The Milwaukee Post

8 • Milwaukee County Post • June 6, 2014 Belling on the side of failed drug policy To the editor: Mark Belling is right. The problem with violence in Milwaukee comes down to drugs. The problem is he wants to con- tinue a failed policy that hasn't worked in the last 40 years; that being escalating the war on drugs. The product of this war is ultra- wealthy drug cartels and drug lords. These men do not want an end to this war any more than Al Capone wanted an end to alcohol prohibition. As long as there is a demand for drugs, there will be drug sellers. We, as a society, lock up a drug seller on a corner. Does that mean one doesn't pop up to replace him? We get that seller's boss; that guy isn't also immediately replaced? A growing number of people on the left and the right recognize the futility of these policies. Even if we are wary of legalizing heroin or cocaine, to continue the war on marijuana is just absurd. Marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, but we allow police raids in the dark of night on houses, inevitably killing a cer- tain amount of innocent people per year, to go after small-time pot dealers. We task police focused not on traffic safety, but for searching for marijuana, no matter how many innocent people's cars are searched and 4th Amendment rights violated in the process. I don't want to continue keeping mari- juana illegal, so that private prison com- panies are guaranteed a minimum num- ber of prisoners, such as small time deal- ers. Groups like the Marijuana Policy Project want to end this war, as do I, unfor- tunately, Belling seems to be on the wrong side. Karl Munoz West Allis OPINION By JOE DAVIS It is extremely disconcerting that in neighborhoods where homeowners are struggling to keep their property values up, where neighborhood block watches are in place, and where schools and neighbors work together to keep an eye on student behavior, we are seeing regular acts of lawlessness. In all hon- esty, how do these neighborhoods recommit to stabilizing them- selves for the next generation of homeowners? Unfortunately, some areas in the city of Milwaukee are out of control and there is no substance for a solution from the mayor. In the area where the homicide occurred yesterday (Monday) in the Second District (near North 68th Street and West Fiebrantz Avenue), residents are feeling empty. They say: "I cut my grass, I pay my taxes, I participate in neighborhood meetings, and this is what I get?" My constituents in this area have borne the brunt of the negative statistics that surround the declining quality of life in Milwaukee. Black-on-black crime seems to be ignored, and I truly think we are becoming desensitized by the rampant escalation of recent incidents, which causes us to lose focus on the real possible culprit – a true lack of leadership by our CEO! I argue that because we have not seriously addressed our neg- ative poverty statistics for many years (which have turned Milwaukee neighborhoods into the OK Corral), we blame irrele- vant entities for our systemic problems. Well, now the chickens have come home to roost. Let's get real. How long will we stick our heads in the sand and pretend that we have a plan to address this staggering eco- nomic crisis? (Joe Davis is a Milwaukee alderman.) Alderman feels city neighborhoods need more help to combat poverty LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send your letters to: The Milwaukee Post, c/o Dwayne Butler, 3397 S. Howell Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207, or by e-mail to: dbutler@conleynet.com. We reserve the right to edit letters for style, length and clarity. Letters should be typewrit- ten or printed and include full name, phone number and address. Please keep your letters to no more than 400 words. Letters policy COMMENTARY Question of the week Do you agree with Sheriff David Clarke's call for an independent review of the county justice system? "Yes, I strongly agree with Sheriff David Clarke's call for an independ- ent review of the county justice sys- tem for the following reasons: ■ Criminals will continue to com- mit crimes until the justice system sentences them toughly, i.e., young Sierra (allegedly) gunned down on a playground by 18-year-old Sylvester Lewis. Lewis has been arrested 15 times since the age of 12. ■ Underage crime cannot continue to be a "catch and release" sentence. Remember how the county wanted to introduce "Shakespeare" to influence our young gangs to quit the crime scene? Drug dealers are using these kids to maintain their drug territories knowing they won't be off the streets long because of the soft judges we have in the system. ■ Lucrative drug dealing continues to create violence. Until we get arrests and seriously tough sentences, vio- lence and drugs will continue to kill, not only in Milwaukee, but our suburbs. We have Alderman Donovan's and Sheriff Clarke's take on this battle. For once be sensible and listen." – Suzanne McKinney Cudahy "Sheriff David Clarke is the only person that assumes leadership in the Milwaukee. Yes, anything he recom- mends should be acted upon." – Noah Borkenhagen Franklin Editor's note:The following is a submission from the previous week's question about whether or not the city of Milwaukee needs greater public safety, as was suggested by Alderman Bob Donovan. "Being in his district, I can say that along with the sheriff they are our only hope in this city. I will love cameras in the alley. If we have a problem he helps as soon as possible. Many times police calls take hours to be responded to. The south side would start to look like the north side if he did not fight for so many programs. I've called the sheriff for help and got it, too. If you see them talk- ing a lot it's because they offer a lot and we all appreciate it.There are too many clueless people in this city. The police chief and the mayor are shining examples.They talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Donovan and Clarke walk the walk." – Kathleen Michalski Milwaukee This week's question Should the two 12-year-old girls accused in the Waukesha stabbing incident be sent to juvenile court? Editor's note: When responding to the Question of the Week, please include your full name with spelling, phone number and city where you live. Phone num- bers will not be published. Anonymous responses are no longer accepted by the publication. Call 744-6370, Ext. 15 and leave a brief answer. Readers may also send an email with a brief answer to: dbutler@conleynet.com. Clarke Donovan

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