By Mica

July 14, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this

One of the points in this article was the huge amount of money spent by the state and paid for by the taxpayers on prisons vs. offering drug treatment. Florida residents spend $18,000 annually to house and feed its inmates, versus $2250 to provide drug treatment for a year. That’s a huge discrepancy, and perhaps one of the reasons why Florida is in the top 5 of states with the highest number of incarcerated. (California, where I live, is No 1 with 172,000.) Then when you read that these drug free zones have not stopped drug dealing, one sees that all these zones did was push the problem somewhere else, rather than lessen the incidence.It’s all about punishment and retribution (short term) vs. getting those who need help (drug treatment) the help they need to kick drugs and get real skills so they can support themselves and their families.

How long are Florida residents going to go on burying their heads in the sand about this problem? Do they really think that imprisoning people for a certain number of years is going to STOP the problem, or just make it go away for a bit of time, only to come back?

By the way, the racism in these comments is absolutely disgusting. The article is talking about the fairness of drug free zones, and all the racists come out and trash all African Americans. What a disgusting but predictable spectacle!

By From PA

July 2, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this

I’m a black Haitian - American woman who is working and raising two children here in FL. We moved here to better our lives. My mother is from Haiti and my father was an American. They were married for over 40 years until he passed in 2001. My parents raised three of us TOGETHER. They instilled the value of education in each of us. It was not acceptable to not bring home any grades below an A or B. We were taught the Ten Commandments early on in our lives. We went to church together every Sunday. We were raised in Catholic Schools and Churches. My mother was a virtuous woman who never strayed from her marriage. She doesn’t smoke or drink. We were taught to take pride in ourselves, our home, environment and our work (this began with our presentation of school work). We were taught work ethics and how to be honest… If we lied we had hell to pay. God forbid if we were to ever steal… We did not wait for hand outs from anyone. Both of them worked in and outside the home to raise us to be producutive members of society. I can not praise my parents enough. My father supported the household alone until I went to school at the age of 6 (I’m the oldest). Because of my parent’s and the church’s teaching, my sisters and I have kept our nose clean - we are not criminals. I don’t care what you have it isn’t mine. I can earn what I want. We are raising our children to know right from wrong. I don’t believe a criminal’s attributes can be based on race alone. My 13 and 15 year old children are not perfect, but they will not steal anything from anyone because they know it’s wrong. And, they won’t sell or do drugs because it destroys the body. They’ve embraced our parenting, and we hope it carry them throughout their lives as I have embraced the teachings of my parents. I also have told them that ignorant people will always be a part of society, to carry themselves with their heads high. Why it is that some people think if you’re black you’re lazy, good for nothing, and a thief? Isn’t white collar crime still a crime? Bringing home stuff from the office is stealing. Causing accidents on the road because you are a drunk is criminal. Drinking and driving drunk and killing someone is MURDER. Alcohol is a drug… Do you REALLY think the criminals are ALL Black? One thing I’ve learned is - Great people talk about great ideas and solutions. Average people talk about things. Small people talk about other people. This is from a quote I read a few years back. Guess I’m just an average “person” reaching for greatness through myself and for my children. Parents your children are watching

By Joe

July 2, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this

Drug dealers learned from being arrested over and over again exactly where 200 feet was in our neighborhood. Did they leave and go to another “safe” area? No!!! They drew marks that showed them where the 200 foot line ended, and stood outside the marks. Our neighborhood association got out a map when the 1000 foot rule went into effect we drew the new boundaries on the map. There was still a little sliver left where they could sell drugs, but they left completely.

By Curious

July 2, 2007 12:15 AM | Link to this

I would like to see someone from the Post do an article on how many times drug dealers are arrested before they actually see their first day of PRISON (not county jail) time. I have never seen or heard of someone prosecuted on their first offense and then get sent to prison (for State drug charges including where this 1000 foot rule is applied). A typical drug dealer “pedigree” usually shows one leniency break after the next-a few pretrial diversions with charges dismissed after completion (drug farm, etc.), followed by downgraded charges and “adjudications withheld” (not officially found guilty), and then finally several probationationary periods (with the usually violations of probation that they get a break on). Criminals have to get CONVICTIONS to score the points required to send them to state prison.

A drug dealer is arrested probably over ten to fifteen times before he/she gets their first day in prison. One only has to publicly view their criminal histories of Department of Corrections inmates to see all the dismissed arrests, witheld adjudications, downgraded charges, and probations.

Now, what about the 1000 foot “drug free areas”? Considering a gun is to a drug dealer what a hammer is to a carpenter…I don’t know…how far does a bullet fly before it looses most of its energy? Do I want these armed gangsters shooting it out for turf or revenge where they hang out within range/sight of my kids schools? I wish all drug dealers were dealt with as harshly as those within the 1000 foot circles.

I feel about as sympathetic to drug dealers, regardless of race, as I do child molesters. Why do child molesters who molest a 13 year old get less harsh penalties as one who molests a 12 year olds and under?

One of the reasons we are loosing the war on drugs is that rehabilitation doesn’t work. Look at sexual predators. Criminals are “hard wired” to think and behave a certain way as they grow up and experience what’s around them. Just like sexual predators, drug dealers ultimately know they can go to prison for their activities; they don’t want to change and actually enjoy their lifestyles.

If a person’s only contribution to society is to fueling its drug-related crimes and doing so from areas in and around school zones, churches, and elderly centers, then I think we are better off without them, regardless of race.

I can’t be sympathetic that the law is too harsh. If you believe in rehabilitation, then sign up to take in and sponsor a multiple convicted child molester, rapist, burglar, or thief. I know…”NIMBY”

By JohnW

July 1, 2007 7:08 PM | Link to this

Well, “Looking Glass,” my bleeding liberal heart did read what Bill Cosby allegedly said. His, like yours and mine, are just one opinion among millions. I stand by my words as they are my experiences, just as yours are yours. We can all be glad we still have that American right of Freedom of Speech.

By LookingGlass

July 1, 2007 6:52 PM | Link to this

Well, John W. to each their own. Apparently, your interactions with certain minorities involve those more articulate than the mushmouth moron majority I encounter on the streets, who were born in this country and should be able to be understood by other Americans. As to some of our minorities you may have a point about not speaking English. But I’m inclined to give them a break, how about you? - they haven’t been here for 350 years - they’ll learn. The great migration from Europe showed this would happen, although it did not occur over night, obviously. My argument holds plenty of water, by the way, and I rely on none other than Bill Cosby, who eloquently voiced what most of the American majority is concerned about. Did you miss that particular post, or did your little liberal bleeding heart just choose to ignore it?

By JohnW

July 1, 2007 5:20 PM | Link to this

In response to “Looking Glass,” please define “American Culture.” The majority of the immigrants that I deal with at work on a regular basis don’t even make any effort to speak, let alone learn English. It seems to be their entitlement for us to learn to speak their language. I can clearly understand all of my African American customers. Many of the gang related activities in this county are involving people of these cultures who have integrated so well into the “American Culture” you speak of. So your argument there holds no water. It all boils down to a sense of right and wrong, regardless of race or national origin.

