Pubdate: Thu, 21 Jul 2005 Source: Record, The (Hackensack, NJ) Copyright: 2005 North Jersey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.bergen.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/44 Author: Bernardo Guterman Note: Headline created by newshawk GET TO THE ROOT PROBLEM Congratulations on your excellent series on Paterson's drug market ("Drug crossroads," Page A-1, July 17, "Risky business," Page A-1, July 18, and "Stemming drug trade frustrates Paterson," Page A-1, July 19). Paterson's emergence as the drug supply spot of the moment comes from the fact that New York City, the previous favorite spot, is harder to get to. But your articles don't mention the core of the problem. Rockland County District Attorney Michael Bongiorno is quoted asking what Paterson is doing about its drug problem. This is the approach that has been tried and retried for the last 20 to 30 years without success: Blame the supplier. It is time for Bongiorno and officials in similar positions to start asking themselves why there are so many drug buyers in Rockland or any other county. Only then will we have a chance to make a real dent in this big business of illegal drugs. BERNARDO GUTERMAN Glen Rock - --- MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFlorida)