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Drugs 1989 [OA 8486]
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Drugs 1989 [OA 8486]
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This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
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Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
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Speechwriting, White House Office of
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Speech File Backup Files
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Alpha File, 1987-1991
OA/ID Number:
13843
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Drugs, 1989
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26
23
2
7
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
CHILDREN
OF THE
UNDERCLASS
A neighborhood where even boyish
play has ominous undertones
elix and his friends are hanging out at 19th and
F
Susquehanna, waiting for something. Every-
body knows Felix: at 17, he runs one of the
more successful crack franchises in north
Philadelphia. Today, a rainy Saturday, Felix is
wearing a black baseball cap and an expen-
sive-looking black raincoat. He is scowling: anyone can
see he's taking care of business. Thirty minutes go by
before Silk comes up the block. Silk is carrying an um-
brella, and he looks nervous. Felix and his friends meet
Silk in the middle of the intersection. There is a sud-
den argument, and two of Felix's friends hit Silk with a
flurry of quick body punches. Silk's umbrella goes flying
and he falls to the rain-slick pavement; he lies there,
defenseless and unresisting. "I TOLD you not to
mess with my MONEY!" Felix yells, standing over Silk.
This story was reported by Vern E. Smith, Howard Manly
and David L. Gonzalez. It was written by Tom Morganthau.
16 NEWSWEEK : SEPTEMBER 11, 1989
NEWSWEEK : SEPTEMBER 11, 1989 17
PHOTOGRAPHS BY LESTER SLOAN-NEWSWEEK
PHYS ED
GILLESPIE
Then he and his friends saunter away. A
sell it and a curse on those who use it.
low-income residents. The 2100 block of
message has been delivered, and everyone
Unlike heroin, crack is widely used by
North 19th Street, where Miss Nee lives,
on the block will hear it.
women. That fact alone has disastrous con-
includes a church, a vest-pocket city park
sequences for low-income families. If sin-
and 34 brick row houses. Many are owned
It is late afternoon when Miss Nee
gle-parent households have contributed to
by the Philadelphia Housing Authority
comes home with the clothes for her fos-
the intractability of poverty in the past, no-
and rented to low-income tenants. The resi-
ter child Joe: two pairs of shorts and two
parent households may be poverty's ap-
dents take part in a neighborhood crime-
T shirts, bought at the secondhand store
palling future. And crack is a catastrophe
watch program, and a clear majority want
for less than $5. "I just didn't want him to
for the young. It has touched off an explo-
no part of drugs or drug dealing. Jewel
have to put up with people talking about
sive increase in birth defects and an epi-
Williams, the unofficial mayor of the Sus-
him," she says. "You know how kids are. If
demic of child abuse and parental neglect.
quehanna Avenue area, has been fighting
you don't look just right, they're going to
Its profits, in neighborhoods where the
for his neighborhood for years. He has
make fun of you." It's a slow afternoon in
standard of living is very low, have led or
more than once considered pulling out.
midsummer, oppressively hot on North
forced thousands of inner-city youngsters
"But every time I get ready to pack up and
19th Street. Down the block, near Susque-
into hard-core crime, and many others into
leave I think, 'How can I escape this?" he
hanna Avenue, three teenagers are shoot-
addictions from which they may never re-
says. "I've got to do something for these
ing craps in the doorway of Craig's Laun-
cover. It has bankrupted parental author-
babies, for these kids. Somebody's got to
dromat. Toddlers race up and down the
ity and it is destroying the fraying social
save the ones that are salvageable."
sidewalk, playing noisy baby games, and
fabric of inner-city neighborhoods all over
Partners in austerity, Miss Nee and her
older kids are lining up at Jewel's Store,
the United States.
kids make do on food stamps and $474 a
around the corner on Susquehanna, for
Miss Nee and her neighbors are under
month from the government. There is gov-
flavored water ice. Up on Diamond Street,
siege every day, but they have by no means
ernment-surplus rice, plenty of spaghetti
at the other end of the block, a group of
surrendered to crack. The neighborhood,
and sometimes a little meat; the meat man,
men nurse 40-ounce bottles of beer called
just west of Temple University and only 15
who drives through the neighborhood in
4-0s in brown paper bags.
blocks from Philadelphia's glossy down-
his car once a week, sells to regular custom-
Miss Nee's house stands near the north
town, is a mixture of middle-income and
ers like Miss Nee on credit. Until this year,
end of the block, on the west side of 19th
Street. Owned by the Philadelphia Hous-
ing Authority, it is flanked on both sides
In north Philly, a rising sense that
by boarded-up buildings and it is almost
children are at risk as never before
barren inside. Officially, at
least, Miss Nee, Joe, Kita
and Yvonne are the only
occupants, although on any
given night Miss Nee, who
is well known for her open-
door policy, plays hostess
for up to a dozen neighbor-
hood kids. Miss Nee-Gene-
va Leaks, 52-has been
rearing children all of her
life. She raised her younger
brothers and sisters and five
kids of her own-and if she
now takes no sass from Joe,
Yvonne and Kita, she clear-
ly understands their need
for mothering. Joe Rutling is
14, and he has been living
with Miss Nee for slightly
more than a year. Okita
(Kita) Allen, 15, moved in
four years ago. Yvonne Wil-
liams, who is 14, has been in
Miss Nee's care since she
was 5 years old. None is re-
lated to Miss Nee by blood
or marriage.
