While I agree that they could have more than likely found different areas to cut it also goes to show that the effect they had in the community was not a lasting one. If in the month after they stopped their work 46 people were killed in one area you have to figure that their message was not really sinking in.
I work with a lot of Gangster Disciples and other Chicago based gangs and we have a decent population of Chicago native gang members here I can tell you this: while the older members have recognized that the life only leads to death, the younger (35 and lower) members simply do not care. They have grown up in a culture that glorifies the gangster, drugs, murder and money. They do not know anything else. They fully expect to die before they make 30. And it does not bother them.
They will look for any slight, no matter how minor to you or I, to visit violence on someone. If you owe a debt it would be wise to pay up, or get beat down. I have seen guys get beat for not paying rent, or for not giving up a shot of coffee. They are thugs, bullies and cowards. Without a fundamental shift in thinking this issue will not go away. They truly believe that they are owed everything, that they deserve to be rich and drive expensive cars. Too long has the Govt made it acceptable to walk around with your hand out.
I am all for programs that teach conflict resolution and thinking skills, but out of 100 people you talk to maybe only 10-20% will actually take it to heart. And in my experience it is the older guys getting out of the game anyway, or the younger guy that had a wake up call. The only end for a true believer, a hard core gang member is the grave.