By No apologies

July 1, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this

Just wanted to reiterate what someone else said…Quote from Bill Cosby…

Can’t Blame White People by Bill Cosby

They’re standing on the corner and they can’t speak English. I can’t even talk the way these people talk: Why you ain’t, Where you is, What he drive, Where he stay, Where he work, Who you be… And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk. And then I heard the father talk. Everybody knows it’s important to speak English… except these knuckleheads. Mushmouth is what they speak! You can’t be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth. In fact you will never get any kind of job making a decent living. People marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an education, and now we’ve got these knuckleheads throwing that all away. The lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal. These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids. $500 sneakers for what? And they won’t spend $200 for Hooked on Phonics. I am talking about these people who cry when their son is standing there in an orange suit. Where were you when he was 2? Where were you when he was 12? Where were you when he was 18? And, how come you didn’t know that he had a pistol? And where is the father? Or who is his father? People putting their clothes on backward: Isn’t that a sign of something gone wrong? People with their hats on backward, pants down around the crack, isn’t that a sign of something? They’re walking around with their nasty underwear showing, and holding onto their pants to keep them from falling to the ground!

Or are you waiting for Jesus to pull his pants up? Isn’t it a sign of something when she has her dress all the way up to her panty line, and got all types of needle piercings going through her body? What part of Africa did this come from? We are not Africans. Those people are not Africans; they don’t know a thing about Africa. With names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and Mohammed and all of that crap, and all of them are in jail. Brown or black versus the Board of Education is no longer the white person’s problem. We have got to take the neighborhood back. People used to be ashamed. Today a woman has eight children with eight different ‘husbands’ — or men or whatever you call them now. We have millionaire football players who cannot read. We have million-dollar basketball players who can’t write two paragraphs. We as black folks have to do a better job. Someone working at Wal-Mart with seven kids saying… you are hurting us. We have to start holding each other to a higher standard. We cannot blame the white people any longer. It is not for media or anyone of this time anymore to say whether I’m right or wrong. It is time, ladies and gentlemen, to look at the numbers. Fifty percent of our children are dropping out of high school. Sixty percent of the incarcerated males happen to be illiterate. There’s a correlation. Tell the media to stop asking me what I think about people who don’t believe what I’m saying or feel that I’m too harsh or feel that I’m just running my mouth because I’m old. Seventy percent of the teenagers pregnant happen to be African American girls. Don’t ask me to soften my message.

Bill Cosby

READ IT!!!! DO IT>>>>

By Clean is Clean and non-racial

July 1, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this

Sorry. Clean and Dirty are objective and not racial.

Some neighborhoods are clean and some are filthy.

And yes, drugs should definitely be legal…cigarettes and alcohol, both obviously drugs and legal do more harm then all street drugs combined.

LEGALLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS are the BIGGEST KILLER IN THE WORLD TODAY…and the Doctors and Pharmacy companies keep making BILLIONS…YES BILLIONS…just because the law says you can prescribe Oxycontin….if you are a Doctor. WRONG WRONG WRONG…THE MASSES WILL TURN ON OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM VERY VERY SOON.

By No apologies

July 1, 2007 5:07 PM | Link to this

It seems to me, working in the streets of S. Florida that the blacks blame everything on the whites. I see it everyday…The family breakdown in the black community…There’s no “that’s my dad!”, but rather it’s more “that’s my baby’s daddy’ cousin’ mother”…Blame no one else but yourselves. Opportunities are open to everyone..Especially to blacks(special programs…preference on jobs…etc…). Take back your community and start by taking responsibility for your actions. Kids follow by example. Stop blaming everyone else for your shortcomings and educate yourselves and find work like everyone else.

By TO FEARLESS VAMPIRES

July 1, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this

**SORRY, BUT…

THEY ARE FILTHY

When was the last time you were in the area of Boynton between Seacrest & Federal and Gateway and Boynton Blvd????

You make it a TRUTH FREE ZONE

By LookingGlass

July 1, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this

What can you expect from a people when the best they can do for leaders are Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton? Can you really relate to a race, many of whom descend from people who arrived in this country over 350 years ago, who still today can’t speak the English language? People who blame that inability on Ebonics, slavery, crack, the white man, Jim Crow, and what they had for lunch yesterday, or whatever convenient reason they can exploit? Can you take a race of people seriously who are the only race not to have assimilated into the American culture? Hell, even Cubans, Hispanics and Haitians, who arrived much more recently seem to be able to climb out of their circumstances, integrate themselves into this society and thrive. The race card is old, old, old and no longer has any currency. White America is tired of hearing about it, tired of the excuses, tired of the crime, ignorance, disregard for society, and propensity for violence. That too, is old, old, old. Black society needs to wake up and get on with it - instead of whining about “past wrongs made me do the crime” or one day the majority is gonna get totally fed up with it all, build a fence, install a moat and let you people do whatever you want to each other inside the ghetto.

By Fearless Vampire

July 1, 2007 4:00 PM | Link to this

We have coporate prisons because of the drug war, we have a complete law enforcement industrial complex because of the war on drugs. The question should be? Is the drug war working? No Is the mass incarceration of everyone with this disease working? No Should someone get more time for the possesion of ten grams of crack than murder? Hell no.

I want to know why violent crimes in this county and across the country go unsolved while people are getting more jail time than a murderer or rapist for simple possesion.

Doesn’t anyone think that is screwed up. The drug free zones are still the most saturated with drugs. Anyone have a problem with policies that do not work?

Lastly, I have been researching white hate groups for 20 years.This is a message to the Storm Front po box and website manager that has been posting things like “filthy animals” etc that this is a no hate zone. We know who you are and the so does the JADL. Good luck pal. You reallypicked the wrong county to set up shop. Stormfront is operated by Neo nazis and the Aryan Nations for anyone who cares.

This is also a Hate Free Zone.

By JohnW

July 1, 2007 3:57 PM | Link to this

In response to the very well thought out and intelligent response from “Not Surprised,” my point is that the laws would not be considered unfair if the criminals did not commit the crimes. The 1,000 foot rule is very specific. The fact that people are getting arrested, regardless of which community, shows they have a total disrespect for the law. Yes, there are many injustices towards the African American community that even I, as a middle aged white male can see. But, my point is that these people who are “victimized” by these laws are merely victims of their own actions.

To “Disgusted,” you are totally correct that this state has become too expensive in which to live. But that does not justify resorting to selling drugs or prostitution to make ends meet. Yes, I am sure you have witnessed these rich white people buying drugs and sex. I fail to see what that has to do with the issue at hand here.

By Bill Cosby

July 1, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this

NAACP leaders stunned by remarks of prominent comedian. This is why!!

Can’t Blame White People by Bill Cosby

They’re standing on the corner and they can’t speak English. I can’t even talk the way these people talk: Why you ain’t, Where you is, What he drive, Where he stay, Where he work, Who you be… And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk. And then I heard the father talk. Everybody knows it’s important to speak English… except these knuckleheads. Mushmouth is what they speak! You can’t be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth. In fact you will never get any kind of job making a decent living. People marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an education, and now we’ve got these knuckleheads throwing that all away. The lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal. These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids. $500 sneakers for what? And they won’t spend $200 for Hooked on Phonics. I am talking about these people who cry when their son is standing there in an orange suit. Where were you when he was 2? Where were you when he was 12? Where were you when he was 18? And, how come you didn’t know that he had a pistol? And where is the father? Or who is his father? People putting their clothes on backward: Isn’t that a sign of something gone wrong? People with their hats on backward, pants down around the crack, isn’t that a sign of something? They’re walking around with their nasty underwear showing, and holding onto their pants to keep them from falling to the ground!