Miss Nee's neighborhood
S
is in serious trouble, and the
reason is crack cocaine.
Crack is more than just the
latest drug to hit the Ameri-
can underclass. Since its
appearance on inner-city
streets three to five years
ago, it has proven to be an
illicit bonanza for those who
Miss Nee supplemented her income by
ta Williams, who says chil-
taking her charges over to New Jersey
dren "get on her nerves,"
to do daywork in the blueberry fields.
has been hospitalized sever-
The work was hard-all day in the sun at
al times for nervous break-
the minimum wage-but they needed the
downs. She says her doctor
money and she wanted to teach the kids
has prescribed Thorazine,
the value of a dollar. "What you get," Miss
a powerful antipsychotic
Nee likes to say, "is what you sweat for."
drug, for her problems, but
Last spring, however, the social worker
admits she rarely takes it.
discovered that Yvonne's brother had
"Yeah, I drink," she says,
earned $69 for two days' work in a packing
"but SO does everybody."
plant: under welfare rules, that amount
Yvonne says her mother
was deducted from Miss Nee's food-stamp
"was having problems" and
allotment. "They say, "Try to get your kids
couldn't take care of the
a summer job'," Miss Nee says now, "but
family. "I used to cry a lot,"
I'm not taking no chances."
she says. "I still love her,
Yvonne, Kita and Joe treat Miss Nee
even though she can't take
with respect and a hint of wariness: she is a
care of us. I love my mother
tough lady, but she is the rock of stability in
and Nee equally."
their young lives. All three have seen their
Kita, still tomboyish in
families fall apart in recent years, and
her jeans, is pregnant at
for practical purposes they are Miss Nee's
the age of 15-"babies hav-
kids now. Yvonne, whose four brothers and
ing babies," people on the
three sisters are scattered among different
block say, shaking their
relatives and foster homes across the city,
heads. Kita is laconic about
sees her father only occasionally; she sees
her pregnancy-"it just
her mother, Alberta Williams, somewhat
came about," she shrugs-
more often. "She goes off on her own a lot,"
but Miss Neesays Kita want-
Yvonne says of her mother. "Sometimes
ed the child. "Kita knows
she walks in the streets by herself." Alber-
how to raise kids," Miss Nee
says. "She's going to be a
Miss Nee is tough-but she is a rock
very good mother. She's
of stability for Yvonne, Kita and Joe
been cooking since she was 5
years old, and she took care
of her two brothers." Kita's
On any given night, Miss Nee's
brothers now live with their
house may be filled by up to a
grandmother, and her fam-
ily has ceased to exist. Her
dozen neighborhood kids. She
father was killed in a gang
feud before she was born,
has a reputation for never
and though Kita will not
talk about it much, her
turning a needy child away.
mother has a history of co-
caine abuse. "I was a junk-
ie," Kita's mother, Cookie Allen, says. "I
and then" and that he thinks about his
was selling drugs out of my house." Allen
mother "all the time." He likes Miss Nee
says she has been homeless since her family
and he's grateful for her help, but he has
broke up two years ago. Asked about her
come to hate the neighborhood. "I see how
relationship with Kita, Allen says "that's
it is here," he says tonelessly. "It's evil."
none of your-ing business."
Joe Rutling doesn't talk about his family
They call it "clocking" in north Philadel-
much either. His father has been in trouble
phia, and it has nothing to do with punch-
with the law and his mother is down in
ing a time clock. Clocking means getting a
Virginia, getting away from whatever hap-
pack of cocaine from somebody like Felix,
pened in Philadelphia. When his mother
then standing on a street corner to hand off
asked him if he wanted to move in with
caps of crack to the pipers and users who
Miss Nee last year, Joe saw his chance and
drift by. The rules are well established:
took it. He's a quiet kid who does well in
don't let the police catch you holding too
school, and he keeps a certain distance
much cocaine, don't use it yourself and
from the other teenagers on the block. Joe
don't stiff the dealer when it comes time to
sees the devastation crack has brought to
pay up. (That was Silk's mistake.) The
north Philadelphia, and he is adamantly
clockers are all juveniles, and one of them,
opposed to drugs. "I taught myself that
a boy named Bobby, is only 10 years old.
drugs were bad," he says firmly. "Some-
Some of them wear tiny gold charms that
times, when people start talking about
look like miniature watch faces-a dealer's
drugs, I just leave. It's hard to tell people
trademark, which is probably where the
that stuff is bad for you-they don't listen."
term clocking came from. Everyone on
Joe says his father talks to him "every now
19th Street knows about clocking, and
NEWSWEEK : SEPTEMBER 11, 1989 19
NATONAL AFFAIRS
many of the boys do it. "It's messed up
clock, work on the corner.' And they think
ed me to come around and visit him, but I
around here," says Kevin Abbott, who is 14.
that's the way out, they think it's cool. So
told him no because he had all those drugs
"You can buy about anything for $5."
automatically, they grab hold to it-it's
on him. I knew something was wrong. I
"It's about subliminal seduction," says
fast money, you know what I'm sayin? So
could feel it." He called that night from jail,
Pimpin' Sam. Pimpin' Sam is in his mid-
they're hooked to the drug-dealing life-
she says, busted on his first time out
20s-a heroin user, but one of many north
style. They think it's cool to wear gold and
clocking.
