Peacemaker's Son Killed in Watts Last Night at 95th and Hickory

Quentel Gordon, 24, the son of a late, influential and beloved community activist, was shot to death Wednesday night as he stood near 95th Street and Hickory Street in Watts.

Gordon was struck in the torso by a drive-by shooter shortly after 9 p.m. then transported to St Francis Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. 

His father was Donald Ray Gordon, aka "Playmate", a Grape Street Crip-turned- peacemaker, one of several men from Jordan Downs who helped create the 1992 peace treaty between the gangs of the housing projects in Watts. Playmate, who himself had been shot  several times during the projects' street battles, died of an illness a few years back.

Another peace activist blamed the death of the younger Gordon on "just being on that block" which is one block north of Jordan Downs and one block east of Grape Street.. 

"Playmate's son was a very good spirited kid and very well liked in the community," said Daude Sherrills, another community activist from Jordan Downs crucial to the peace treaty with Nickerson Gardens and Imperial Courts. "Qunetel wasn't out to plot on anyone. But, just being on that block, just  being a young man dressed in hip-hop style with some tattoos, that made him target." 

Anyone with a remembrance of Gordon can leave a message below after clicking the kinda-hard-to-read "comment" link below.  

Qunetel Gordon

Salt & Straw Ice Cream's Suspicious Delivery Disrupts Mozza Service

Service was temporarily disrupted at the legendary Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles this afternoon when six pints of the Portland-based Salt & Straw ice cream were delivered to the pastry kitchen causing the owner, head chef and general manager to abandoned their customers to savor the frozen goodness.

Kim Malek, who owns Salt & Straw with her cousin Tyler, came to the pizzeria Sunday for the first time and was given a brief tour of the pastry department where she exchanged pleasantries with pastry sous Carrie and pastry's Sean, who is seen in the photo eating ice cream with a rather guilty look..

The six pint delivery was at first greeted as a "cool thank you" from Malek to the staff.  However, suspecting foul play, Krikorian Writes obtained and reviewed the restaurant's Sunday security tape and it clearly showed Malek snapping at least a dozen spy photos of the kitchen. No charges have been filed, but the "gift" of the six pints today may be her attempt to makeup for the kitchen spy photos, a felony in California.

As for the service at the pizzeria, it was eventually restored, but not before baffling some customers  

"I walked into the pizzeria and I was like 'Where is everybody?'" said long time loyal customer Lonnie Bishop, the Prince of Pumps. "No Nancy. No Arielle, No Go Go.  Thank god Eva was there." 

Shortly after service was restored, GM Arielle Chernin debuted a new dessert menu which now features several ice cream flavors including double fold singing dog vanilla, Stumptown coffee and bourbon, sea salt with caramel ribbons, woodblock chocolate, pots of gold & rainbows, and Grandma Malek's almond brittle with chocolate ganache.

Nancy, Go Go, Arielle and Sean eating something clearly meant for me.

Peacemaker's Son Killed In Watts Near Grape Street

Quentel Gordon, 24, the son of a late, influential and beloved community activist, was shot to death Wednesday night as he stood near 95th Street and Hickory Street in Watts.

Gordon was struck in the torso by a drive-by shooter shortly after 9 p.m. then transported to St Francis Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. 

His father was Donald Ray Gordon, aka "Playmate", a Grape Street Crip-turned- peacemaker, one of several men from Jordan Downs who helped create the 1992 peace treaty between the gangs of the housing projects in Watts. Playmate, who had been shot several times during the projects' street battles, died of an illness a few years back.

Another peace activist blamed the death of the younger Gordon on "just being on that block" which is just one block north from Jordan Downs and one block east of Grape Street. 

"Playmate's son was a very good spirited kid and very well liked in the community," said Daude Sherrills, another community activist from Jordan Downs crucial to the peace treaty with Nickerson Gardens and Imperial Courts. "Qunetel wasn't out to plot on anyone. But, just being on that block, just  being a young man dressed in hip-hop style with some tattoos, that made him target." 

Being out of town, that's all the information available to Krikorian Writes as of now. Anyone with a remembrance of Gordon can leave a message below after clicking the kinda-hard-to-read "comment" link below.  

