By Mary Willmont

Beach & Bay Press

Phil Bonham, president of the Management Alert Group, has a formula for ridding areas of gang activity that he said works, but only if residents are committed to the plan.   Bonham’s plan attacks the foundation of gang activity – their drug selling business.  All steps in the plan are aimed at disrupting a gang’s ability to operate their business.

Bonham first recommends removing graffiti within 24 hours.  Graffiti is a gang’s advertisement as well a territorial claim, he said.  If it stays too long, other gangs will see it and then may challenge the claim.  Challenge usually leads to violence, stated Bonham.

All pay telephones in the area should be rigged so calls can only be made out.  Pay phones are used extensively by drug dealers to run their businesses, he explained.  Pay phones can be limited to call out by asking the business owner or property owner where the phone is located to request the change.

Bonham also encourages participation on SDG&E’s “Dusk to Dawn” lighting for alleys.  SDG&E will install a sodium vapor light on a wooden pole.  The charge is $8.35 a month to the property owner.  Lighted alleys, Bonham said, make it easier for police if they have to chase someone.  “Dark alleys make it easy for criminals to hide from or evade the police,” he said.  For information on the Dusk to Dawn program, call Adelita Franco at 699-5065 or Joey Farrar at 699-5064.

An important aspect of gang activity, Bonham said, is cruising in cars and blocking the streets.  “They come to sell drugs, support their friends, see what’s happening, buy drugs and prostitutes,” Bonham stated.   Having a sobriety checkpoint through which cruisers have to exit is a real deterrent, according to Bonham.  He advised requesting them to be set up Saturday and Sunday evenings.  For more information contact Nancy Goodrich of the SDPD traffic division at 495-7800.

Guard-operated pay parking lots were also recommended by Bonham.  He said a guard can be in immediate communication with the police to alert them of problems.  Pay parking would occur during the heavy beach-use times similar to Los Angeles beaches.   Residents could be issued stickers which would exclude them from paying.  According to Bonham, this measure has worked successfully in many beach areas.  “Most people are willing to pay $5 to park for the day if it means eliminating a bad element,” Bonham said.  “Monies from the lots could be used to defray the cost.”

Getting control of the parking lots, said Bonham, is essential.  This is where gangs hang out, deal drugs and steal or break into cars.  Belmont Park is an example of this, he said.  “The existence of the Red Onion creates weekend problems where its customers become victims or aggravate the problems,” he said.  “The last time I came to this area I was approached three times to buy drugs.”

As a final resort, a nuisance statute #11570 could be applied by private citizens or a group.  He said the sanctions are serious and that other groups have experienced a 95-percent success rate because people do not want to go through a lawsuit.   Bonham was emphatic that residents must act now.  “The problem is not getting better.  If you don’t act within the next 60 to 90 days, you’ll be in real trouble next summer,” he said.   He also made it clear that he is available for consultation and direction only.  “I won’t do it for you.  You have to get together and do it for yourselves.” Bonham can be contacted at 558-6418.  

Reprinted from

Beach & Bay Press