Pubdate: Fri, 29 Jul 2005
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2005 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Contact: http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/letters/sendletter.html
Website: http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Author: Bill Torpy
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

15 ALLEGED HEROIN DEALERS INDICTED

Campaign To Clean Up 'The Bluff'

Cars from the suburbs routinely turn off the interstate and cruise the
Atlanta neighborhood known as "the Bluff" in search of heroin. The drivers
looking for a "stop and cop" see the area just west of the Georgia Dome as
convenient as a 7-Eleven.

Maybe until now.

Federal and Atlanta authorities announced the indictment Thursday of
15 alleged heroin dealers, saying this is the latest effort in an
ongoing multijurisdictional campaign to clean up this poverty-stricken
area.

"The quantities were anywhere from street hits to ounce quantities; 10
bucks will get you started," said Sonny Fields, a supervisor with the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Police released photographs of license plates showing vehicles from
places like Gwinnett, Forsyth, Newton and Gilmer counties that came to
buy drugs. Police said a Roswell man was arrested twice in two days
this week buying heroin.

"We're trying to reduce the number of people coming to this
neighborhood to buy drugs," said Atlanta police Lt. Steven Sheffield,
who oversees the nine Atlanta police officers detailed to the area as
part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.

The effort combines police, the ATF and federal prosecutors to enforce
drug and gun laws and even codes violations.

Project Safe Neighborhoods started in late 2002 and nearly 750
properties have been inspected for codes violations since then, with
almost 400 being brought to compliance and 49 vacant houses being
demolished. Vacant homes were havens for drug use and other crimes.

The strategy is to keep the most violent and repeat offenders in
prison. About 200 felons in the area have also been prosecuted on
federal gun possession charges.

Sheffield said "community partnerships are essential" to making the
community safe. "Arrests alone are not adequate."

Skip Lott, 40, a lifelong resident of the Vine City neighborhood who
lives down the block from the tiny police precinct on Vine Street,
said the increased police attention is making the area safer. Across
from his home are four newly renovated bungalows.

Lott said most heroin is dealt in "the Bluff," or the English Avenue
neighborhood just north of Vine City. He said Vine City neighbors are
tightknit and work to keep drug dealers off their streets.

"We look out for each other," he said. "If they come over here,
there'll be a fight."

Andre Collins, 20, who lives in "the Bluff," said "it was real rough
here but it's getting better."

"They're tearing down houses, and I see the police 'jump-out crews'
([Red Dog squads]) all the time," Collins said.

A couple of blocks from Collins' home, several men stood near the
street and motioned to a reporter's vehicle passing by. One came to
the window and asked, "What do you want?"

The man identified himself as J. Smiley Walker. He said he was 53 and
a heroin addict.

He said he knew many of the 15 alleged heroin dealers. "Most of them
are middle-aged but they got a [criminal] record," he said. "Where can
they go? Who will hire them?"

Walker's hands had paint on them from an odd construction job he did,
but he admitted he does other things to make money. "I need money to
score," he said.

Walker said such roundups will barely make a dent in the problem.
"Nobody here owns ships or airplanes. They're the ones out here on the
street."

Lt. Sheffield admitted he is fighting an intractable problem. But
"we're staying here," he said. "We have a commitment."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin