Yeah man, I grew up in Plainview. One town over. My HS girlfriend was from Hicksville. Maybe you knew her - Vanessa Heaver. She was a hot little blonde chick and had a younger brother.
Gangs in Plainview??? Sorry but the thought of that makes me chuckle. I know Long Island isn't 100 percent safe but the general areas compared to alot of places are relatively safe compared to what else is out there.. ESPECIALLY Plainview, an overpriced expensive town that makes sure its as isolated as possible from main chain kind of stuff (like putting in a movie theatre or a large chain store which would attract people from other towns).
Maybe it was different back then but I've lived in Plainview my entire life and have been for the past 18 years and its one of the safest suburban towns on Long Island. You have tons of kids walking home late at night (anywhere from ages 13-17). Since if you were a high school kid at a party that was too young to drive, you usually just walked home with your friends or walked to Dunkin Donuts to get a ride home. Or even simply just roaming town.
I mean, the general idea of Plainview, Jericho, Syosset, Dix Hills' and Long Island kids in general are spoiled and protected kids who have everything handed to them. I admit I'm one of those kids for the most part.
I know there are some gangs shit in Plainview but its such a small percentage since the town would be all over it or they generally keep it underground.