"The group is comprised of local residents"

Here is the U.S., hon, we write that a group COMPRISES local residents, or is COMPOSED of local residents. Guess that's just one of those American English/U.K. English language differences?

I can only hope the two people arrested are some of the people that live next to me. Must be great to never work while dealing drugs out of ones house without any fear of being arrested.

Arrested?? Everyone has a RIGHT to a clean & safe neighborhood. But we need to wake up in the USA. We don't lock up diabetics. If addiction is really a disease like the AMA says, shouldn't they be put in treatment? The jails are busting at the seems. We are getting further and further behind the rest of the Western world in so many ways...

Hey, Mark, welcome to Baltimore!

Former resident of Brooklyn here (that's in the Southern, across the Hanover St. bridge). I'm sure the yuppies in what used to be called South Baltimore get plenty of attention when they call the cops, but I can tell you it's not that way in the rest of the Southern.

One of the reasons for the apathy you correctly describe is that people get tired of being ignored or treated like dirt when they call the police. When police consistently refuse to take reports or file charges, you give up after a while.

Eventually, I decided to take the time and energy I spent on trying to improve Baltimore, and divert it towards leaving Baltimore. I was born in Baltimore and love the city, but at a certain point it just becomes too much to handle.

"It is true, however, that the Southern District, where we walked last night, is not as crime-ridden as similar neighbourhoods in the east and west of the city" - Talk about the understatement of the year.

As you stated:

"It seems that in certain regions there is an apathy and people are either too scared to help the police or simply feel it isn’t their duty to do so."

Another just as likely explanation is that the residents see the cops as part of the problem and their enemy. The cops haven't exactly been pillars of virtue.

I find it so astounding that the citizens of Baltimore still believe that an arrest is progress and justice. We have been arresting non-violent drug users for DECADES yet the rates of use remain constant. This means that this system is flawed! Simply, these laws are illogical being that citizens are able to consume alcohol, which kills ~85,000 per year and tobacco which kills ~435,000 verses ALL illicit drug use (heroin, cocaine, etc.) which attribute to ~17,000 deaths per year in the U.S.. If people evaluated risk by deaths and not prejudice, we'd have to seriously reform our current law.

People will then argue that the distribution of cocaine and heroin is producing all the violence within the city. This is absolutely correct. The black market violence is similar to that of alcohol prohibition that we had for 13 years. The difference is that this market has evolved for nearly a century and violence has drastically increased. This market is years in the making, it started with the Harrison Act of 1913, then the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 to current draconian policy.

In conclusion, if you want the violence to stop, you have to stop this black market! The money being invested in 'fighting' the drug war must be reinvested into rehabilitation, public education as well as a logical distribution system of these drugs. If we don't distribute them, the dealers will, and continue to murder every human being in their path. If the city distributes, taxes and regulates them, the violence will most certainly desist and produce jobs and revenue to fund rehabilitation and education.

Please understand that I am in no way condoning drug use. I just believe that the current policy is the sole reason for violence within the city of Baltimore (and every other American city).

And now is the point when you begin to ask yourself, "How would we begin redesigning drug policy, more specifically for Baltimore?" Well, there are some like-minded individuals that came together this past summer to try and devise a rational solution to this problem. Their progress can monitored on the Baltimore Free School website, under Forums, by clicking on Solutions To The Drug War. Please feel free reply with any concerns or suggestions.

Here is the site:

freeschool.redemmas.org

And, welcome to Baltimore Mark, welcome to the game.

PEACE

Sincerely,
The Volunteer

Mark, I realize that you're here because you want to see how close to reality the depiction of Baltimore on "The Wire" is. I suspect you'll find it's pretty close. Crime and violence in Baltimore is a huge problem that can't be -- nor should it be -- ignored. However, I hope you also give your readers at home a balanced look at the rest of the city. There are certainly many nice, quiet, and safe neighborhoods in Baltimore. I think you'll also find a thriving cultural and food scene as well. Just be fair.

I have decided that the decision to buy in Mount Clare was a huge mistake in my life. I have lived in Mount Clare for 2 years now, and things have gotten a little better than when I moved but not good enouph. I am convinced there are some people in organizations within mount clare that just don't want to see improvement.People want to see mount clare down, so they can use the area to bring in and help the extream poor and sick. I have decided that in another 2 or 3 years, I pray that I can sell my house and at least break even.I moved into the city in hopes of being part of the remaking of the city, but there's jus to much sick politics and liberal ideas to help the city.I am moving back out to the county or Carroll County, I've had enouph.God willing, I will be out before long

Baltomommie: I assume you meant, "Here IN the U.S." Check your own work before criticizing others. Additionally, saying something is "comprised of" something else actually IS accepted usage in this country (for those people who still use the word). Check in Webster's if you don't believe me.

To Mark, as others have said, welcome. My neighborhood also has a peace patrol that walks one or more times per month. We occasionally have police walk with us, but not on a regular basis. Not only is it a crime deterrent, but it is also a great way to see different parts of the neighborhood, through which one wouldn't normally walk, and to meet and talk with neighbors one wouldn't normally meet.

Baltimore is an amazing city with a rich history and culture, and wonderful architecture. Some parts are very much like they are depicted in "The Wire." However, things are getting better gradually, and there are many other areas that are wonderful places to live. My hope is that you take that good back with you as well as the bad, and that you show your readers that "The Wire" is only one aspect of our city.