“In these neighborhoods about 25% are involved in the activity, 25% are on public assistance, and the other 50 % are decent hardworking victims.”
Here in NJ the neighborhoods where this happens have nearly 100% welfare recipients; most people with the lowest-paying jobs can avoid living there. They are areas completely composed of government housing, and the idle “youth” (both genders, ranging in age from 13 to 30) are heavily engaged in the activity.
Looks like three generations of welfare is the natural limit, then it eats itself. Sort of like abortion, a self solving problem. Only a matter of time.
The gangs exist by selling drugs. Who buys most of the drugs? People from outside the neighborhood who come in to score some coke or pills. Focus on the buyers, and the money dries up.
Of course, then you wind up arresting the kids of judges, politicians, business owners, and all sorts of heat comes down on the police.