Reason To Ignore

To the Editor,

From reading your editorial "Legislators ignoring Sheriff" in last Sunday's
paper I see that you are wondering why the county legislature is not
jumping at the suggestion of your sheriff to hire a new narcotics officer
and a drug-sniffing dog. I would like to offer an explanation. Perhaps they
realize that the more money we put into law-enforcement as a way to reduce
drug use, the more prisons we build, the more taxes we pay, the more drugs
are available.

Perhaps they are aware that the new state budget decrees that inmates
convicted of D and E felonies, typical charges against the sort of
low-level drug user your new narcotics officer would be arresting, are now
to be housed in your county jail AT COUNTY EXPENSE. No more reimbursement
from the state.

Perhaps they have heard of the incredible success European countries are
having at reducing drug use by their children and have noticed that the
tactics they use are quite different than those you and your Sheriff propose.

Perhaps they know that this is going to be a waste of money and are looking
for a way out.

Or, perhaps they think that if we do the same thing every county in America
has done and failed at again and again for the last thirty years, somehow
it'll work this next time in St. Lawrence County.

I guess we'll have to wait until the legislature makes up its mind. I wish
them courage.

Nicolas Eyle, Syracuse, New York