Also consider reading this story about DK, aka Flipside

http://www.krikorianwrites.com/blog/2013/9/24/rapper-flipside-from-watts-killed

: http://www.krikorianwrites.com/blog/2013/9/24/watts-tense-after-2-killings-3-arrested-from-grape-st

and this  http://www.krikorianwrites.com/blog/2015/9/29/watts-sad-weary-and-tense-after-nickerson-gardens-and-grape-street-homicides

 

Qunetel Gordon

LAPD Tactics Working; No Hoover vs. Main Street Paybacks

An intense Los Angeles Police Department presence on the streets of two very active gang neighborhoods has so far helped prevent payback shootings after an outbreak of violence last week between the Hoover Street Criminals and the Main Street Crips left a man dead and several wounded.

Since the shootings, several people have been arrested and more than a half-dozen guns confiscated including an assault rifle and a shotgun seized Tuesday morning near 84th and Hoover. Saturday, a daytime raid at a Hoover gathering netted six arrests and four guns, authorities said.  

But, police commanders said it wasn't just the sheer numbers of officers out on the streets that has so far quelled the bloodshed, but rather how the LAPD is going about dealing with the situation. 

"We are using a three-prong approach to this problem; detectives, patrol officers and gang interventionists," said Capt. Phil Tingirides, commanding officer of the Southeast Division where the homicide of Douglas Wooley, 27, occurred Thursday morning.  Tingirides credited gang interventionists with helping squash rumors that traditionally run wild after street shootings and, in doing so, calming some very tense neighborhoods.

Perhaps even more importantly is the dramatically different way the LAPD now interacts with the community compared to, say, 10, 20 years ago. 

"We have created a lot more relations with the community that we didn't have before," said Tingirides.  "A lot of people have good relationships with specific officers and detectives and they give them tips. They help eliminate a lot of the guess work and we can focus on putting pressure on the right people."

At South Bureau's Criminal Gang Homicide Division, commanding officer  Lt. Jeff Nolte agreed the biggest change in LAPD tactics is simply the relationship with the residents of the communities they serve.  

"The reason why it's been effective now is these guys, the patrol officers have been trained how to deal with the community," said Nolte, adding that 20 years ago it was "all about suppression, but now we know we can't just arrest our way out of the problem."

"You can drive up and down the streets, and that might deter gang members, but that's not going to go toward solving the problem. We are doing an education and prevention piece. We might be stopping a lot of people, but we are talking to them, not just arresting them."

Nolte also credited the detectives of Criminal Gang Homicide Division. 

"We have detectives like Sal [LaBarbera], Chris [Barling], and Rick [Gordon] who really care about the community and know its history and patrol is picking up on that," said Nolte. "They are trying to fix the larger problem, not just go a weekend without violence. "

Though there have been more officers loaned from other divisions to Southeast and 77th divisions, two deadliest in the LAPD,  Nolte said, "It's just not simply a matter of more cops. It's more cops getting out and engaging the community. Education and prevention.  That's what's been driving down the crime." 

But,, the most stunning change since the wild days of the 1980s and '90s is previously absolutely-unheard-of- notion among gang members that the police actually give a damn about who shot them.

"One of the things that causes the gang mentality reaction is the feeling that the police don't care," said Capt. Tingirides  "They think 'They are not going to do anything about my family member getting killed.' So, the only way for them to get justice is to take care of it themselves. But, now there is a different mentality emerging and that is maybe we do care. And you know what?  We do."

Street memorial for Douglas Wooley who was shot to death on March 6 at 97th and Main Street. Wooley, a sickle-cell anemia sufferer, was listening to music with earphones when he was gunned to the ground.

Dozen of Degrees of Separation, Why David Rosoff Left Mozza

12. Realized he could make more  money and work fewer hours if he just robbed Doug Zamensky once a week.

11, Going to work for the @funwithkate twitter account as Kate Green's assistant.

10. Took a job with the Israeli government as Benny Netanyahu's personal poison taster. 

9. Didn't quit, was actually fired by Adriel "AD" Lopez for being too mellow during service 

8.  Tired of getting into easy-to-win fist fights with Osteria dishwashers.

7.  Felt slighted Lance would only hold his reserved table for two at the pizzeria for 15 minutes and 22 seconds.

6.  Depressed that months of planning a takeover robbery with Tony never materialized.

5.  Needed to relax more, so moving to Ghouta, Syria with Lyanka.

4.  No longer needs any more money after selling off his case of 1461 Chateau Latour he got from Rudy

3. Was never given an opportunity by Dahlia to showcase his baking skills.

2. Decided to open a Malt Liquor Bar next to Hawkins House of Burgers in Watts with Chris and Duke.

1.  Felt that after 8 years of employment Nancy should have at least known his first name.

Former Osteria Mozza General Manager on a typical night at Highland and Melrose. Sounds strange to see the word "Former", such a integral cog of Mozza was he. 

Hoover Street vs. Main Street Shootings Recall 'Bad Old Days'

An intense outbreak of gang violence has residents of two Southside neighborhoods flashing back to the dreaded 1980s after a swarm of shootings between the Hoover Street Criminals and the Main Street Crips left one dead and at least two people wounded.  

"It's getting like the '80s again," said a man Friday afternoon as he walked past a "Murder Memorial" set  up at 97th and Main streets. "The bad old days are coming back. It had slowed up, but now the kids born in those crazy years are starting to act like their parents."

Thursday morning, 28-year-old Douglas Wooley was shot and killed at that corner shortly after 10 a.m. as he was walking. Police and local residents say Wooley was not a member of the Main Street Crips, long a force in this neighborhood, but that members of his family are. "He never bothered anyone," was the most common comment about Wooley. 

Sandwiching his death were two shootings on Hoover Street that left two males wounded, one critically. Four men along Hoover Street near 83rd echoed the concerned man on Main Street, dreading a return to the violent days of the 80s and 90s. "It's getting really hot again," one said.  

Thursday and Friday the LAPD was out in force and vowed an increased presence in the area for as long as it takes to quell the violence. "Unlike the projects, the two areas are very large, but we are in suppression mode," said Capt. Phil Tingirides, commander of the Southeast Division who is helping coordinate the efforts with 77th Street Division and Criminal Gang Homicide Division. "We have a high visibility. and the detectives are working the cases hard. Plus, we're working closely with [gang] interventionists."  

(Warning :The following story comes from a man who was legally drunk and freely admitted it. ). 

Hours before Douglas Wooley was killed, he called 911 out of concern for a drunk neighbor who was intoxicated to the point where he collapsed  "I got drunk, a little too drunk, and people were concerned, but I guess he was the only one concerned enough to call the paramedics," said a man who goes by La Vigga, a 60-year-old local aritst. "They came and left. But, when I really woke up from my drunken stupor, he was dead."

Zamensky Becomes First Human Robbed By Three Species

When a red-tailed hawk mugged Orange County Pizzeria Mozza manager Doug Zamensky recently, authorities initially thought it was just another robbery in Newport Beach where rampant crime is an accepted way of life. However, when a detective started digging, she discovered this was no ordinary robbery for it marked the first time in the history of mankind that a human being had been robbed by three different species.

"I knew Zamansky had been robbed by humans before, Grape, Rollin 60s, and I think 18, but what i didn't know was that as a youth in Idaho he had been robbed and briefly kidnapped by a pair of jackals," said Orange County Sheriff's investigator Marissa LaBarbera. "It appears Zamensky is known throughout the predatory animal kingdom."

For his part, Zamensky tried to play off a TMZ-leaked security camera frame of the robbery-in-progress (seen below) as being "Staged in the den of an Emmy-winning producer. Not a big deal really."

Sadly, a source close to the investigation said Zamensky was forced at beak point to dress up as a penguin and take orders from the hawk, an alleged bird shot caller for the Family Swan Bloods. Zamensky's hands were so damaged in the assault that even the hawk took pity and wrapped them in large brown bandages, as clearly seen in the photo. Zamensky is said to be resting comfortably at Hoag Hospital in the psychiatric ward.  

