Power lines are usually found in poor neighborhoods. The hanging of the shoes is done by ALL children. Not gang members. It just so happens that these neighborhoods (the economically and socially at risk neighborhoods) are often the ones with gangs or drug activity. However, even neighborhoods without gangs have shoes hanging from their power lines. Its a normal thing for kids try to be mischievous and try to “claim their space”. There is nothing negative about their behavior. I feel that perpetuating myths such as these is dangerous both to those who live in said areas and those who want to visit said space. I wish the designer would have investigated more thoroughly before naming their product. (birdturf is cute… but the story behind it is wrong.)