Philadelphia addicts who has shifted to
name-brand stuff, not being aware that
speedballing, injecting a combination of
they should be trying to get their
Miss Doris Jackson-frail, arthritic and
heroin and cocaine. Sam went to college for
education.
spirited-has lived on 19th Street for 50
a while, and he uses high-powered terms
"My generation, what we were instilled
years, and she is a pillar of the community.
like "subliminal seduction" to explain the
on was morals, values and respect," Sam
"Don't you care about yourself?" she says
basic appeal of clocking, which is money.
says. "If I disrespected your mother, she
to the kids, shaking her cane. "Don't you
"It's like the sneaker commercials on TV
would beat me, and when I got home my
know your body is a temple?" Neighbors
that say they can make you run faster and
mother would beat me, too. Respect
laugh about the time Miss Doris marveled
jump higher," he says. "The kids all want
played a bigger part. Now the new genera-
that a newborn child was so small. "Don't
them. But basically, they all come from
tion-what's being cool to them is being a
you know she's a crack baby, Miss Doris?"
single-parent homes. Some of the parents
hustler. It's got a lot to do with TV,
someone said. "Don't you know nothing?"
are on welfare, others work. You got, say,
parents, babies having babies. When
Early one morning Miss Doris got up to
10 hungry kids that are willing to sell drugs
you're young, you're gonna do what your
investigate loud voices on the street outside
all night and all day to get some Adidases or
parents do, [and] if your mother is on the
her house. It was Felix and his friends.
some other name-brand stuff. This is the
pipe, you're going to be on the pipe." He
"You know you ain't supposed to do what
only way they're going to get it.
hobbles away on crutches-Sam got his
you're doing," Miss Doris said.
"The dealer takes advantage of that, you
leg broken recently in some mysterious
"What am I doing, Miss Doris?" Felix
understand what I'm sayin? He flashes the
street-corner dispute-heading for the
said, grinning.
money in their face and says, 'You can have
shooting gallery they call the Chateau
"Do you really want me to say it?"
this, you can have that. All you got to do is
Luzerne. As he walks up Susquehanna
she asked.
Avenue, two boys coming
"No, Miss Doris," Felix said.
the other way take care to
"All right, now you know you done
give him plenty of room.
wrong," Miss Doris said, satisfied.
"Aww, Miss Doris," Felix said, retreat-
Like any poet, Kevin
ing toward the avenue.
Abbott writes about what.
he knows best. This is
Almost everyone on the block has had
his rap song about north
some kind of confrontation with the clock-
Philadelphia.
ers and pipers who infest the neighbor-
"I grew up in a neighbor-
hood. The Rev. Al Blasingame, who makes
hood drug-infested.
a brave stand for the straight and narrow
All these situations, only
at Faith Tabernacle Baptist Church just
once arrested.
across Susquehanna Avenue, had his mo-
I saw my people fall and
ment last spring when someone broke into
rise, rise and fall
the church and stole the telephone, some
In this short life I've seen
hand tools and his prized pastoral vest-
it all.
ments. Furious, the Reverend Al offered a
I saw my people selling
$50 reward for information and got a tip
smoke, and they're sniffing
that he ought to check out the clientele at
It was like a dream, but
a crack house half a block away. Enlist-
the dream was drifting.
ing Jewel Williams as a backup, Blasin-
So if you're not doing
game marched across the street to the
drugs, raise your hand.
crack house and, to the amazement of those
"Cause you will be reward-
inside, kicked in the door. "I'm going to
ed LIFE in the end."
get my stuff back or I'm going to throw
each one of you out the window!" he said.
A girl on the block is talk-
"I'll give you three days to get my stuff
ing about her boyfriend. On
back or you can prepare to go to war. Do
Mother's Day, she says, her
you understand what I'm saying? I want
boyfriend wanted to buy his
my cape back."
Jewel Williams is ombudsman for a
mother a present, but he
The telephone and the hand tools were
neighborhood in serious trouble
had no money. So he decided
returned within the day-but the missing
to sell some powder. "I told
cape, which is what really got the Reverend
'How can I escape this?' he
him that if he wanted to be
Al going, turned out to be at the dry clean-
with me, he couldn't be in-
er's. Only then did Blasingame realize
says. 'I've got to do something
volved with no drugs," she
what he had done. "There were four of
says. "He didn't have to do
them," he says now. "They could have
for these babies, for these
it. He never had any prob-
killed me."
lems. He was getting good
The crack house, one of the many city-
kids. Somebody's got to save the
grades in school. But he was
owned abandoned buildings on the block,
ones that are salvageable.'
trying to be like the big boys.
suffered a mysterious fire a few weeks later.
Earlier in the day, he want-
Whoever did it was kind enough to warn the
20 NEWSWEEK SEPTEMBER 11, 1989
1 saw my people fall and rise, rise and
seling and emergency food supplies, all on a
fall, in this short life I've seen it all'
shoestring budget. The common denomina-
tor is saving kids. "While we were out fix-
ing up houses," Jewel says, "we found out it
dopers and the next-door neighbors that it
venience store on Susquehanna Avenue,
was our youth that was deteriorating." He
would be wise to go somewhere else that
and he is president of the Susquehanna
estimates that at least 5,000 children un-
night, and the fire broke out after midnight.
Neighborhood Advisory Council, a city-
der the age of 14 live within the NAC
A crowd gathered quickly, though it was
funded uplift agency that maintains a
boundaries, many of them with surrogate
more than a few minutes before anyone
scruffy set of offices down the avenue from
mothers like Miss Nee.
called 911. The building, already stripped of
his store. By night Jewel is a campus police
One shelf in the NAC office is filled with
its plumbing and wiring, was gutted so com-
officer at Temple University and he has a
boxes of infant formula for emergency
pletely that even the crackheads were
license to carry a pistol, a Smith & Wesson
cases. "We have families who are going
forced to move on. "Spiritual justice was
automatic. It is always there, holstered on
hungry because the mother or father is on
done," one of the neighbors says.
his right hip, a symbol of his status as pro-
crack," he says. "They spend the money on
tector and ombudsman for the neighbor-
drugs and then come here begging for food.
Torching the building made little differ-
hood. Jewel is married with three children
Most of the crack mothers drop their babies
ence to the neighborhood. There are three
of his own, and his wife, Bernice, thinks he
off on the grandmother. Then we get the
other crack houses within easy walking
spends too much time on the block. "My
grandmot calling us for milk to feed the
distance and kids are still clocking along
wife gives me hell sometimes because I
newborns." In one case, he says, a woman
Susquehanna Avenue. The lookouts-lit-
spend more time with other kids than I do
addict locked up her children in the house
tle boys, some as young as 6-yell warnings
my own," he says.
whileshe went out for drugs. "The kids were
as the police, drive by, and the clockers run
But Jewel, convinced that "we've lost
in there for two days," he says. "Their Pam-
away through a maze of alleys. Like Viet-
three generations already," is determined
pers had maggots in them. When you see
nam, the Philadelphia drug war is a war
to do all he can. The Neighborhood Adviso-
something like that you say to yourself,
with no front line: crack's real damage is
ry Council, called "the NAC," started out
'Stop worrying about the 18-year-olds
within the family.
as a campaign against blighted housing.
who getting high and start paying atten-
No one knows it better than Jewel Wil-
But crack's arrival in the north Philadel-
tion to the little kids and the babies'.'
liams. Jewel is 32-stocky, muscular, per-
phia ghetto has changed everything, and
He could start with Lucas and Bobby.
petually alert, an omnipresent figure in
Jewel and his staff of three now provide
Bobby is a big kid who looks much older
the neighborhood. He owns the tiny con-
recreation programs, summer jobs, coun-
than his real age, which is 10. His mother,
22 NEWSWEEK : SEPTEMBER 11, 1989
AL
so addicted that she is slowly becoming
way I'm trying to teach her, put it that way,
sucking on a joint at 10, 11 or 12. Before
emaciated, spent the welfare checks on
and I don't want to see her follow in my
they know it, they don't want the weed.
crack, and Bobby and his sister lived in an
footsteps."
They've got to get that charge. So they go
abandoned house with no electricity and no
and buy a cap and then they're hooked up.
running water. When Bobby's grandmoth-
There is a girl in the neighborhood who
They'll take anything and make a pipe out
er bought him clothes, his mother sold
knows about another crack-house arson.
of it-a tin can, a broken car antenna."
them to get more crack. Finally Bobby
The girl's mother was an addict, and she
Kevin Abbott, the neighborhood poet, says
went to a dealer he knew and began clock-
sold and used crack in the home. The family
younger addicts "know what's happening,
ing on Susquehanna Avenue, hanging out
was in chaos and the children were going
but they just don't care."
all night until his pack of "nickel powders"
hungry. The girl tried to stop her mother's
was sold. "His mother don't care, as long as
drug abuse many times and failed. Finally
Five years ago a no-name north Philadel-
he's giving her some," says Lucas, who is
the girl said, "If I can't get the drugs out of
phia welterweight named Kevin Howard
15. Lucas's mother is a crack addict, too. "I
the house, I can make it SO no one gets drugs
stunned the boxing world by decking Sugar
talk to her every day," he says. "If] tell her
here." The girl burned down the family's
Ray Leonard in what was supposed to be an
to leave it alone, she'll stop for about three
house. She was 12 years old.
easy bout. Leonard survived, winning the
weeks, then go behind my back." When he
fight in a ninth-round TKO, but Howard
grows up and gets a job, Lucas says, "I'm
Children in this neighborhood are SO ex-
became an instant hero for the homeboys on
gonna take her to a rehab place where she
posed to drugs that teachers at the Head
the block-another Smokin' Joe Frazier,
can get herself back together, and then I'm
Start school at 18th and Diamond streets
the pride of black Philadelphia. "Just like
going to take her far, far away and let her
have begun teaching their students about
I'm talking with you, I was talking with
live by herself. I love her."
crack before they begin the usual pre-read-
Sugar," Howard says now. "We had lunch
ing program. "They can identify crack caps
together, we had dinner together, we went
It's not the kids, Renee Johnson says, it's
and vials as young as 4," says one teacher.
out together. He said to me, "There's some-
the parents. "If the mother's sitting there
"We've had to adjust our entire approach to
thing about you I like. You ain't like all the
selling [crack], what's that telling the
what's important to these children."
other fighters. You ain't talking about kill-
child? If the son's out there selling it and
Grade-school kids are introduced to co-
ing me or knocking my eye out.' I said, 'It's
the mother's sitting there holding it, what
caine along with marijuana. "It's called a
not like that. This is a business. But believe
good is that gonna do?
The mothers
turbocharge," Jewel Williams says. "They
this: if there's a fight, I'm going to try to take
know the kids are making money, and
think turbo is not addicting, SO they start
your ass out.' I mean, Ishowed no fear."
they're getting some of the money SO
Howard lost it all in a
they're happy." The kids aren't bad, she
Jean Hobson says crack has hurt the
blur of fast living. His last
says, "they just don't have no discipline.
neighborhood more tban heroin did
fight was three years ago,
They figure if their mother's doing it, hell, I
and he was knocked out in
can go do it, too. That's why I watch the ones
the seventh round. Today,
whose mothers are on drugs. I sit there and
'Little kids are starting-kids
he lives in a dilapidated row
wonder, what're y'all thinking about?"
One reason Renee thinks about the kids
6, 8 years old,' she says. They
house and spends his days
shuffling around the neigh-
so much is that she is a crack user, too-and
get the thrill and then they're
borhood with a broken-
she has a 13-year-old daughter, a beautiful
down shopping cart looking
girl named Kaneesha. Renee says a boy-
hooked. [The dealers] use
for salvageable trash. "He
friend turned her on to crack several years
used to be a bad dude," one
ago and that she became a closet addict.
them to carry drugs.'
of the neighborhood boys
"She's never seen me do it. I used to go to
work, come home and go straight to the
room. I would never go outside until I
came down," she says: Renee's mother per-
suaded her to enter a residential drug-
treatment program in upstate Pennsylva-
nia, but the stay there did not end her
addiction. Now, she says, the thought that
Kaneesha might try drugs is forcing her to
try to set a better example. "What if Kanee-
sha was to smoke a joint? What could I say?
What right would I have to say anything
about her when I do it? It made me really
slow down," Renee says.
Kaneesha is going to summer school this
year, and she has an afternoon summer job
as well. She thinks she wants to be a nurse,
but she dreams of becoming a model. Re-
nee, watching and worrying for any sign of
involvement in drugs, thinks about getting
family counseling or sending Kaneesha to
Baltimore to live with her uncle. "Kanee-
sha can't understand why I stay on her the
way I do," she says. "But I don't want her to
go through the same things I went through
when I was coming up. I wasn't taught the
NEWSWEEK SEPTEMBER 11, 1989
23
says. "But now, Kevin is like, 'Can I have a
When families fall apart, children
quarter or something?'
take refuge wherever they can
"It doesn't make me feel good to know
what I'm doing out here in the streets and
know that kids still look up to me," How-
dealer. "We absolutely have to target the
them from the drug trade and the drug-
ard says. "The No. 1 thing I tell them
real young kids," says Philadelphia Police
related crime that is all around them. But
is, 'Don't let nobody influence you into
Commissioner Willie Williams, a veteran
the beat cops are not optimistic. "Can this
something wrong'
It's not only 'caine,
of the Double Deuce. "Completely educate
neighborhood be brought back?" one offi-
it's alcohol, too. It's marijuana. These
them about drugs, sex and how to protect
cer asks rhetorically. "No. We lost this
things are a downfall. I'm talking from
themselves from family members leading
generation."
experience."
them to drugs."
Howard, who is only 28, says it would be
With the city hall in a perennial budget
Police veterans and longtime residents
"best for me to get out of the neighborhood
crunch, street manpower is already
are nostalgic about the good old days of
SO I can stay on top." He still thinks he will
stretched thin. That means cops like Brax-
heroin, PCP and gang wars-nothing,
be "the spoiler of the '90s."
ton and Ziernicki spend their shifts jump-
they say, compares with the social conse-
ing from one radio call to another-investi-
quences of crack. "I've been through pot,
"Man up!" the lookouts shout as plain-
gating burglaries, chasing clockers down
white lady and blue lady [forms of synthet-
clothes officers Jeff Ziernicki and Harold
the alleys, handling domestic disputes.
ic heroin], and I can't go through this
Braxton creep up Susquehanna Avenue in
Check day, when the welfare checks arrive,
much more," says Jean Hobson, who has
their boxy blue Plymouth. Braxton and
brings an avalanche of 911 calls for drug
lived in north Philly for 40 years. "I'd.
