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.
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