The Gang Tours

photo courtesy of boston.com

This blog isn’t related only to Chicago, it’s also about being a tour guide and keeping up with the whirlwind of tour guide news (there is no whirlwind, there’s barely even a breeze, but I gotta keep it interesting for myself) and the new hulabaloo is the LA Gang Tours.

I couldn’t find how long the tours are, my guess is 2 hours, but it’s a bus tour through some gang related areas and you also go to the LA County Jail and historically violent sections of town. Your tour guide is someone in the know about these areas; the tour costs $65.00 and the money will go back into the community.

Each person has to sign a waiver releasing the tour company if anything bad should happen.

I think it’s a great idea! Some are calling it “ghettotainment” but as a privileged girl from the North Shore can tell you, I think it sounds fascinating. Apparently some officials in the city are none too pleased, only helping the cause by saying” “It’s a terrible idea. Is it worth that thrill for 65 bucks? You can go to a [gang] movie for a lot less and not put yourself at risk.” – Dennis Zine, city councilman.

Wow, I think that statement is way more dangerous than any tour…go to a gang movie instead? Um..not quite the same thing. I think a “gang movie” is way more “ghettotainment” than a tour. Hurumph.

The LA Gang Tours say on their website that there has been a cease fire agreement so that the tours can go through these sections of town. Now again, I don’t know what I’m talking about here, but don’t you think that this cease fire and the waiver are also some marketing ploys? You don’t want to take a gang tour that is going to be roses and chocolate covered peanuts do you? No, you want an element of danger, like you’re going to see things you never would see otherwise.

In any case, I think it’s fantastic. It’s way less ghettotainment than going to the “gang movie” god that makes me mad. And you will learn something, you’re giving money to a good cause and hell…it’s just a great idea for a tour.

I feel like Chicago did something like this a few years ago, but I couldn’t find anything. Anyone remember that?