Ziernicki work the Double Deuce-the
and alcohol emergencies; because crack
rather see gang warfare come back. Now
22nd police district, one of the busiest in
abusers tend to be wired and hyperactive,
you don't have protection from nothing or
Philadelphia. Some 60,000 people live with-
even routine family arguments can eruptin
nobody. When they get on that stuff, they
in the 22nd's two square miles, and police
violence. The reports of missing and aban-
don't know their own mother." Hobson,
work there is a never-ending round of nar-
doned children start the following day,
like Geneva Leaks, is famous in the neigh-
cotics enforcement and domestic disputes
when relatives and neighbors realize that
borhood for rescuing unwanted children,
that often involve crack. Drug arrests for
the toddlers next door have no one to look
and she is shaken by the fact that younger
adults and juveniles are sharply up in the
after them. "We have to be marriage coun-
and younger children are being drawn
past two years; last year the 22nd district
selors, taxi drivers, referees, babysitters-
into dealing and using crack. "The little
seized drugs, cars and cash totaling nearly
everything," says Jeanette Barnes, a vic-
kids are starting-kids 6, 8 years old," she
$2 million. The cops see the social causes—
tim-assistance officer for the 22nd.
says. "They get the thrill and then they're
the accelerating breakdown of the family,
Capt. Al Lewis, the 22nd district com-
hooked. [Dealers] use them to carry drugs,
the lack of positive role models and econom-
mander, is trying to promote community-
because the man ain't gonna bother them.
ic opportunity for youth-but they see the
action projects like offering reading classes
They're kids-kids you never thought
pure viciousness, too. In one case, a year and
at the station house. He is also well aware
would be caught up in this," she says. "My
a half ago, two brothers 9 and 12 were mur-
that residents of the Double Deuce "desire
God, they were such good kids."
dered when their mother, who was an ad-
nothing less than people in middle-class
dict, stole the stash they were holding for a
The names Felix, Silk, Bobby and Lucas used in this
neighborhoods," which means protecting
article are pseudonyms.
24 NEWSWEEK SEPTEMBER 11, 1989
A18
THE NEW YORK TIMES NATIONAL TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1989
VIVE
nuesimo
"rest lent
25
p
S
il
fi
r
F
p
si
19
fa
th
1 aloud
W
ta
ck
tio
ice
the
as
mi
Associated Press
yea
President Bush in Chicago to campaign for Repub
Ana Zamora, right, had wriiten to Mr Bush asking
A
whi
lican Congresswomen who oppose him on abortion,
his help in ridding her neighborhood of drugs. At
mai
took time to visit Pickard Elementary School there.
left was a classmate, Guadalupe Guzman
Pickard school
2301 w. 21st
Chicago 11.60608
Honorable President Bush
1600 Pennsylvania ave n.w
washington D.c. 20500
Dear President Bush,
Hello, my name is ana Zamora, d am
in fifth grade at Pickard school in Chicago.
My neighborhood is terrible, there are gang
members on the Corners, gang signs on the
walls. The gang members are selling drugs
in the neighborhoods.
d never go outside because my mom
gets scared that d will get hurt because
of the gang fights. President Bush, d have
heard that you are pushing for a war
on drugs Please help remove the drugs from
our nughborhoods, I will do my part
by saying no to drugs, l hope you
Can do yours. l know this is hard
but you can do it.
Thank you
Love,
ana Zamora
3.23
OCT 26 '89 11:03 C.P.S.DEPUTY SUPT.312 890 3759
SENT BY:G S BLACK CORP - DET ; 1-23-90 58AM ;
39032->
2024566218; # 2
Gordon S. Black Corporation
News Release
1661 Penfield Road
Rochester. New York 14625
(716) 248-2805
2
EMBARGOED:
CONTACT:
Dr. Gordon S. Black
Date To Be Announced
(716) 248-2805
AMERICA IS READY TO BE MOBILIZED IN THE WAR AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS
Public Is Ready To Volunteer Time And Money
Respondents Divided Over The Degree Of Progress Thus Far
Millions of Americans are ready and willing to step forward and become President
Bush's "thousand points of light" in the fight against illegal drugs.
week or more in their communities to work against illegal drugs, and an equal number
Overall, 106 million (60%) adult Americans are willing to volunteer at least 5 hours a
would voluntarily donate from $20 to $100 to help in the effort to stop the sale and use of
illegal drugs in their communities.
The 60 percent volunteering time would contribute more than 500 million hours
of time per week in their communities.
In total, Americans are willing to donate nearly $5 Billion to this effort in financial
contributions, if they are asked.
These results are based on a national poll of 810 randomly selected U.S. residents.