Or are you waiting for Jesus to pull his pants up? Isn’t it a sign of something when she has her dress all the way up to her panty line, and got all types of needle piercings going through her body? What part of Africa did this come from? We are not Africans. Those people are not Africans; they don’t know a thing about Africa. With names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and Mohammed and all of that crap, and all of them are in jail. Brown or black versus the Board of Education is no longer the white person’s problem. We have got to take the neighborhood back. People used to be ashamed. Today a woman has eight children with eight different ‘husbands’ — or men or whatever you call them now. We have millionaire football players who cannot read. We have million-dollar basketball players who can’t write two paragraphs. We as black folks have to do a better job. Someone working at Wal-Mart with seven kids saying… you are hurting us. We have to start holding each other to a higher standard. We cannot blame the white people any longer. It is not for media or anyone of this time anymore to say whether I’m right or wrong. It is time, ladies and gentlemen, to look at the numbers. Fifty percent of our children are dropping out of high school. Sixty percent of the incarcerated males happen to be illiterate. There’s a correlation. Tell the media to stop asking me what I think about people who don’t believe what I’m saying or feel that I’m too harsh or feel that I’m just running my mouth because I’m old. Seventy percent of the teenagers pregnant happen to be African American girls. Don’t ask me to soften my message.

Bill Cosby

By Rev. Jesse Petterson

July 1, 2007 3:48 PM | Link to this

Say a hurricane is about to destroy the city you live in. Two questions:

What would you do?

What would you do if you were black?

Sadly, the two questions don’t have the same answer.

To the first: Most of us would take our families out of that city quickly to protect them from danger. Then, able-bodied men would ret urn to help others in need, as wives and others cared for children, elderly, infirm and the like.

For better or worse, Hurricane Katrina has told us the answer to the second question. If you’re black and a hurricane is about to destroy your city, you’ll probably wait for the government to save you.

This was not always the case. Prior to 40 years ago, such a pathetic performance by the black community in a time of crisis would have been inconceivable. The first response would have come from black men. They would take care of their families, bring them to safety, and then help the rest of the community. Then local government would come in.

No longer. When 75 percent of New Orleans residents had left the city, it was primarily immoral, welfare-pampered blacks that stayed behind and waited for the government to bail them out. This, as we know, did not turn out good results.

Enter Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan. Jackson and Farrakhan laid blame on “racist” President Bush. Farrakhan actually proposed the idea that the government blew up a levee so as to kill blacks and save whites. The two demanded massive governmental spending to rebuild New Orleans , above and beyond the federal government’s proposed $60 billion. Not only that, these two were positioning themselves as the gatekeepers to supervise the dispersion of funds. Perfect: Two of the most dishonest elite blacks in America , “overseeing” billions of dollars. I wonder where that money will end up.

Of course, if these two were really serious about laying blame on government, they should blame the local one. Responsibility to perform legally and practically fell first on the mayor of New Orleans . We are now all familiar with Mayor Ray Nagin the black who likes to yell at President Bush for failing to do Nagin’s job. The facts, unfortunately, do not support Nagin’s wailing. As the Washington Times puts it, “recent reports show [Nagin] failed to follow through on his own city’s emergency-response plan, which acknowledged that thousands of the city’s poorest residents would have no way to evacuate the city.”

One wonders how there was “no way” for these people to evacuate the city. We have photographic evidence telling us otherwise. You’ve probably seen it by now the photo showing 2,000 parked school buses, unused and underwater. How much planning does it require to put people on a bus and leave town, Mayor Nagin?

Instead of doing the obvious, Mayor Nagin (with no positive contribution from Gov. Kathleen Blanco, the other major leader vested with responsibility to address the hurricane disaster) loaded remaining New Orleans residents into the Superdome and the city’s convention center. We know how that plan turned out.

About five years ago, in a debate before the National Association of Black Journalists, I stated that if whites were to just leave the United States and let blacks run the country, they would turn America into a ghetto within 10 years. The audience, shall we say, disagreed with me strongly. Now I have to disagree with me. I gave blacks too much credit. It took a mere three days for blacks to turn the Superdome and the convention center into ghettos, rampant with theft, rape and murder.

President Bush is not to blame for the rampant immorality of blacks. Had New Orleans ’ black community taken action, most would have been out of harm’s way. But most were too lazy, immoral and trifling to do anything productive for themselves.

All Americans must tell blacks this truth. It was blacks’ moral poverty not their material poverty that cost them dearly in New Orleans . Farrakhan, Jackson, and other race hustlers are to be repudiated for they will only perpetuate this problem by stirring up hatred and applauding moral corruption. New Orleans , to the extent it is to be rebuilt, should be remade into a dependency-free, morally strong city where corruption is opposed and success is applauded. Blacks are obligated to help themselves and not depend on the government to care for them. We are all obligated to tell them so.

By Mad Mike

July 1, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this

- Like the lady said before

Just keep THEM on the east side of 95 and let ME keep packing

THEY aren’t coming on my property THEY aren’t selling drugs to or interacting with my kids

If all of US raise our kids RIGHT. Show them the reality of things and NOT what the libs want. We won’t have anything to worry about

By Sick of excuses

July 1, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this

Throughout history many peoples have been enslaved, some for hundreds of years. Most have risen above it. You can make excuses or you can make it happen. Listen to Bill Cosby and other true black leaders and stop making excuses.

By Too much

July 1, 2007 3:21 PM | Link to this

Ya, ya…Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome.

They’re are preaching this at the PBC School District’s Summer Institute, using public money.

This is like the drunk who won’t give up his liquor.

By Disgusting

July 1, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this

Filthy animals? Who are the filthy animals. The white developers and politicians who have made this county and state unliveable. The people who drive the cost of living up to the point that people are desperately committing crimes white and black in an effort to survive here. In the 1920’s alchohol was illegal and there were more alchoholics per capita than there are now. Why? No drug war has ever worked. Drug wars benefit the powerful and punish the poor. Who is bringing the drugs into the country. Poor Black people. No. THe filthy animals who do this tend to be rich white people with large boats and planes at their disposal. There no drug free zones in the middle of the ocean. I have watched wealthy white people drive up to these spots in Riviera Beach and purchase dope. I have watched wealthy white men pick up young Haitian prostitutes in their cars in WPB. They just roll off in their Mercedez.

By Not Surprised

July 1, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this

I am totally not surprised at the racists/racism that permeates this thread. But for those of you who truly want to be fair, the article wasn’t about giving breaks to lawbreakers,but it was about making laws fair to treat ALL lawbreakers the same, which is supposed to be how America works. How does one justify the sentencing disparities between powder cocaine and crack without coming to the conclusion that race plays a factor? As for the drug zones, they too are unfair in application as the article notes. I totally agree with one writer about the legalization of all drugs. Doing so would eliminate the illegal drug trade and make those neighborhoods affected by the failed war on drugs safer. As for the racists on this thread, you all sound totally ignorant and I hope you aren’t teaching this crap to your children or else we’re headed for more of the same ignorance in the generations to come. Redemption is correct in stating that 43 years isn’t enough time for blacks in this country to reverse the psychological damage done by the past four centuries of inhumane treatment by the majority in the U.S. It is, however, PAST time for us African Americans to do whatever we can to help our communities, including reporting crime and cooperating with law enforcement when they are doing their jobs, educating our children, etc. And while I blame no one for my own personal failures, white or black, it isn’t “playing the blame game” to note historical facts. You cannot say that the history of race in this country has nothing to do with the current state of black america. Blacks are responsible for continuing/contributing to the problem, but to say that slavery and jim crow had nothing to do with it is absurd and dishonest. Values are passed down through generations and when you have one generation for whom it was ILLEGAL to be educated, married or a property owner, and then the next generation becomes more educated, but can’t get jobs/housing/credit, etc because of LAWS against such things, it pushes that group to the fringes and more of their members will commit crimes to survive. So now, when those legal impediments to success are removed, its going to take time for the psychological bonds to break that prevent that group, as a whole, from succeeding. It isn’t that black people are lazy, won’t work, or all the other racist remarks I see written, here, in 2007. I would bet money that if whites were put in the same situation as blacks, you would notice the same pathologies affecting the white community. Its complete and total HYPOCRISY!! But again, I’m NOT SURPRISED

By No Drugs, no relevance

July 1, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this

WHY IS THE PB POST WASTING a SUNDAY FRONT PAGE ON THIS SUBJECT?

What is wrong with targeting drug dealers where they deal?

This is insane.

These low-lifes cause 90% of the crime at least in PB COUNTY…..and BLAME THE WHITE MAN!!

Insane.

They choose to listen to their self-hating music and they choose to live a crummy life and terrorize law abiding hard working people…..we should get rid of these social parasites somehow….I wish more blacks were honest and hard working…a lot are….too many are not and never will be it seems.

By Mrs Wilson

July 1, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this

The critics…Are they for real??? Who are the critics? The drug dealers or their lawyers? If you sell drugs, whether you are white or black or green, you better be ready to face the penalty. It’s ridiculous that this is going to be debated. What are they looking to have changed? Maybe being able to sell drugs right next door to a school or if your caught selling drugs in a drug free zone you won’t have to do as much time. What next? This is disgusting!!

By JohnW

July 1, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this

Why is this even an issue? If the drug dealers weren’t selling drugs, they would not get into trouble. Over 3,500 soldiers have died needlessly in Iraq, yet the Palm Beach Post feels the need to draw attention and sympathy to those who choose to break the law instead of making an honest living. Let’s get our priorities in order. Drug dealers aren’t worth the ink used to write this story. Let’s stick to reporting real issues.

By No DUH

July 1, 2007 1:32 PM | Link to this

You wanna know why these drug free zones exist in black areas and blacks are getting arrested for selling drugs??? BECAUSE THATS WHAT THESE FILTHY ANIMALS DO. THEY SELL DRUGS AND ROB PEOPLE. NO SUPRISE THEIR. THATS HOW THEY LIVE THEIR LIFE AND THEIR MUSIC GLORIFIES THIS LIFE. Why are we suprised. When was the last time you saw any Black “Town of Palm Beach” style neighborhoods anywhere in this country. The answer is NEVER. Blacks will always blame the white man for their laziness and unwillingness to get off their a*s and work. The only thing they know how to do is blame others for their p**s poor neighborhoods in which they tear apart and do not know how to take care of. Go to any black neighborhood and see, THEY TWROW GARBAGE ON THEIR OWN STREETS How is this anyones fault but their own.. WAKE UP BLACKS Take responsibility for yourselves for once and quit blaming the white man.

By pissed off

July 1, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this

THIS IS ONE MORE REASON THAT BLACKS ARE HATED BY LOTS OF NON BLACKS.

By Einstein

July 1, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this

Redemption I think you mean role not “roll”. I think you mean psyche not “psychy”. I think you mean totem pole not “todem poll”

By Einstein

July 1, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this

Redemption What don’t you understand? You are skewing your figures with statements like “more white people do drugs than black.” Likewise, more white people breath the air than black. More white people pay taxes than black. BECAUSE there are more white people in the country. The remarks from your “thesis” are empty.

The bottom line is drugs are bad for you and it would be wise not to do them or sell them.

By Redemtion

July 1, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this

NO COMMENT ON THE STUPIDER…BECAUSE I KNOW WHO IS STUPIDER…MR EDUMACATION

By Redemtion

July 1, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this

No one is blaming the white man…once again, those who are on the outside looking in…will never understand…I’m a firm believer that blacks need to get it together and do the right things in life…BUT I WILL NOT DISMISS THE FACT THAT FOR OVER 300 YEARS WE WERE TREATED AS ANIMALS…THE PAST DICTATES THE FUTURE (FOR THOSE WHO FEEL AS IF THE PAST DOESNT AFFECT THE FUTURE)…WHAT YOU DO TODAY WILL AFFECT YOU TOMORROW…DO BLACKS NEED TO OPEN THEIR EYES…YES!!! DOES AMERICA PLAY A ROLL IN THE PYSCHY OF THE BLACK MIND AND WHY THEY ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TODEM POLL…YES!!!

By Barney Fife

July 1, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this

I’m not buying the ‘mental slavery’ excuse for why many blacks fail to make it in society.

All this ‘black crime’ did not even exist before the Civil Rights era. It was only after we removed Jim Crow laws, provided more social/governmental programs for blacks, that they began their downward slide.

When left to their own devices, many blacks revert to their jungle behavior, which means acting on impulse, not on foresight or logic.

There are plenty of jobs available out there, but many young blacks don’t want to bust their butts working. All these Hispanic immigrants aren’t taking jobs Americans won’t do, they’re taking jobs BLACKS won’t do.

By Redemtion

July 1, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

Heavtmetal…dont put words into my mouth…no one is saying we should leave the drug dealers alone in the inner city…stop being ignorant…if anything, someone with some common sense would say that I’m saying what some in tha article was trying to say…if you are going to target “Compton”…target Berverly Hills as well…

By Tom Walls

July 1, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this

Increased penalties are ridiculous if drugs are illegal to begin with. All drugs should be legalized; then and only then would restrictions around schools make any difference. You don’t see people peddling alcohol on the street corner near the schools. End the war on drugs and legalize them - every drug, not just pot.

By JoeC

July 1, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this

Hey REDEMPTION..

Africans were the ones selling their own people to the “white people”. And do you think you would be doing better off in Africa today? Take a look at the atrocities that are going on in Darfur/the ivory coast.. Im Italian if your wondering. Learn your history brother

We need to stop whining about the past and color of individuals. We need to move on and realize everyone is working hard and just trying to survive?

that will Problably happen when the media stops poking a stick at the fire..

By Redemtion

July 1, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this

Its not skewed because its a fact that more whites do drugs than blacks…regardless of how many ppl live in the country…is it, or is it not a fact that more whites do drugs than blacks??? IT IS A FACT…whats skewed is when one states that there are more blacks in prison than whites…because that is false…to the PERCENTAGE OF THEIR POPULATION their are more blacks in prison than whites…thats the key words missing “PERCENTAGE OF THEIR POPULATION”…is it, or is it not a fact that there are more blacks in prison than whites??? ITS NOT A FACT…there was no bias in what I was saying…it was facts…I didnt need to go into detail about my whole Thesis…

By ozzie

July 1, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this

In order for the Pop Neo hip and Hip Hop Gansta culture to survive they need the status quo. Sure its filthy rich white executives that make the huge dollars but then again they are just marketing the content that they are given. If moguls like Dre and Russell Simmons etc. decided the had enough of the programmed Genocide it would most likely go way down. True what they say Art does imitate life however the young drug culture and mostly monorities celebrates and revels in the gangster mentality because it sellsand its all they know. If you had year where all the urban music and vibes harkened back to the 60 s Vocal or even the 70s Funk with out the Gangsta mentality. Back in the days when people played instruments and actually had talent . I bet crime would drop 30 -40% sadly most of the pepole in this culture are lemmings. They told what to do how to think and what to say

.CHANGE THE FRICKIN MESSAGE IN THE MAINSTREAM AND WATCH THE WONDERS. What happens now makes Don Cornelieus want to throw up .

By Joe

July 1, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this

Here we go again, saying that blacks are unfairly targeted. Let me tell you about the sh** we put up with for years. I live in one of those “drug free” zones. Before the law was introduced in our neighborhood, drug dealers were standing on every corner, 24/7. Residents heard gunshots day and night, blacks shooting and killing blacks. We lived in fear of getting caught in the crossfire. We got death threats constantly. Many residents were told that they if they talked to the police that they wouldn’t be killed, their children would be killed. Once, a four year old girl getting ice cream off an ice cream truck got shot in crossfire. Since we expanded the law in our neighborhood from 200 feet to 1,000 feet, and included parks, day care centers, convenience stores, churches, etc. the streets have cleared up. Today, only once in a while do we hear gunshots. We weren’t aiming at blacks, just to clear the problem up. I never once read in the paper or heard on tv of whites shooting and killing everything in sight. By the way, we do have whites selling crack cocaine. I know, because a small group of us fed-up residents went to court on them, whites and blacks, and hispanics. The law has cleared up our neighborhood pretty good. The mostly “blacks” that were pushing drugs in our area all were from other areas. None lived in our neighborhood. They all drove from as far as 20 miles away to sell drugs here. They have pulled out. Sure, drugs are still available, but not like before.

By Redemtion

July 1, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this

yes, you are right…but not one of those groups were enslaved and faced jim crow laws for over 300 years while their names were taken away, their sense of family stripped, beaten and hung for things as simple as looking at a white woman, told they could not read and write…The Mormons faced an Extermination Order from the Federal Govt which failed and the Mormons were already educated and werent stripped of their names, etc., etc…Romans Fed Christians to the Lions for Sport because they were a blood thisty society (and that was horrible) but it does not compare to what slaves in the so-called Western world faced…and yes, Jewish People experienced some prejudice but once again, it does not compare to over 300 years of slavery and Jim Crow Laws…when you’re on the outside looking in…of course you would call it making excuses…there are plenty of blacks who band together, educate themselves, unite and rise above (they are the ones who have emancipated themselves from mental slavery)…but when your name is stripped away, sense of family stripped, beaten and hung for things as simple as looking at a white woman, and told you could not read and write for over 300 years…ITS GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN 43 YEARS TO MAKE PROGRESS AS A PEOPLE (THE TYPE OF PROGRESS WE NEED TO MAKE)…I said 43 years because blacks technically were still enslaved in this country up until the 1964 Civil Rights Act…Blacks in this Country have only been afforded the opportunity to get it together for 43 years…and its going to take a whole lot longer than that…

By Emancipate Schmancipate

July 1, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

After reading this stuff by this Redemtion person…its pretty clear that African American problems will remain for centuries….and that the will not emancipate their minds or anything else for that matter.

By TO REDEMPTION

July 1, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

— REDEMPTION

As MALCOM X said…STOP BLAMING THE WHITE MAN

OH WAIT… Malcom X had LIGHT SKIN and RED HAIR so he was probably “down” with the white man

Ya know… Big words and somewhat of an edumacation doesn’t make you right… just makes you SOUND even stupider

By Heavymetal

July 1, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this

Redemption..

I agree with you 100% on the issue of the ‘media’…..see, the media is a business. They make money on reporting on, talking about, obssessing over conflict. Whether that conflict is a real, tangible issue or nothing more than an us vs. them freak show is irrelevent. They make their profits on the ‘noise’. So naturally they keep the noise up.

Having said that, you’ve put yourself in an awkward position…..the argument seems to be that law enforcement is BAD or UNJUST because…it’s clearing drug dealers out of neighborhoods faster than white ones.

I mean that IS the opposite argument, isnt it? Leave OUR drug dealers alone and go after some white ones? Because that’s how it sounds to me, and that just makes no sense.

Finally, you’ve brought up probably the biggest crutch that the ‘victim’ fetishists love to savor….that somehow HISTORY…Jim Crow, lunch counters, slavery….has something to do with drug dealers on Tamarind.

It doesn’t. Not a damn thing. What happened 25, 50, 200 years ago has precisely zip to do with the problems that exist in the inner city today….an hour from now, tonight, tommorow. But victim fans insist it does, and demand that we all agree that somehow HISTORY is as guilty as the punk dealing crack with a gun in his jeans.

And that, my friend, is why there aren’t MORE people like you.

By jesse

July 1, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this

Why can’t blacks be like the Jews. They do pretty well after what they went through. The blacks are the only group that continue to make excuses for their actions an insist on blaming others. Slavey is done and overwith, let it go and do something with your lives. Be thankful slavery allowed you to end up in this country in the first place.

By narccop

July 1, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this

I’m afraid I have to agree with you. I have been a drug enforcement cop for close to 22 years now, working in/around Palm Beach County. I can assure everyone out there that my unit does not target Blacks. We DO target dope dealers. Black drug dealers, White drug dealers, Hispanic drug dealers etc. I could not possibly care any less about what race/ethnicity a dope dealer is. I hate all of them equally. It is just a FACT that street sales of cocaine/weed are usually perpretated by Black suspects. I don’t know (or care)that is, it just is. I can assure that I will target a white seller w/as much zeal as I would a Black dealer. Anything we do, such as drug-free zones, to keep them off the street longer is ok by me!

By Einstein

July 1, 2007 12:06 PM | Link to this

Dressing a certain way is not limited to race but certain fashions such as pants falling off butts and breasts hanging out. That is simply low class.

As for your “thesis”, more white people do drugs than black because there are more white people in the U.S. Next time use percentage of population so you don’t skew your results to your obvious bias.

Finally people who do drugs and cause no harm to anyone but themselves like Paris Hilton, should receive a lesser punishment than those for whom drug use results in violent crime.

