of the comments you made to me directly:

"But I'm sure you're all happy when dining downtown knowing that Jose and Maria are washing the dishes in the kitchen for rock bottom wages and living up to four or five to a room in a California avenue apartment."

and

"just because your kids are doing well by the system there's no need to worry about other less fortunate kids"

My kids were "less fortunate" because their father died when they were quite young and through hard work and perseverance, they did well in school and "beat the odds" you keep proclaiming to be the fate of every Hispanic child in this city. My oldest son has graduated from college and my daughter is a Junior at SJSU and yes they did bus tables and work other jobs to get themselves through school. Did you ass-u-me I am a "do-gooder Liberal" because my children have survived and thrived in Mtn View schools?

Tonight my middle son is handing out flyers to help with the Jose Merales case. Why don't you take your own advice and stick to the story and quit picking on people you think you can bully. There is a lot you can do to help, but you seem to prefer to play the blame game instead, and your negative attitude is not complimentary. This is about young people in Mtn View being killed, and trying to fix what's wrong, not about feeding you EGO!

How much more do we really need to know about Ellen...

sounds like she's lonely

To Enough, Observer AND Zoe,

All three of you are heartless, narrow-minded, racist idiot's. I have never met Ellen, but she seems like a very intelligent, open-minded young woman trying to raise her children the best she can and race does not matter to her.

What has Ellen done for you to attack her? What has she done? My god is this about attacking? You three are very immature. It is sad the three of you have to use this article to prove how ignorant you all are.

To the viewers:

I wouldn't doubt if Enough, Observer and Zoe are all the same person. I have noticed on other posts that Observer and Zoe comes in to play the "rescue Enough" role.

If this the case, the Voice should edit out all of Enough's, Observer's and Zoe's comments. Their comments are a disgrace to the families of the victims and suspects and should not be allowed to read.

Maybe the police and teacher could interview students at the schools to find the killer. Are there laws against this?

Maybe Zoe is dating Ted?

TED,

How do you know what school the killers went to? Are you assuming they go to Mountain View schools?

You all need to shut up. You all sound crazy. Let this family be.
Stop pointing the finger at each other none of what happened makes any sense.

Lisa

You need to shut up. What nice things have you said?

This all must have something to do with that vast right-wing conspiracy.

I am a teacher in Mountain View, and I am shocked at the ignorance that Enough and many others have made in these postings. For starters, I live one block away from where the shooting took place and my heart goes out to the family and friends of this boy. This is a terrible tragedy that should be mourned, not filled with hatred toward the community and its schools. It is very sad. There is nothing to say that Jose was a gang member, drug-addict or drug dealer. For all you know, he was a 4.0 student at Mountain View high. Secondly, there are NO suspects and NO witnesses, so who says that his killers were even minors? It is possible that it was an adult from another city that killed him.

As for the ignorance of Mountain View schools, I am proud to work in the Mountain View Whisman School District. I moved here from my old district to work in this district, (lead by Maurice Ghysels, the BEST superintendent that I have ever come across.) I teach in one of those schools that you speak about. In fact, my class is 75% English Language Learners and 90% of my class scored at or above grade-level according to California State Standards. I am not the exception, I am the majority of teachers. I took a pay cut to work here because for years I have heard about how amazing the district is from Mountain View Residents with children in the local schools.

PLEASE do not make uneducated statements...especially when you don't know this boy, his family, or who his killers are...unless you do, and you just aren't sharing.

By the way, Ellen, it sounds like you are a fantastic mother. You should be proud!

More cheerleading from the school districts while 4.0 students are being killed in Mountain View. The suggestion is almost such that the school districts need take no action in reponse to the recent climb in homicides in Mountain View.

The same innocent victim defense was marched out for the Johnson boy only to find out he was buying and selling drugs. Hopefully this will not apply to Merales, but the odds are against it. Violent crime much more often occurs between people who know each other, and gangs and drugs in this area often play a role. There are gangs and drugs in Mountain View schools. Google it if you don't believe it. To deny it is irresponsible.

The DeWitt boy was supposedly a 4.0 student as well, and now he sits in a jail cell convicted of attempted murder with gang-enhancement charges.

If we have 4.0 or just plain "good" students or recently graduated students getting into trouble, then I would seriously question what's going on in schools or at home. In many of the posts surrounding these issues, it's the last thing people want to face up to. It's always someone else's fault. However, according to the Voice article, Mereles was a student at Alta Vista, a continuation school near Mountain View High School where students are given a second chance at getting their diplomas. Translated: he got kicked out of regular high school. So what happened? Was he adequately prepared for high school, or was he justed passed on from grade to grade? Just search past Voice articles and you'll find that there is a serious problem with preparing hispanic students for high school in Mountain View. You won't like what you find, particularly in the area of math and algebra, areas of study where you actually have to have the right answer to move one

I seriously question the academics, discipline, morals and values being taught in the schools. I believe it's a pretty worthwhile cause to question what's going on in them. It's a supported fact that Mountain View schools do not perform as well as surrounding schools. It's a supported fact that the schools are failing the hispanic population (read hispanic). It's a supported fact that far too many hispanics do not graduate from high school in Mountain View.

