MORE POLICE

ARTICLES such as "Have drugs, will travel" may be shocking to some, but are
no surprise to San Francisco Mission district residents, which I used to be
(The Examiner, March 19). Recently leaving the Mission after living there
two years, the reason I relocated was the drugs, crime and resulting filth
around the 16th Street BART station two blocks from my old apartment.

It's so easy to see that the neighborhood "commerce" as I call it, is
totally focused around the BART station, but also trickling out around the
neighboring streets and alleys. The article highlights some finger-pointing
from those involved with this problem, but I think the solution is simple:
Efforts to conquer the problem from the city of San Francisco like more law
enforcement and some effort from the community.

If Operation Reclamation was successful in spreading the word that the heat
is on, why not keep that heat on? If a uniformed officer were on each
BART-accessible corner at that 16th Street intersection or at other stops
in San Francisco, they would be perceived like a scarecrow and the crime
and illegal commerce could be greatly deterred. Or take smaller steps, such
as putting high-powered lighting above and around those stations to expose
those pursuing illegal activities.

Eric Doyne

The City