Putting the pieces together

Like the saying goes, 'time flies.' Indeed, time does fly and it's quite amazing how fast the clock moves when you have been productive. I cannot believe that the semester is almost over, and you know what they say... the final stretch is always the hardest.

With that thought, as my journey draws close to its end, and as I compose and piece together my final news story for my assigned neighborhood, (Bayview/ Hunterspoint) I am still continuing to discover my district. It seems like regardless of how long or how far I've covered the area, there's always something waiting to be learned, or a story waiting to be unveiled.
In our final class meeting, as the class gathered up in a round table of discussion, I was astounded to find out that I was no where close to finalizing my final and best story. With all of the research and interviews that I have done, I was hit hard by reality- I still have quite a ways to go.

Now I fins myself torn between two valid factors. The first is the unapparent presence of BV/HP. The newly diverse area, and the promising future it holds as the City spends some money by implementing new modern and accessible transportation (the new Muni light rail) along with new housing and small business developments that are being built down the main street route of Third Street. The other is the fact that children are still lost and confused. They are continuing to kill each other, and or tantalize other residents by being bully's or simply rude, mean and violent.

The dilemma is that I see two contrasting views. So, which one of the two will last? Which one will the neighborhood endure and which one will the city fight against- their troubled youth or the new small housing and construction developments. What does the future hold for this thriving neighborhood? Is there even a future at all?
Regardless, one thing is certain, and that is, that there are always three sides in every story; his, hers, and the truth. In my case, my job is to seek the truth and report it fairly and that is something you can put your money in.
In spite of all the things that are happening in our fast and crazy world, truth always finds its way and that in every person there is a history. In every history is a story, and in every story sparks an inspiration.

I have been inspired in this journey and I look forward to finalizing the pieces together.

Life goes on...

Amidst all of the commotions that are going on in the world, for a few days now it seems like the sudden spark of violence in my beat (neighborhood) has calmed down a bit. Some of the things headlining the news are mostly new stories about a new fatality in Oakland, the spread of the oil spill in Mississippi and some other 'fun factors' illustrating what news editors and reporters can come up with when it is considered a slow news week.
So as the day moves on, so does the coverage of the news. Like with the saying, "Life goes on," it seems like that is exactly what is going on in my district. Life goes on, so authorities move on to the next case. It's not an actual headline news unless there are new developments or someone new has been victimized. But, what about those late innocent victims? What about their family? How are they coping? How does the suspects family feel about the whole situation? The community? Are they embarrassed? Clearly this would make a better news story than spending 2 minutes of air/news time explaining to me, what my sleeping positions really mean and what it says about my personality.

Considering all this, the notion that remain in peoples brain that Bayview/ Hunterpoint is such a bad neighborhood does not make any sense. A murder or two, or three happened a few weeks ago- so, so what? If the news and the media can forget about it and move on to the next topic, why cant the public do the same? Move on to the next topic of discussion, and make a new assumption. Instead, this misconception remains buried deep into the people's head. "BV/HP is bad.. there's murder and violence there all the time!" If life goes on, then why cant the people's misconception, stereotype and other negative thoughts go on as well?
As I continue my journey, of finding a solution as to how the City can alleviate the negative reputation BV/HP currently holds. My search for answers continues. Why? Why are these youth so violent, why is the neighborhood plagued by crimes and other illegal activities? Why isn't the community standing up to the problem and own up to it? (or are they, and have they?) I want to figure out what is going on in the minds of these corrupted youth, how they feel about the victims and how the victims feel about them, and the whole neighborhood it self feels. Everyday is a new day so there are promising hope that with each new day, a crime will be forgotten, and bad pasts can be left behind.

Let's just hope that some of these youth, realize and appreciate the new day that God has allowed them to have, before it is to late.