COMMUNITY TEAMWORK IS NEEDED TO FIGHT DRUGS

I am owner of rental property at 163 Susquehanna St., and recently I put up
signs on my property proclaiming, "Drugs for sale! Come on in!" to try to
flush out what I believe to be a drug cell that has taken control of one of
my apartments, and which, incredibly, is still in full operation.

The signs, it seems, have created a degree of publicity and controversy
that have moved far beyond their initial intent. The national publicity,
and the local response overwhelmingly in support of this public act of
frustration and outrage, suggest that the issues involved are much greater
and farther ranging than those of my particular circumstances, contrary to
attempts by some to control the story in that way.

This story is not about Stephen Menz or Susquehanna Street. It is about
Binghamton and New York state and, undoubtedly, most other communities and
states in our nation.

And though we are united with other communities in that we share the same
struggle, it appears to this landlord that we are divided in our approach
to solve this problem.

Pointing fingers at, and ascribing blame to, landlords, either individually
or as a group, the mayor, the police bureau, City Council, state law, etc.,
divide us. Confrontation and controversy, focused upon and encouraged by
some media, divide us further.

To be sure, we each have our responsibilities in this struggle, and we are
all working hard, and we can do better. But we also cannot do it alone.

What appears to be an intractable problem with no solution will continue to
frustrate and endanger us as long as we accept the status quo, do nothing
to change our approach, and remain divided as players in this bizarre drug
game of cat-and-mouse. We are divided, and therefore conquered, by a very
savvy and sophisticated adversary.

Hardcore drug users and sellers live by a different set of rules. They
infiltrate our neighborhoods, violate our carefully constructed web of
well-being and safety, and then, when forced by a seemingly endless legal
process, move to the next neighborhood to continue their assault with
impunity, flaunting their disregard for us in our faces.

At what point do we say, "Enough!"?

I propose that the members of our community renew and rethink our
commitment and our approach to combat the presence of illegal drugs by
joining together and initiating a city-wide dialogue of constructive
problem-solving that moves forward from this point.

Are you a tenant?

Are you a police officer?

Are you a social worker, a reporter, a public housing advocate, or an attorney?

Are you a landlord, an entrepreneur, or a health care provider?

Are you a member of our community?

Do you have any specific ideas for ways in which you or others can do a
better job in confronting this issue?

What isn't working?

What might work?

From the smallest administrative change, or to the most ambitious
legislative initiative, I urge you to contact our leaders, as I have done,
with your constructive suggestions.

Just as the child blurts out, "But he isn't wearing anything!" as the
emperor struts by in his "new" clothes, with respect to our effort locally
to confront illegal drugs, the signs ring out, "It isn't working!"

We need this reality to be acknowledged, and we need to move forward
immediately, working together, from the top down and the bottom up, to keep
these individuals on the run, right out of our community.