Ralph said: If drugs could be sold at the corner drug store, the drug dealers who are making Ms. Lickness life hell would be outcompeted by legal business outlets and her life would be no more negatively impacted than it is by the corner druug store.
Me: I couldn't agree more. Because of the way drugs are legislated, the supermarket for them has been placed on the residential streets of concentrated neighborhoods in Mpls. This truly is a zoning issue. People are operating a retail business on a residential street and they are not compatible uses. I am not sure I buy the local drug store theory. I would think it's better comparison might be with the sex shops. There are groups of people who have lobbied for legalization of drugs for years with little or no success. In the meantime, drugs are not legal. The underground businesses created because of it operate in a dangerous, scary, fight for survival mode. It's a take no prisoners approach. I also know treatment is a great option for addicts. That is when it works. Until an addict decides for him or herself that they don't want to use any longer, there is nothing short of death that is going to stop them. While there are drugs that are not legal and addicts who want those drugs, we have a very dangerous businesses with very desperate customers operating on residential streets in Mpls. The livability issues this situation affects for neighbors that surround these businesses are significant and frightening. Our only option when a new business opens on our block is to work to get them arrested or moved. Whatever one happens first. I don't subscribe to the theory that people who have committed drug crimes shouldn't go to jail. In Mpls., by the time any of them actually go to jail they have 16 page rap sheets for previous arrests. Most of the ones in jail are not the "oops I had a joint and got caught" set.I have a family member that is a recovering addict (13 years and going strong). He went through treatment 4 times. It wasn't until he spent 6 months in jail that he decided to go straight. So, if we can't get them arrested and actually put in jail, we work to move them. We use the college degree we received in the laws of real estate and the laws of criminal behavior and if we are lucky in 6 months or so they are forced to move somewhere else. Barb Lickness Whittier ===== "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