Post statistically significant examples to the contrary.

ENOUGH


WHY ARE YOU DWELLING ON DE WITT?? THIS ARTICLE I BELIEVE IS ABOUT JOSE.

WHY ARE YOU DWELLING ON THE MOUNTAIN VIEW SCHOOLS???? WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE KILLER RESIDES.

JUST FACE IT YOU ARE AN IDIOT WHO HAS NOTHING BETTER TO DO WITH HIS TIME.

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SAY ANYTHING NICE??? BECAUSE I HAVE YET TO SEE IT.

YOU HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE ON YOUTH.

And this is why my kids are in private schools.

Enough,

I agree with Martin, you are extremely negative and your comments are tainting the beautiful city of Mountain View. Mountain View does not need you Enough. Please move to another city Enough.

Remember teachers are not responsible for their past students actions. It seems like you are trying to give the schools a bad name, but you won't succeed. Mountain View Schools are excellent.

oh come on Nicole its drugs and gangs and poor schools that are tainting our beautiful city, and 1 stabbing and 2 murders

the issues people have with Enough is his or her intelligence and their inability to respond equally from what i have seen

where does enough say its the fault of past teachers anyway

i think the issues here do spell problems with schools

EDDIE,

No, actually what is tainting our city are people like you and Enough. In case you don't know murders date way back. Have you analyzed those.

Are you that stupid? Teacher's are the schools. If you take away the teacher's, then what will you have? Wow!

you prove the very point

how much logic and brain power did you use to come up with the response

let me guess, public schools

from the palo alto paper

May 13, 2007

Residents seek gang solutions

Mountain View citizens ask for youth center

By Banks Albach / Daily News Staff Writer

A rise in gang-related crimes in Mountain View over the past five years has some residents calling for action beyond law enforcement: They want city officials to take preemptive measures such as providing a youth center and an array of educational and recreational services for at-risk children.

From 2002 to 2005, the number of gang-related crimes in the city almost tripled, from 25 to 71. Although the number dropped to 67 in 2006 and looks to be dropping this year, police say the numbers - the highest since the mid-1990s - are a serious problem.

Robberies, auto thefts, weapon assaults and drug possessions make up the bulk of the crimes, according to Mountain View police. One man was shot to death in 2004 and there have been several stabbings since, said Capt. Bruce Barsi, who oversees a gang response team with nine officers.

"We have Surenos and Nortenos," Barsi said, referring to the rival Hispanic gangs that have multiplied throughout the state. "We don't know what the trend is yet in 2007, but we have had some significant activity in the last few years."

He said it is unclear why gang activity is on the rise.

EDDIE,

No logic, No Brain power. It's called "common sense", something you obviously are lacking.

okay nicole whatever you want to call it

Whatever and Jennifer,

Thank you so much for your involvement in our community! There were many teachers and volunteers passing out flyers Friday night. I suspect the two of you may have been there, too. I thank you for your support of all the kids in Mtn View, of ALL colors, and your positive contributions. I know for a fact my kids turned out the way they did because people like you cared! Thank you for giving all of us hope!

Jose and his family were mentioned during Mass today. Many people do care and are so sorry for his family and friends...it doesn't matter what church you go to, what color you are, or whether you are rich or poor. Please, let us all put down our swords and work together to help our youth in Mountain View!

Ellen,

Your comment was very nicely said. I agree with you so much. We need to work TOGETHER. Congratulations!!!! You have found the answer to our problem.

YES!!! We all need to work together to get kids off the streets and into afterschool programs regardless of race or financial backgrounds. My family is deeply and closely affected by the loss of Jose.
The family needs prayers and donations, not the community blaming each other for the misfortune that has happened.

Does anyone know if there is a fund set up to help the Merales family?

No fund is set up at a bank. You may make a donation at the prayer vigil at 7:30 pm which is going on now until Thursday,March 6. It is at the location of the incident on Higdon Ave. Someone is currently working on setting up a fund for the Merales family. I will post information as soon as its available for donations. Thank you Cindy for asking.

Angelina,

I'm sure the Merales family appreciates all you are doing. Thank you and please let us know when the information becomes available. Shall we keep checking this site? Take Care!

Cindy

Please contact Sylvia at Los Altos High School for donations or bring your donation to the nightly vigil. Any donation will be greatly appreciated by the Merales family. Any questions you may contact me thru this site. Thank you!

Thanks Ellen for your kind words.
I wish only happiness and good health to you and your children.

Thanks Angelina for the information. Please send my most sincere regards to Jose's family. They are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope that they catch the guilty party soon and that the family finds peace.

Best wishes and happiness to all.
Jennifer

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