RAPS EDITOR

Dear Editor;

This letter is in response to Mr.  Robert Merkin’s 04/23/00 letter to the editor ”Prisons”.  Although I don’t know Mr.  Merkin I feel his letter accurately and eloquently addresses the drug war and prison issue.  Apparently Mr.  Merkin read the Journal’s 04/03/00 editorial “Racism and Prison”, and came to the conclusion that the editor dislikes opinions that are different from his.  Quite frankly I think Mr.  Merkin’s points are very will taken.  Over the years I have observed the editor using his column to bash anybody who thinks or acts in a manner that is not to his liking.  There is very little tolerance for differences of opinion.

We at ReconsiDer have also come under fire for questioning the Rockefeller drug laws and the building of so many prisons.  A recent Newsday article “The Town that Loved Prisons pays a very stiff Price”, addresses the short comings of the economical windfalls Malone was supposed to experience.  The article brings to mind the failure of several local businesses since we received two prisons, K-Mart, Super-Duper, Jubilee, Ames, Great American, Eckerts, Shade Roller, and Mater Dei.  As I recall the editor predicted great economical spin offs with the addition of the prisons.  I guess I just can’t see it.  What disturbs me is that Ogdensburg will be known as a prison town and once we have that stigma we will never be a resort town, a college town, or a fortune 500 town.  Who would want to come here and vacation next to a maximum facility.

Finally, Mr.  Merkin’s statement that “The Journal-Advance News should contribute to the debate, not silence it” rings very true.  As a matter of fact on 03/30/00 Clarkson University hosted a debate on current drug policies.  It was productive and informative with all parties expressing their views very well.  With a debate of such social importance one would think the editor from the Ogdensburg Journal would have attended since he is so opinionated on the issues.  Sometimes it takes an outsider to see what is happening on the inside.  I think Mr.  Merkin’s was that outsider.

Lee Monnet, Ogdensburg, NY