Pubdate: Fri, 30 Dec 2005
Source: Aspen Times (CO)
Contact:  2006 Aspen Times
Website: http://www.aspentimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3784
Author: P. Nicklin

ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW ON THE DRUG RAID

Dear Editor:

Without listing specific quotes on specific days in specific local 
and Denver newspapers, I would like to point out a major rift in the 
population of Aspen and Pitkin County.

On one side there are the "users," "snorters," "tokers" and "smokers" 
who are as happy as little pigs wallowing in their "lifestyle" here 
in Aspen. They and their "suppliers" and the "mules" who supply them 
just love "the status quo," and wouldn't, or won't, change a thing. I 
find the quotes by our sheriff, our city manager, local columnists, 
even some on City Council and the BOCC (you all know who you are), 
and of course, our vehement, virulent letter-writers, to be 
reprehensible, outrageous, self-serving and even sad.

They see no harm in drugs being readily available in almost all of 
our restaurants as stated by one columnist. They ignore the potential 
drug use in our schools as can be confirmed by our police department, 
teachers, parents and any student willing to tell the truth. They are 
outraged when a few "poor immigrant busboys and dishwashers" are 
arrested for "dealing" in the restaurants and alleys. Yet, when women 
are accosted, beaten and raped in those same alleys, where is their 
outrage? Is there no connection?

We all remember, a few years ago, the outbreak of crime, when a 
number of our school kids (some of whom are still in jail) held up 
and robbed the supermarket, pistol-whipped an employee, robbed other 
stores, stole cars and burglarized homes, and a pregnant employee at 
the Aspen Alps was held up while the hotel was robbed. Do we believe 
that this was just happenstance? Kids being kids? Kids having fun?

A girl was almost clubbed to death on Independence Pass last year. 
Does anybody seriously believe that drugs (those wonderful, social 
recreational drugs that are harmless and victimless) weren't 
involved? Where is their comparable outrage?

Police Chief Ryerson must be allowed to clean up this trough, not as 
City Manager Steve Barwick stated along the line of: There will never 
be another drug raid in this town. Maybe he should have added, "or I 
will resign." Not with Sheriff Braudis being more concerned with 
"hospitalizing drug offenders, not jailing them." What about the 
"mules" and "traffiker"? No wonder he was "accidentally" left out of the loop!

On the other side, there are those of us who have sat by silently and 
accepted all of this crap for years. The silent majority? Maybe the 
silent minority? Is that good enough?

My answer is a resounding NO! We have to back up those who are trying 
to do something to correct this insanity. We have to congratulate and 
support Police Chief Ryerson and his officers and everyone else who 
is trying to do the right thing. We have to show up on Jan. 17 at 
City Manager Steve Barwick's "hearing" and let our voices be heard. 
You voted Nov. 1, you voted Dec. 13. Now come to the most important 
meeting of all on Jan. 17, 2006. Come and support our police chief, 
Loren Ryerson!

And a happy New Year to all.

P. Nicklin Aspen
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom