GET TO THE ROOT PROBLEM

Congratulations on your excellent series on Paterson's drug market
("Drug crossroads," Page A-1, July 17, "Risky business," Page A-1,
July 18, and "Stemming drug trade frustrates Paterson," Page A-1, July
19).

Paterson's emergence as the drug supply spot of the moment comes from
the fact that New York City, the previous favorite spot, is harder to
get to. But your articles don't mention the core of the problem.

Rockland County District Attorney Michael Bongiorno is quoted asking
what Paterson is doing about its drug problem. This is the approach
that has been tried and retried for the last 20 to 30 years without
success: Blame the supplier. It is time for Bongiorno and officials in
similar positions to start asking themselves why there are so many
drug buyers in Rockland or any other county. Only then will we have a
chance to make a real dent in this big business of illegal drugs.

BERNARDO GUTERMAN

Glen Rock