Pubdate: Sun, 03 Dec 2006
Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal (FL)
Copyright: 2006 News-Journal Corporation
Contact:  http://www.news-journalonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/700
Author: Anthony Aramis Eason
Note: Gives priority to local writers

CAN'T HIDE STREET CRIMES

Re the Recent Series "A Serial Killer's Stomping Grounds: The City 
You've Never Known":

I am very happy that the editors of such a fine newspaper put such a 
masterpiece on the front page. This is a problem that needs to be 
addressed. I, for one, am disgusted with the readers who complained 
that such an article on the front page will hurt tourism. What do 
they think the tourists think when they come to Daytona Beach and see 
the prostitutes, crack users and dealers firsthand? No matter where 
you go in Daytona Beach, eventually you have to use or cross Ridgewood Avenue.

This problem has become an epidemic because we don't want it on the 
front page, let alone mentioned. Forgetting or hiding the problem 
doesn't fix it; so, yes, it does need to be on the front page. It 
needs to be made public. What does it tell the young people when our 
community says, "Let's keep this quiet, not address it and act as if 
it's not happening"? That is not the way we deal with problems.

Last but not least, "the crack trade." Sentencing someone to 15 years 
in prison because of a drug problem isn't going to solve anything. 
These people need help. Not all of them deserve to go to prison. 
Anybody who suggests giving someone with a drug problem 15 years in 
prison obviously has never had a drug problem or a family member with 
an addiction.

Anthony Aramis Eason

Daytona Beach
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