Moraga’s Bubble Is Bursting
January 22, 2020
Moraga is often referred to as “a bubble.” When I was in 2nd grade, this concept simply flew over my head. As I have grown older, I have come to understand how this town can feel like an island separated from the typical adversities of a chaotic world; however, the bubble is beginning to pop. We are not as untouchable in our homes or at school as we think.
The shooting that occurred in the Starbucks’ parking lot on January 19 inspired this revelation for me. I’ve grown up in that Rheem Shopping Center, where there used to be a Burger King with playground inside. To this day, I’ll stop at Starbucks and pick up a hot chocolate.
I could have been sitting in that parking lot, about to take a sip, as the shots were fired. My little sister could have been there; people I know and love in my community could have wounded or killed.
The suspect was finally caught be police near 24 Hour Fitness, which horrifies me almost as much as the fact that there was a shooting, as both my parents frequent that gym, as do hundreds of other residents in our community.
A community is primarily comprised of affluent, upper-middle class families, Moraga has seen a rise in burglaries and other crimes.
Rather than keeping our town more fortified, Moraga’s wealth makes us a target for Bay Area criminals. Consider the gas station robbery of last year and the Lafayette home invasions in October. More and more criminals are looking to the suburbs rather than pulling a bank job. And who can blame them? It’s not like we remember every night to leave our alarm; our golden retrievers and labradoodles won’t do much to deter an armed assailant.
Add to this the danger we face from what makes our community so beautiful: Open space. The recent Sander’s Ranch fire reminded us that while our ridge lines can be a source of pride, the are also a growing fire danger as climate change advances.
There is also the nasty persistence of intolerance, emotional distress, and teenage stupidity. A student received a racist note in 2018, there was a gun scare at Quad City last year, and this year members of our boys’ soccer team have behaved so poorly they’ve been removed from the squad. This is hardly the stuff of a utopia.
Teens still get into messy car crashes; beloved neighbors still get cancer. There may be only a couple streets that lead out of Moraga, but turmoil and tragedy still find their way into our lives.
Too many of us make the assumption that everyone who lives here is a law-abiding, benevolent citizen. How could someone be a murderer in Moraga? Well, Bernadette Protti reveals a different story, 1 where the girl next door is a psychopath. At least 1 member of our community has been arrested for tax evasion. Another for possessing child pornography.
Hardships are not limited to a geographical location or socioeconomic status. They can not determine whether someone is a sinner or a saint.
If we continue to believe that Moraga is an impenetrable fortress, then we invite this danger to flourish.
Colin Etheridge • Jan 26, 2020 at 6:53 pm
A journalist – at least one who does not work for the Enquirer or Fox News – should always be sure of facts before quoting people or incidents.
This article may well be ‘well intentioned’ but to reference incidents about the boys varsity soccer team that are, at best unproven, and, at worst, libelous shows a disregard for integrity, rigor and objectivity.
The school are culpable for a lack of information and communication and as long as you have weak, spineless, nervous leadership at Campolindo the school will always be cast in shadow.
Sam Etheridge • Jan 24, 2020 at 8:17 pm
It’s a shame you didn’t research a little more about the soccer team’s suspensions before writing this article. These practices are endemic at Campolindo and are practiced in almost all of the varsity level sports teams, however no one mentions that. This is very much a Campo culture that has been going on fir many years. Lumping these boys in with gun violence and violent home robberies is wrong and exacerbates a rumor mill that is already alive at Campo and with no statement from the administration to counter them this sort of ‘opinion piece’ just adds fuel to the flames.
Brian Ahearn • Jan 24, 2020 at 8:02 pm
Nicole,
I consider your reference to the boys soccer team in your article to be slander, and you perpetuating the gross rumors and lies that are being spread. I encourage you to follow the real story, which is why hasn’t the school admin released any statement or information about the incident, and had just left these boys hanging. As a fellow athlete, I would hope you would be supportive instead of taking the other Moraga bubble buster attitude of shamming people without knowing the real facts.
Ignacia Guzman • Jan 24, 2020 at 4:33 pm
To Ms Collins, Opinion Editor,
As I read your article I am surprised and puzzled as how you compare a shooting to a team building initiation. But its not entirely your fault. Mr Walker doesn’t want to set thing straight, he doesn’t care about the rumors. So I’m sure you’ve heard horrible stories about what happend at the Varsity soccer team initiation night.
Its also shocking how you ignore, or just forgive, years and years of a practice and tradition (admittedly stupid!) not created by this ‘peaceful community’ but by this county toxic sport culture. If you would do some digging you’ll know it’s nothing new, nothing out of proportion, a tradition not created by these players. Furthermore, traditions done by MANY teams at Campo! Please don’t tell me you haven’t heard from the football and waterpolo team’s initiations! Your head cannot be peaking out of the ground just this year! There’s no bubble bursting here! It burst YEARS AND YEARS AGO!
Teenagers do stupid things on a daily basis. Nothing new. But comparing initiation with a shooting or criminals? I think you went too far.
I’ve been in this country 23 years. I knew football players were treated like rock stars but I have never seen it so close.
I want you to look closely at the timeline and tell me if this crackdown on ‘hazing’ with the soccer team is not suspicious. They decided to pick on the easier target, because the football coach is untouchable (do not to forget that Miguel Camacho, the soccer coach, is Hispanic! ) as are the swimminng and waterpolo coaches as well. Oh no! Those coaches get trainings and warnings. The soccer team gets suspensions, dismissals and the coach fired! So before crucifying the dismissed soccer players, look around a bit. Look at the years of toxic traditions. And, please, above all, be mindful of your poetic comparisons!
Ignacia Guzman (Hispanic!)
Sorry for any mistakes! Done in my phone.