BEAT FEET WORTHWHILE

BRENDA PAYTON is misinformed relative to Beat Feet issues ("Beat Feet should
go the way of other Draconian drug laws, April 18") and seems to
conveniently forget the negative impact prostitution and drug dealing have
on Oakland neighborhoods.

The majority of Oakland residents are hard-working, law-abiding citizens who
would like nothing more than to enjoy their homes and neighborhoods without
the fear and mistrust that criminal behavior brings. The Beat Feet ordinance
was born of a cry for help from citizens in neighborhoods where there is a
problem with criminal behavior. These people are fed up with drug dealing
and prostitution in their area.

A large percentage of people who participate in and support these criminal
activities are from bedroom communities outside the city's border. The City
Council passed the ordinance because the people demanded relief.

No children should have to suffer late-night fights between johns and
hookers and pimps and hookers. Nor should they be forced to witness public
sex acts outside their windows. These violators throw their used condoms and
hypodermic needles in parks and on citizens' front lawns.

Drug buyers support the dealers who murder each other over drug proceeds,
fire their weapons off in the neighborhood to intimidate citizens, and use
their cars to spin donuts in the street at all hours of the day and night.
These are but a few of their favorite activities.

We say: You want to play in Oakland you're going to pay.

The ordinance has withstood court challenge once and will most likely do so
in the future. There is a constitutional process in place for individuals
who challenge the seizure, which the court has deemed to be fair.

Oakland citizens deserve more objective information in order to make an
informed decision whether to be supportive of this law enforcement tool.
Civilization can only begin when fear and insecurity ends.

Rick Hart, Oakland