Soares is taking right actions regarding steroids

March 17, 2007

When I read that Albany County District Attorney David Soares just returned from a Florida trip where he's heading a nationwide probe of illegal sales of steroids, assuring that the supply of those drugs is cut off, I was very pleased.

I am outraged at the critics of this important, innovative and aggressive approach to fighting the core of the problem.

Christian Mesley of the Albany police union and Investigator John Burke of the Albany County Sheriff's Department should walk the streets of Albany, like I do as part of Midtown Neighborhood Watch.

I meet the minority and poor residents who, because of their environment, made the mistake of trying to escape their miserable environment by getting involved in the wrong circles.

Do we need to solve the problem of environment and cut off the drug supply or go after poor minority residents who made wrong choices? Soares is doing just that, helping to improve the environment. The crime was committed in Albany County and led him to Florida to arrest prominent pharmacists. Would those critics be complaining if it was crime committed in Arbor Hill that led him to Florida?

These critics also should talk to our young people whose lives would be forever impacted by addiction to steroids. We are talking about our best, most determined students -- best athletes.

This is a big problem in the Capital Region. I thank Soares for taking steps to solve it.