Pubdate: Fri, 29 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: Carolyn Salazar A CRY TO FIGHT DRUGS IN PATERSON Elected officials and dozens of residents called on law enforcement agencies Thursday evening to take a stand against Paterson's drug problem. One by one, residents strode to a lectern during a special meeting in City Hall and pleaded with officials to stop the poisoning of their neighborhoods. City Council members acknowledged at the meeting that it was time to eliminate Paterson's burgeoning open-air drug markets, which draw hundreds of addicts from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. It was the first of several meetings intended to address Paterson's notorious drug trade. They were sparked by a three-part Record series, which Councilman Thomas Rooney called a "turning point" for the future of the city. "We have an open-air farmers' market in the city of Paterson for those buying crack, cocaine, heroine or whatever," Rooney said. "This is destroying the city of Paterson. We have to get rid of it fast. We have to get rid of it immediately, immediately, immediately." His colleague, Jerry Luis Rosado, added: "The drug problems [in Paterson] didn't just happen yesterday. It's been happening for years and years. What does it take to nip it in the bud?" Police Director Michael Walker, acting Police Chief James Wittig and Passaic County Sheriff Jerry Speziale used the meeting to outline their plans to combat the problems described in The Record's series, "Drug Crossroads." The series examined how Paterson's drug trade reaches into urban and suburban homes, creating a problem that stretches across three states and affects hundreds of households - inside and outside the city. The Record found that Paterson's multimillion-dollar drug industry had drawn people from at least 150 municipalities during the last 18 months. Yet there were few multi-agency efforts to help Paterson cope with the problem, The Record found. Speziale said the newspaper articles prompted him to reach out to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and surrounding municipalities in an attempt to forge a coalition that would create a long-term solution. Law enforcement officials and city leaders backtracked on recent comments to The Record a few weeks ago in which they said Paterson's drug problems could not be solved. Instead, their remarks Thursday were more upbeat, with all saying they will work hard to find a far-reaching and permanent remedy. "It is an ongoing battle," Speziale said. "But it's not a battle we can't find solutions for." Neither Speziale nor Wittig outlined specific plans, but they stressed that with time and support they could overcome the city's drug problem. "We're going to be a partner to solve this problem," he said. "I don't doubt we will solve this problem. But let's put our heads together and find a solution." At times, the meeting became fiery, as residents and council members said they were fed up with the open drug dealing. Dozens of dealers are found at numerous hot spots, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "We can't sleep. We can't rest," Councilwoman Vera Ames-Garnes said. "We can't let our children play on our yards because of this problem. And we are not happy." Wittig and Walker said Mayor Joey Torres plans to double the size of the city's narcotics unit and buy six drug-sniffing dogs. They also said the city plans to buy video cameras to record drug transactions. Torres was on vacation and did not attend the meeting. Dozens of residents asked why it took articles in The Record to spur the city to act. "I don't know why we are letting The Record influence us," resident Donald Lynch said. "All I'm asking is for you to cure this disease which is hurting our children, and hurting all of us. It's time for Paterson to wake up." Among The Record's findings was that municipal and police officials, while executing short-term solutions for the city's drug bazaars, had not devised a successful, comprehensive plan. Some residents urged city leaders Thursday to come up with one. "We need to take a comprehensive look at this problem. We need to look at what's creating this drug trafficking, which is a lack of education and a lack of recreation," said Paterson school board member Jonathan Hodges. "Until we look at this as a comprehensive approach, we're just going to fill the jails." The Record's series showed how anti-drug efforts in New York have pushed some of the street drug trade to Paterson, where easy access and high heroin purity lures hundreds of drive-up buyers. The Record's analysis showed the percentage of out-of-towners arrested by Paterson police for buying or seeking drugs had nearly doubled during the past five years, to the current 35 percent. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin