‘Operation Steer Clear’ Puts Drop on Drug Dealers in Parks

A citizen’s group that dumped cow manure in a park last month, hoping the stench would drive out drug dealers, gave away 15,000 pounds of manure Saturday to dozens of other city activists who immediately started similar anti-drug crusades.

“We want to take back our streets and our parks and let the drug dealers and addicts know what we think of them,” said Harald Martin, event organizer.

After the initial manure spreading, residents and community groups contacted Martin and asked if he would help them do the same thing in their neighborhoods. A representative of Bandini Corp. offered to donate manure.

Thus, “Operation Steer Clear” was born. Residents lined up Saturday near the site of the first manure drop to load up with 50-pound bags of manure and grass seed, then set off for other problem parks. Many were armed with shovels, while others carried placards protesting the drug activity.