By Redemtion

July 1, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this

By the way…what did you do when you used to drive down Tamarind Ave regularly in WPB…and saw that EVERY CONVENIENCE store and corner had at least 5 to 15 or more OBVIOUS drug deallers there…NOTHING, THATS WHAT YOU DID…SO YOU ARE JUST AS RESPONSIBLE AS THOSE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO SAY A THING…

By Redemtion

July 1, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this

lmao…struck a nerve and the racist comes out of the closet (And America has changed…lmfao)…know your history before you talk…blacks here and abroad act the way they do because (like Bob Marley said) they need to emancipate themselves from mental slavery…in the Western you had Slavery…in Africa you had Colonization where countries like Belgium and France would put one tribe against another by giving one tribe power over the other…just like in America, the light skinned black was in the house while the darker was in the fields…thus, the light skinned black thinking he was better then the darker skinned black…since you want to make it a racist thing we can do that…the white man comes onto your land and befriends you only to “devide and conquer”…once he’s through telling you you can not educate yourself, you can not keep your name, destroy your sense of family, you must believe and pray to their God, etc, etc…they themselves “emancipate” you only to pass “Jim Crow” laws…or in Africa they up and leave (Hotel Rwanda sound familiar) and leave one tribe to rule another and think their better than the other (who before they were Colonilized had no problems with each other)…yes, we have problems in the Black Community…but many of those problems is a mental thing stemming back from slavery and Jim Crow…All one has to do is conquer the mind and they can control you for decades…which brings us here to the year 2007…I’m not saying that blacks dont play a part in their wrong-doings…but I alo will not dismiss the impact slavery and Jim Crow had and continues to have on the Black psychy…but I agree with Bob Marley 100%…we as Black people must Emancipate ourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds…we’re not in shackles (physically) any more…but our minds are in shackles…

By Need new hereos

July 1, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this

Dear Redemtion….Mormons faced an Extermination Order from the Federal Govt…Romans Fed Christians to the Lions for Sport, Jewish People have also experienced some prejudice…all of these people banded TOGETHER, built great societies and rose above…..African Americans seem to be the only group that cannot band together, educate themselves, unite and rise above…they wallow in Excuses like a pig in slop…..why? This is not for the African Americans that turn their back on ridiculous black self-pity….make hereos of Black Achievers instead of putting them down while refusing to “Snitch” on your neighborhood drug dealers and rapists.

By jesse

July 1, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this

The media does not make black people violent. Blacks go to the same schools and have the same opportunities as whites but they just do not appreciate it. Young blacks want the easy life which doesn’t include work.

By Rose

July 1, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

- **REDEMPATION”“

You keep throwing out numbers… BUT

There are 220 million whites 30 million blacks OF COURSE more whites are going to do most things

BUT WHAT ARE THE PERCENTAGES???

Whites imitate blacks more than blacks????…… If you’re black you don’t have to imitate black D’uh

And sorry,,, BUT I will wager you ANYTHING that there are more criminal offenses being committed by “Javon” in Riviera Beach than by “Sally” in Wellington

Sorry but a “spade” IS a “spade”

Thank God I have the legal right to carry and use a firearm

By Don't Snitch Fools

July 1, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this

…and where does this totally absurd “Don’t Snitch” attitude in the Hood come from….it guarantees a violent and dysfunctional community…..don’t turn in your next door neighbor criminal? No wonder these people cannot clean up their own neighborhoods…its almost like they want them all screwed up……again…..I respect 1000% law abiding and self-helping African American People….they are the true heroes in their community that acheive in the face of adversity instead of Wallowing in their own crime and bad attitudes.

By Dear Lavon and LaQuasha

July 1, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this

R U Kidding? Everytime Paris Hilton Farts in a no-fart zone…its deemed news…difference is she hurts no one…..These belligerent ghetto angry replies are from Denial……and are will guaranttee these people will help to keep themselves down….

I used to drive down Tamarind Ave regularly in WPB…EVERY CONVENIENCE store and corner had at least 5 to 15 or more OBVIOUS drug deallers there…you do not see this anywhere else AND NO WHERE ARE THEY PROTECTED BY THEIR OWN RESIDENTS LIKE THEY ARE IN RIVIERA BEACH and neighborhoods like Riviera Beach. These people should just go back to AFRICA if they like AFRICA so dang much…why don’t they…..?? Well because Africans treat their own people 1,000 times worse….that’s why…..what defense is their for that Mr. Afro Amercican Socio Path? By the way..this is not directed to the many many hard working , honest and decent people in Palm Beach County who just happen to be African American, I commend these people for breaking the no-win culture of the “Hood” and these people should be the african american heroes instead of Punks like 50 Cent!

By Redemtion

July 1, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this

Hey Heavymetal, you’re right to a certain extent…there are way too many successful, educated, coherent, hard working black folks with jobs (I’m one of them)…however, thats not what the media wants to talk about and it definately does not matter to the law and law enforcement whom TARGETS THE INNER CITY…and its not a conspiracy…its the history of this co-called land of the free, to keep ‘em poor, dumb and in jail…or maybe you missed your history lesson on slavery, jim crow, civil rights and on and on???????

By Redemtion

July 1, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this

So because she doesn’t shoot anyone and is not violent it makes it ok huh…ignorance

By Redemtion

July 1, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this

Mr/Ms Politically Correct Social Destruction:

No…these areas are where law enforcement targets and media shows you on t.v. The media will never show you Sally who over-dosed on PCP in Wellington. But they’ll show you Javon got shot and killed in an “apparent” drug deal…so how about we call a “joker” a “joker”…the reason many “fear” to turn in an alleged drug dealer or killer is “fear” for their own lives. Law enforcement can’t gaurantee them protection (they will tell you they will but we all know its BS). You are one of those individuals who is on the outside looking in. You would never know what its like to live in the so-called “hood”…their not protecting them, they “fear” what could happen to them. Who in their right mind would not want justice for their loved ones who was killed??? But telling law enforcement who did it will not bring that person back and it definately will not protect that individual from being killed him/herself…so many feel the need to just take it for what it is and move on with their lives…SAD, BUT TRUE…OH, BY THE WAY…YOUR “WHITE” CHILDREN BUY AND GLORIFY THE MUSIC MORE THAN THE “BLACK” CHILDREN…WHY YOU ASK…THE “WHITE” KIDS WANT TO “FIT” IN…ITS COOL TO THEM…ITS EVERYDAY LIFE FOR THE AVERAGE BLACK CHILD BUT MOST WHITE KIDS CAN’T EVEN RELATE YET THEY BUY THE MUSIC AND IMITATE IT MORE THAN BLACKS…WHY IS THAT EINSTEIN? MAYBE YOU HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT???

By Heavymetal

July 1, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

Hey! Another “Oh POOR US!” article from the Palm Beach Post. Blacks are unfairly this, blacks are unfairly that!….. More gasoline for the ages old tradition of South Florida African American victimhood.

So what will make you feel happy, folks? Police raids for coke in Manalapan? SWAT teams in Royal Palm Beach, busting out the huge coke labs hidden there? Three hundred white yippies wearing Banana Republic khaki being perp walked down Tamarind in shackles?

I’ve lived in West Palm Beach for 10 years and I’ve decided there are way too many successful, educated, coherent, hard working black folks with jobs to think that this perpetual conspiracy to keep ‘em poor, dumb and in jail exists.

