News - Off Beat Stories
For $65, tourists get peek at Los Angeles gangland
Posted: Jan 17, 2010 8:52 AM by Associated Press
Only miles from the scenic vistas and celebrity mansions that draw sightseers from around the globe, a bus tour is rolling through the dark side of Los Angeles.
Passengers paying $65 a head Saturday signed waivers acknowledging they could be crime victims and put their fate in the hands of tattooed ex-gang members who say they have negotiated a cease-fire among rivals in the most violent gangland in America.
LA Gang Tours is trying to build a thriving venture that provides a glimpse into gang life while also trying to convince people that gang-plagued communities are not as hopeless as movies depict.
More than 40 people brushed aside safety concerns for Saturday's maiden tour to hear how notorious gangs got started.
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