Craig Miller wrote: >Intelligent insight. Hope opinion making like this doesn't get very far in >the genetic pool of the Mpls/DFL/Activist species. > I think that in some ways I fit this particular subspecies of Homosapiensapien. Since I live two blocks and four lots from Schmidt, I also know of what Robert speaks. There is also a huge number of junkies, junky dealers and junkie prostitutes who make there homes within a block or two of Lake St. They're creepier yet and most of them are heroine geekers from Chicago and Gary, Indiana. They're not young junkies either, they're as old as 60 and 65. Their middle aged children are junkies too. They're selling to support their habits. They're every bit as scary as gang banger dealers and they mix it up for territory. Enter the Latino gangs who are no picnic either and who behave differently from AA gangs. The best thing for junkie dealers is to grab them at a low point--really low since some have been down so long it looks like up--and put them in treatment. Caveat: The older the person, the more difficult to break the habit.
We can't shoot them, we can run them in and out of jails, but that solves nothing since time in jail is not spent trying to change behaviors. Jail/prison is a warehouse that only worsens the situation. Treatment is hard sledding all the way and the odds against success are low. Further, treatment means waiting most of the time. There are men out here every night working to pull junkies into treatment. Some of them call themselves MADDDADS. Some don't. In my particular neck of the woods they're a godsend. This is an uphill slog all the way. Schmidt is lucky in one way. Aftercare, Inc. is on his block. Every man jack of 'em is an ex-junkie learning how to have a life without ' being in the life.' They set a powerful example of how to go about making that change. The paradigm shift has to be away from the stupid and unsuccessful war on drugs and toward the recapture of the basic humanity of the junkies. I'm really counting on the African American Men's Project for taking the leadership in this struggle. That appears to be their intention. WizardMarks, Central > > >Craig Miller >Former Fultonite >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Robert Schmid" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "j c harmon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Cc: "Mpls Forum" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2002 10:56 PM >Subject: Re: [Mpls] talking trash > >>I have similar problems. However, the argument that my neighbors are >>doing it is wrong on two counts; >>First, we have a wind problem. A lot of trash gets blown here from >>lake Street. >>Second, it's people from outside, especially the burbies who come here >>looking for sex & drugs and think that we are their trash can. >>_______________________________________ >>Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy >>Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: >>http://e-democracy.org/mpls >> _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