But it’s good copy. And it fits a thousand agendas, from Addie Greene on down. So why should I be surprised to read it?

By PO LEEEZE

July 1, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this

- I heard about Paris Hilton selling crack in front of the Louis Vutton store on Rodeo Drive

LMAO

By jesse

July 1, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this

The difference is Paris Hilton is not going to shoot any one and is not violent.

By Rose

July 1, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this

HEY REDEMPTION

We’re not that ignorant LOL I bet EVERYONE here agrees with you… There SHOULD be equality in sentencing

Whether it’s a powder or crack… THEY ALL SHOULD GO TO JAIL FOR A LONG TIME

By Redemtion

July 1, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this

I say what I stated before to mkae this point. The law and law enforcement targets the inner cities. Crack cocaine is a poor man’s drug where powder cocaine is a rich man’s drug…my study showed that there were far more whites who actually used drugs (not just cocaine) than blacks and other minorities…but law enforcement would conduct their drug stings in the inner city while you had Paris Hilton in Beverly Hills high on all kinds of drugs (that was supposed to be a joke, nothing against Paris) and the Mafia in their lavish establishments getting richer and richer from drug deals…this so-called “War On Drugs” targets the inner city…POINT, BLANK, PERIOD…there is no evidence (besides more blacks in prisons for drug offenses than any other race) that blacks and other minorities use and sell more drugs than whites…POINT, BLANK, PERIOD

By Politically Correct Social Destruction

July 1, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this

Call a spade a spade. These areas are where the drug selling and drug violence occurs.

What good would it do to make Century Village or Wellington a drug free zone?

These areas are also were the IDIOTIC RESIDENTS will not even turn in dealers in their own “Hood”….they won’t even turn in that group of GANG RAPISTS in WPB last week….they know who the criminals are in their own communities and protect them.

Every time…and I mean every time one of these punks gets shot or arrested, their immediate family never takes responsibility…its always..”LeRoy was such a good boy!” or “La Quasha was such a good girl”….even thought they have 22 arrests by age 18 or something…

THEY GLORIFY drug dealing, women hating, call themselves the N-Word over and over and absurd violence….these people need to help themselves a little instead of always blaming, screaming racism and holding there hand out.

By Redemtion

July 1, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this

Some of you sound very ignorant (not going to mention any names)…I wrote my Thesis on the diferences between crack cocaine and powder cocaine and there are more similarities than diferences…however, the diferences are interesting but not surprising…the heart of the debate surrounding cocaine sentencing lies the 100-to-1 quantity ratio between powder and crack cocaine. This quantity ratio leads to a penalty ratio for offenders involved with equivalent amounts of either form of crack cocaine. Depending on the exact quantity, the mandatory minimum penalties and sentencing guidelines prescribe prison terms for crack defendants that generally range from three to almost eight times longer than for defendants with equivalent amounts of powder cocaine…

By Rose

July 1, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this

— HEY JOSEPH

Education begins at home All of those who LOST daughters to THEM… Sorry, but they deserved it.

Raise your daughters to stay west of 95

By ozzie

July 1, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this

Either way you cut it you reap what you sow. Notice I did say Reap. Part of a mainstream culture that celebrates, crime, mistreatment of women, where Ghetto is a label to be worn proudly and popular vibes condemn anyone trying to change it is a snitch to be done away with, has gotten what it wants. I m a white guy that lives in an 80% black neighborhood and the difference in the blocks where you are, can mean life and death. Overall immediate neighbors where I am are pretty righteous and upstanding. That said a hard core 30% some white but mostly minority of the teenage youth of today is directionless as they strut about with pants pulled down to emulate not having a belt and being in the slam. It’s high time a mandatory public service for at least two years be imparted on them if they don’t have College or full time legitimate employment. We see what they do with idle time .I isn’t good and its not like the good old days because the teenagers of today are desensitized to death and crime .getting them out of that environment is the only way top maybe save half of them. If they want to live in the world of blood and guts let them head over to Iraq or Afghanistan plenty over there. The hardcore that has gotten numerous chances needs to be extracted from the mainstream. Otherwise 85 percent of all the Fish will be poisoned. Remember Gen Z will be taking care of the late baby boomers and gen X, sadly half of them cannot even find the capital of the country on the map.

By Joseph

July 1, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this

I know it may be unfair to just target blacks for drug dealing because there are other dealers as well spanish, white etc. but blacks target our young white girls in school and use the hell out of them to peddle their drugs and screw up their lives and dump them after they are done using them. Open your eyes people visit any High School.

By Butch

July 1, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this

Let me see if I have this right? There are more minorities in thier neighborhoods selling drugs than whites selling drugs where they live. So this is unfair, they want more minorities to be allowed to come into white areas and sell drugs so they can get arrested there. This will make the Its the white peoples fault that the minorities sell drugs?

I say stop paying 90.00/day give them 50 of pure heroine, let them OD and save 40.00. Call me crazy but but it sounds vialble to me.

By ALL THE NEWS THATS ISNT FIT

July 1, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this

The articles authors cite the DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE - “distortion of due process”

Go to the organizations web site, http://www.drugpolicy.org

By becesteve

July 1, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this

What a shock! More minorities are arrested for drug dealing, more minority homes are in drug free zones! What a ground breaking story. I am sure that it is my fault since I am white and vote Republican. I am sorry…

By Saps

July 1, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this

Sexual predators face the same dilemma. They can not live within certain areas. The drug dealers have to face the parameters, too.

This is the COMMUNITY saying NO.

Agree with a previous poster…bet the lawyers do NOT live in this area.

It is almost as if some people WANT drug dealing to CONTINUE.

Stand up communities.Voice your opinion. If not, then let the druggers take over.

Do not let sappy reporting diminish your neighborhood.

By ALL THE NEWS THATS ISNT FIT

July 1, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this

* This is simply race-baiting, race-mongering journalism.

I thought news was to be reported; facts stated in a non-bias way.

The Palm Beach Post has become The Village Voice and it’s writers could have been air-lifted right out of the liberal, leftist Upper West Side and Lower East Side of Manhattan *

By Are you kidding me?

July 1, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this

It seems that any statistic that skews towards a certain demographic is now called racist. Selling drugs is illegal and until something changes whoever gets caught should be prosecuted. This law was meant to protect kids, not to target a certain race. How about this novel idea—don’t sell drugs!

By Richard

July 1, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this

I’m sick and tired of reading or hearing that “Blacks are Targeted”. I don’t care if 100% are black, white, or muslims. If their breaking the law get rid of them.

By Gordon Gorman

July 1, 2007 9:19 AM | Link to this

Why is this even being considered? If people deal drugs they should suffer the consequences whether black or white. Even more in school zones. If they are that dumb pay the price.

By Terry

July 1, 2007 9:16 AM | Link to this

Can we please stop playing the same card.

By Mike

July 1, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this

Everything targets women and minorities unfairly according to the media.

I am sure those “Drug Free” zones are very successful at keeping the drugs away.

By Ozzy

July 1, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this

Stinkin liberal media. Its very simple: quit peddling drugs.

By Jimmy

July 1, 2007 8:30 AM | Link to this

Total nonsense pot-stirring junk reporting.