Doug Zamansky shortly before he was rescued by Yosemite Fish and Game Commandos

Silverton Irked by Reichl, Tells Her to Leave Van Ness Palace

Despite what you may have heard, the number of words a picture is worth varies widely. Take the beautiful Afghan girl on a 1985 cover of National Geographic. That photograph's worth sixty, seventy thousand words. Other photos, like, say, a shot of Nadia Bohr's nephew awkwardly attempting - and failing - to score a soccer goal probably is good for 12 or 15.

Now, the photograph that accompanies this story clocks in at 507 words, including the caption . Silverton to Reichl at Jar: "Time to Leave. Now!" 

Silverton to Reichl at Jar "Time to leave. Now!"   

The photograph, taken at Jar by award-winning NBC news producer Madeleine Hareringer,  clearly shows an exasperated Nancy Silverton, her patience gone, her annoyance in bloom, and, most alarmingly, her wine red glass removed. 

Look at that photo and you know what Silverton is thinking. 'Fancy Ruth leaning all into Michael, white wine glass right there. Me, I got nothing.' And you can understand why Nancy, at least according to sources, told Ruth to get out. 

Reichl moved into Silverton's Van Ness Palace on January 22 with her husband Michael Singer. From then, up until that photo was taken 41 days later, the two women seemed, in public at least, to get along like a fragrant bouquet of sweet peas. Reichl even won the coveted Nancy Silverton's "Top House Guest of the Month" award in February.  Liz "Go Go" Hong,  a dinner guest at the Van Ness Palace in mid-February, was stunned when she heard that Reichl had been asked to leave. "I had no idea," Go Go said, "They seemed to get along great. Though now that i think about it, Nancy did come down hard on Ruth for making a cake that crumbled."

Van Ness Palace security footage of the kitchen, obtained here, reveals that Reichl made the same Dario Cecchini-inspired olive oil orange cake five times. One, two, three, four, five. Same cake. "No one make the same cake five times with out being ordered to," said renowned pastry chef Sherry Yard.  "I've seen the security tape and Ruth does not look happy."

At one point, after baking the fourth one, Reichl places the plate holding the cake on the edge of the table, allowing Silverton's dog Zeke to gobble most of it. When Silverton returns home at midnight and finds out, she says "She did that on purpose." according to a mouth-reading expert who has seen the tape several times.

But, the final straws were drawn at a Monday night dinner at Jar and a fray became a rip. Reichl hoarded chef's Suzanne Tracht lemongrass chicken, one of Silverton's favorite dishes at Jar. Then there was the debacle with the wine: Reidel Vinum Montrachet glasses of 2008 Marcassin Estate Chardonnay for Ruth; a Cost Plus red/blush wine glass of February 2014 Bastianich Chianti Neo-Classico for Nancy.

A spokeswoman for Reichl would not confirm the writer had been told to leave Los Angeles. "Ruth was gong to leave anyway. She has a novel to promote in New York City. It's called "Delicious'."

Kate Green, Silverton's assistant, tweeted this afternoon on @funwithkate "I hope her book isn't about that cake."

Benjamin Netanyahu and the World's Most Scrutinized Salad

As Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu sat in the private dinning room of Osteria Mozza late Tuesday night, a dozen stoic Secret Service agents and  Israeli security personal strode through the restaurant, guarding entrances, confiscating some employee's cell phones,   suspiciously eyeing every purse and escorting the hard line leader to the toilet. 

Still, the most intense, person of Netanyahu's entourage was not any of them,  but rather a five-foot, 2-inch, long-haired, 30ish woman who made sure Benjamin's food wasn't poisoned.

"She's good", said an Mozza employee, watching from the across the Mozzarella Bar as she stood next to salad maker Darrell and carefully eyed every ingredient with the concentration of former chess champion Gary Kasparov. Apparently, she was good, Netanyahu and his wife Sara left the restaurant early Wednesday morning on their own power. 

The prime minister's selection of Osteria Mozza was a delicious choice, but also a wise and safe one.  It's located in the LAPD's Wilshire Division which has one of the lowest homicide-by-poison rates in the entire city. 

Still, when asked to rate the performance of the Israeli prime minister's security detail, an agent, speaking off the record, said "I'd give us a 93."

"Why not a 100?"

"You got in."

Israeli prime minister Ben Netanyahu, third from left,  enters Mozza under the Chi Spacca cleaver sign.