The was paid for and conducted by the Gordon S. Black Corporation on behalf
of Partnership survey for a Drug Free America, and the results appeared recently in USA
TODAY, The survey was conducted by telephone during the second week of January.
important problem that must be solved. Eighty-four percent of the respondents described
In general, the drug problem is recognized by nearly all Americans as a critically
the illegal drug problem in their community as very or somewhat serious. However,
only half (52%) of the respondents felt that some or great progress has been believe made
fighting drugs in their communities and nationally, with 10% indicating that they no
progress has been made at all.
THE PUBLIC'S "VOLUNTEERISM" HAS YET TO BE MOBILIZED
illegal drug use, this "spirit of voluntarism" is only partially tapped at present. Only 57% of
Despite the willingness of Americans to donate their time and money to fighting
the respondents are aware of anti-drug programs in their community; but 1 in 10
Americans are already involved directly themselves or have a member of their family who
is involved directly in the fight against illegal drugs.
SENT BY:G S BLACK CORP DET ; 1-23-90 10:59AM ;
39032->
2024566218; # 3
?
2
a
Of those involved today, 38% are Involved with the schools, 28% with local
governmental activities, and 10% in religious activities. The remainder are split between a
variety of other types of organizations.
59% of the respondents indicating that they believe the use of Illicit drugs can could
The public remains optimistic that the problem can be solved, however, with be
reduced by 75% within 15 years. Only 14% said they did not believe the problem
ever be reduced by 75%.
rule of voluntary activity is that you have to ask". Too many of community leaders aren't
Dr. Gordon S. Black, the author of the poll, commented on these findings: "The first
"asking", and that is unfortunatel"
ILLEGAL DRUGS CONTINUE TO AFFECT MILLIONS
Illegal drugs. Overall, 36% of the respondents know somebody who uses illegal drugs. 51%
A very large number of Americans have contact with people who use or sell
Exposure to drug use continues to be the greatest among 18-34 year olds where
know somebody who uses illegal drugs.
Additionally, 22% of the respondents know a person from whom they could obtain
illegal from whom they could obtain illegal drugs if they SO desired. Thus, despite to be a
drugs if they wanted to do SO. Among 18-34 year olds, 4 in 10 respondents know the a
person overwhelming public support for anti-drug measures, illegal drug use continues adults.
part of everyday experience for millions of Americans, particularly young
AMERICANS WANT TOUGHER POLICIES AGAINST DRUG USERS
Americans are ready for tough measures when dealing with the users of Illegal
drugs. For example:
84% of the respondents feel that the police should make a major effort to arrest
those who buy and use illegal drugs.
68% of the respondents Indicated that the courts are too lenient when dealing
with the users of illegal drugs.
This supports the consistent finding that Americans want their communities to take
action against the users of illegal drugs, Instead of just concentrating on the sellers.
Said Dr. Black: "Interdiction and concentrating on the sellers has been only partially
successful. The key today is to concentrate our resources on efforts aimed at reducing
the demand for these drugs, and that means concentrating our new efforts on the users."
SENT. BY:G S BLACK CORP - DET ; 1-23-90 10:59AM ;
39032->
2024566218:# 4
3
ABOUT THE STUDY
This national study of 782 adult Americans was conducted by telephone between January
error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for percentages of the whole sample. would For a
10th and 12th, 1990. A survey of 782 randomly selected respondents has a margin of
percentage results between 46.5 percent and 53.5 percent 95 out of 100 times. Black
near 50 percent, for example, this means that repeated samples All
produce interviewing was conducted from the central telephone facility of the Gordon S.
Corporation in Rochester, New York.
This study was voluntarily conducted for the Media-Advertising Partnership for coalition a Drug-
Free America by the Gordon S. Black Corporation. The Partnership Is a national
of media and advertising companies, and their national associations, all of whom are
contributing their time and talent to a Billion Dollar voluntary effort to use advertising to
reduce drug abuse in the United States.
The Chairman of The Partnership is Mr. James Burke and the Executive Director is Mr.
Thomas Hedrick.
The Gordon S. Black Corporation is a firm specializing in market research and public
opinion polling, with offices in Rochester, New York City, and Washington D. C. The other firm
is the polling firm for USA TODAY and CNN NEWS, and Its clients include Black
newspapers the author of the survey. Dr. Black has a Doctorate degree In Political Science
and television stations across the United States. Dr. Gordon S. from was
Stanford University and is a widely known authority on public opinion, voting behavior,
and opinion research methods.
The Media-Advertising Partnership for a Drug-Free America, Inc.
In Cooperation with the Ad Council
AMERICA, MOBILIZING AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS AND READY TO DO MUCH MORE.
Summary of research conducted by Gordon S. Black Corporation
-810 National Sample Phone Interviews
1/12/90
1.
How serious is the illegal drug problem in your community?
Very
46%
Somewhat
38%
Not Very
12%
Not At All
3%
2.
Are you aware of anti-drug programs in your community?
Yes
57%
No
43%
3.
Are programs? you or anyone in your family involved in volunteer anti-drug
Yes
10%
No
90%
4.
Who sponsors the program?
