STORY EMPHASIZES OLD NEWS INSTEAD OF GOOD ACTIVITIES

To the editor:

I am looking onto Fountain Street, pondering Thursday's front page: "Crack
Alley: Battling drugs on South Fountain Street." This is my neighborhood.

I puzzled as I read about arrests in 1995. Were there more arrests?
Apparently not. Had there been a new outbreak of violence in the region of
Indian Park? Seems not. Was there a renewed emphasis on cleaning up Cape
Girar-deau's drug problems? Apparently not.

My church hosts A.A. meetings. I volunteer elsewhere in the neighborhood
with women and youths who are recovering. Many churches and community
organizations offer constructive activities to fight the drug culture. Why
are we reading only about a few dropouts?

Page 2 refers to racial tensions and allegations of racism in the media
coverage of this neighborhood. Then the article holds out the possibility
of peace between police and the neighborhood. What a great conclusion.

But this is a case of bait and switch. The front page carries a screaming
headline with very bad, very old news and featuring a large photo of
garbage cans to represent the neighborhood. Is this what the Southeast
Missourian thinks is necessary to sell a story about neighborhood
reconciliation? Why not magnify the constructive activities and bury the
old, bad news on Page 2?

The REV. BOB TOWNER

Rector

Christ Episcopal Church

Cape Girardeau