Standing up to crime

Teal Hollow subdivision residents banded together Saturday to take a bite out of hot dogs, hamburgers and possibly even crime.

At first glance, the get-together Saturday on Teal Hollow Drive organized by Daniel Tarantino and others could be confused with a house warming party.

No one stood up with a megaphone and called for action. People milled around eating and talking about real estate, gambling junkets and other subjects at one of the city's newer subdivisions.

"It's just a great opportunity to know our neighbors and I'm glad we had it," said Denise Graham, of Libby Road.

But after a rash of shootings in Yuba City, organizers said they threw the party as a sort of neighborhood stand down against crime. Tarantino said a few people talked informally about starting a neighborhood watch at the block event. A Yuba City police officer, firefighters and Mayor Rory Ramirez stopped by the neighborhood party along with about 80 people.

"We just want to get our community together, our neighborhood together, to realize, you know what, there's some good people that live here," said Shon Harris, 41, of Teal Hollow Drive.

While the recent shootings have occurred elsewhere, Teal Hollow has not been devoid of problems. A neighbor had the catalytic converter stolen off his truck. Some complained that teenagers raced up and down the streets at high speeds.

One party guest wondered aloud if two scruffy-looking men walking down the street were OK. They turned around before they got to the party.

Long-time residents wished for the days when gang violence was much less common in Yuba City.

Penny Duggins, of Stabler Lane, says she used to walk to her best friend's house at night as a teenager growing up in Yuba City in the 1970s. She said she wonders what happened to the city.

"I've lived here all my life," said Duggins. "I'm disgusted with it. I'm sad."

While Dennis Dempsey, 61, said the city could use four to five more police officers, most were reluctant to blame the police for crime.

"I believe the cops are doing the best they can," said Duggins.

Some pointed to social problems as the main issue behind the crime including a lack of parenting.

"We don't have a perfect world," said Donald Cotter, 33, of Teal Hollow Drive.

Dempsey, a former Southern California resident, said teens need more to do. Better jobs would help too.

"You can't bring fast food in, expect crime to go down," said Dempsey.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter John Dickey at 749-4711 or jdickey@appealdemocrat.com