School
38%
Civic/Gov't
28%
Church
10%
Other
20%
5.
drugs? How much progress do you feel has been made combatting illegal
Community
Country
Great Deal
6%
8%
Some
45%
33%
simular
44%
Not Very Much
36%
None
10%
10%
c/o American Association of Advertising Agencies
666 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 (212) 682-2500
Somes sense propers that
is feeing made- - but not much.
challenge
Local officials
take lead. in
mobiling
6.
Given active community involvement, how long do you think it will
take to reduce illegal drug use by 75%?
3 years
5%
5
15%
10
29%
15
10%
Call Community tolletion
20
8%
20+
15%
Never
14%
7.
Do you know someone who uses illegal drugs?
Yes
36%
No
63%
8.
Do you know somebody from whom you could get illegal drugs?
Yes
22%
No
76%
8.
drugs? Should police make major effort to arrest those who buy/use illegal
Yes
84%
No
13%
9.
Would you be willing to spend 5 hours/week in volunteer efforts to
stop the sale and use of illegal drugs in your community?
Yes
60%
No
34%
10. Would you yourself be willing to donate to a community-wide effort
to stop the use of illegal drugs?
$5B to Community $20 60% Yes
No
32%
$50
41%
54%
$100
13% 53%
44%
11.
In dealing with users do you think the courts are:
too harsh
5%
too lenient
68%
about right
19%
RP/1bs
NEW YORK POST, 33 THURSDAY, FEBR
EXPERT 'POOPS' ON
DRUG-BUG PLAN
By ELI TEIBER
the caterpillar plan proposed for
Post Correspondent
"It's [caterpillar
study by the Bush administration.
WASHINGTON - The prospect
Government scientists had
of coca-munching caterpillars as
poop]
claimed very little was known
drug war bio-weapons has just
concentrated as
about the voracious eating
one little problem - they are liv-
caterpillar from South America.
ing cocaine factories, and the
blazes [with
But Blum called the adminis-
stuff is in their droppings, scien-
tration caterpillar proposal "just
tists said yesterday
cocaine].
crazy."
It [the feces] is concentrated
PROF MURRAY BLUM
"They would have to bodily
as blazes," said Prof. Murray
place the caterpillars on the
Blum, a researcher at Univer-
plants," said Blum dismissing
sity of Georgia, who is one of the
pillar droppings" as a gesture of
the idea of dropping caterpillars
few authorities on the now-fa-
good will.
and their eggs from a plane onto
mous caterpillar.
the coca fields.
The offer was refused - villagers
"The feces are loaded with co-
were indignant at the invitation to
These are very squishy [in-
caine," he said in a telephone in-
chew caterpillar dung, he said.
sects] and they don't bounce very
terview with The Post from his
The caterpillars eat the coca
well at all," he said.
Athens, Ga., lab.
leaf and concentrate the cocaine
Blum said he can't understand
Blum and other scientists spent
into the matchhead-sized black
why the federal government did-
months in an isolated village in
droppings called "frass" by bug
n't get In touch with him about
Peru studying the effects of co-
experts.
the malyunia caterpillar
caine on man and insects.
The caterpillars are biomag-
There was never a word from
He said his analysis of the
nifying it," said Blum.
them [the Department of Agri-
caterpillar poop revealed it to be
Meanwhile, spokesmen for the
culture researchers] I wondered
so potent that when the villagers
governments of Bolivia and Peru
why." said Blum, who published
ran out of coca leaves for chew-
- the two largest producers of
a paper on his findings nearly
ing. he "offered this box of cater-
coca - also signaled rejection of
nine years ago.
Czech prez
in dramatic
plea for U.S.
to aid Gorby
By MARILYN RAUBER
Post Correspondent
WASHINGTON - In a spell-
binding speech to Congress yes-
terday, Czechoslovakia's play-
wright-president, Vaclav Havel,
urged the United States to help
Eastern Europe by reaching out
to the Soviet Union.
"You can help us most of all if
you help the Soviet Union on Its
irreversible, but immensely
complicated road to democra-
cy." Havel said.
"Our freedom. Independence
and our newborn democracy
have been purchased at great
cost and we will not surrender
Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
(George Bush Library)
Document No.
Subject/Title of Document
Date
Restriction
Class.
and Type
01. Letter
Brandi Conley to POTUS, re: War on Drugs. (3 pp.)
n.d.
P-6, (b)(6)
Collection:
Record Group:
Bush Presidential Records
Office:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File, Backup
Subseries:
WHORM Cat.:
File Location:
Drugs N.D.
Date Closed:
12/8/2004
OA/ID Number:
08486
FOIA/SYS Case #:
Re-review Case #:
2004-2265-S
P-2/P-5 Review Case #:
MR Case #:
Appeal Case #:
MR Disposition:
Appeal Disposition:
Disposition Date:
Disposition Date:
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P-1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
(b)(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P-2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
(b)(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of an
P-3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P-4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
(b)(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
(b)(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P-5 Release would disclose confidential advise between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
(b)(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P-6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
(b)(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed of
(b)(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
(b)(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information