By Jimmy

July 1, 2007 8:29 AM | Link to this

Total nonsense pot-stirring junk reporting.

By Jimmy

July 1, 2007 8:18 AM | Link to this

Totally ridiculous story! What a twist of nonesense.

By APR

July 1, 2007 8:15 AM | Link to this

The fact is if you break the law you go to jail. There are signs that denote Drug Free Zones. I guess those who sell drugs are not bright enough to be able to read the signs! see what a lack of education does to you?

By Jon Laye

July 1, 2007 8:03 AM | Link to this

A drug free zone? What was is before?

By GSW

July 1, 2007 7:53 AM | Link to this

Wake up, the drug trade will never go away. send them to war not jail. They probably are armed in the first place. The chance of of death in the so called “drug zone” is real. (have you checked on those statistics). I wonder how many of them attorney’s live within those drug free zones?; and if you did at one time you are no longer their….why?

By Stokin the Fire

July 1, 2007 7:48 AM | Link to this

This is the MEDIA trying to stir the pot.

Keep drug ridden communities patrolled. Arrest everyone of the sellers and buyers.

This is ONE person complaining and the Post devotes an article to it???

Ignorant people if they do NOT want to clean up their neighborhoods. Suffer the consequences, stop boo-hooing when there are robberies, gunshots and murders.

This isn’t harrassment this is enforcement.

Clean up these neighborhoods! Do whatever it takes.

By Retired Cop

July 1, 2007 7:26 AM | Link to this

All this article does is keep stirring the pot of racial mistrust. Don’t sell drugs - end of story. I’ve arrested both Black & White criminals who have sold within 1000’ of a school. You sell - you get arrested no matter what race you are.

By JoeC

July 1, 2007 7:23 AM | Link to this

I often wonder if there would still be racial Tensions if the MEDIA would stop making everything about being BLACK or WHITE.. Give me a damn break already. the media needs to stop making everything about race and more about fact.

If your black/white and live in a drug free zone where the penalties are higher and your a drug dealer that doesnt like the stiffer penalties, move down the road where the pentalties dont exist…

Jesus christ, Im soo sick of hearing about race. Blacks, Whites, Mexicans, are all Racist in their own way, sh@t blacks even hate hatians..

SHUT UP ABOUT RACE, WE ARE ALL IN THIS CRAPHOLE TOGETHER!!!

By Rose

July 1, 2007 7:16 AM | Link to this

Everyone’s fault BUT THEIRS

Just keep IT and THEM east of 95

By Tim

July 1, 2007 6:57 AM | Link to this

Why don’t all you black folks get together and march down the street with “Stop the Drug Sales!” signs? That seems to work so well in West Palm and Riviera. Bring Thomas Masters with you! But make sure and keep your mouths shut! Can’t cooperate with the police! Than you’d be a snitch!

By cj

July 1, 2007 6:52 AM | Link to this

wake up people,,always trying to blame someone,ask why do black people sale,, its easy fast cash,,why do white people sale easy and fast cash,same reason white or black,,doesnt matter where you live its there,,im tired of the black people complaining all they time about there black folk,, stand up do something beside complaining,,we all have to do something not just one race

By Mad Mike

July 1, 2007 6:45 AM | Link to this

— SOLUTIONS 1) DON’T SELL DRUGS 2) MAKE EVERYWHERE A DRUG FREE ZONE

FACT: THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO SELL DRUG ARE BLACK

The idiots who wrote this report and wrote this article would have us set up “Drug OK Zones

By mary

July 1, 2007 6:40 AM | Link to this

Why doesn’t the state even out the playing field and make everywhere the same as far as drug laws go? Why are people in one neighborhood recieving worse penalties than those in other neighborhoods? This doesn’t make sense. Treat everyone fairly. Put the same enforcement strategies across the board.

By bruce

July 1, 2007 5:50 AM | Link to this

It continues to amaze me how inept our legal system is. Drugs are illegal. We have laws to say so. Yet we need more laws to do anything about it. We don’t need a 1000’ law. Just friggen enforce the laws that came before it. Lawyers passing more laws.

By Truth

July 1, 2007 5:22 AM | Link to this

Wow, another article claiming blacks are not treated right. Wake up and stop blaming everything on everyone else. If the 1000ft laws were not in place then you would cry out at your neighborhood meetings…”why don’t we have laws about these darn drug dealing kids selling drugs on our corners! Right near our schools and churches!” You want the “truth” the 1000ft laws are not limited to a certain neighborhood (black or white) they are countywide/statewide!!! So, if a guy gets arrested selling crack near First Baptist Church of Riviera Beach or Temple Beth Wellington…it still applies. The law is not an additional charge it just modifies the original charge. Faces a steeper penalty…which the hopes are to deter that behavior and clean up your street corner. And to GW BUSH there are lots of churches and schools in Wellington as there is in Riviera Beach. For nay sayers…get in your car around 1AM and drive north into this neighborhood…W 13th Ave. and Avenue E in Riviera Beach and then drive down Big Blue Trace in Wellington into any of those neighborhoods. Count how many churches and schools you see and count how many dealers too. There are 3 churches/schools on Big Blue with in less than a mile. I have never seen a drug dealer around there. In 20 years I never seen a dealer in Wellington period until HUD moved into certain areas of Wellinton. Wow, big surprise. The other neighborhood…just be careful.

By "By Racists" is an idiot

July 1, 2007 3:48 AM | Link to this

That new age BS is garbage! Cancer is a disease, smoking crack is a CHOICE! One day you wake up and find out you have cancer, you CHOOSE to smoke crack, and choose to continue smoking until it consumes you.

By Slanted View

July 1, 2007 3:22 AM | Link to this

So where are the statistics on White versus Black drug users/sellers…Perhaps theres a good reason that the “while the number of white offenders imprisoned on selling-within-1,000 convictions has tripled, the number of black offenders imprisoned on the charges increased tenfold…Perhaps more BLACK people are selling and using drugs…That’s all I see from the “data” in this article. So are people that have to live in these “drug free” zones complaining? Only the ones buying and selling.

By GW Bush

July 1, 2007 3:15 AM | Link to this

No matter where you go in a black neighborhood, 9 out of 10 ten times you will be in a 1000 feet zone. There is always a school or church close by. 1000 feet zones are discriminatory and need to be abolished or need to be lowered to 100-200 feet.

By Racists

July 1, 2007 3:04 AM | Link to this

The Drug war is genocide on the poor. Addiction is a disease. DId prohibition work? Seems like Whiskey is selling as great as ever. The criminalization drives up the price and thus begets street violence.

By Oh Please

July 1, 2007 1:12 AM | Link to this

The reason seems clear to me….The blacks can’t read the sign that says 1000 ft.

By susan

July 1, 2007 1:04 AM | Link to this

drugs ruin families.every drug dealer should be treated the same,as well as the king pins,ajudicate, life sentences in the worst prisons the state has to offer.also the doctors who freely prescribe addicting medications.they should lose their medical license and be ajudicated a criminal,and jailed.

By David

July 1, 2007 12:44 AM | Link to this

Here we go again. Blacks are “victims” because some one held a gun to their head and made them smoke crack …