DEALING WITH DRUGS

I am writing in reply to Yvonne Begley's Valley Voices column July 22,
"Don't let criminals take the neighborhood."

Unfortunately I can relate to just about everything she had to say. The
Fresno Police Department, from its chief, lieutenants, POP officers and on
down, for the most part do not care about drug dealing and the problems
that go along with it: burglary, robbery, prostitution, violence and the
deterioration of neighborhoods.

I have been promised over and over by the Police Department that something
could and would be done. I'm still waiting.

Call non-emergency about drug dealers -- you will be told that all they can
do is go out and ask if they are dealing drugs. Then they tell you they can
connect you with the Drug Hot Line voice mail. You leave a message with
your name and phone number over and over but no one ever calls back. As
with Ms. Begley, one officer suggested that we move.

We live in the Tower District. Some of our neighbors are teachers, nurses,
accountants, building trades people, mechanics, retirees, and, of course,
drug dealers.

The problems, besides lack of pro-active policing, are slumlords, no code
enforcement, urban sprawl and lack of concern for our older established
neighborhoods.

Jerry McCracken, Fresno