Back in 1981 there was so much heroin going around line-ups to dealer’s apartments would span five flights of stairs. Thieves could make $10 000 by robbing the dealer and all the addicts waiting to score. Now the same heist isn’t going to bring you more than $500. New York’s heroin crackdown has inadvertently made the Lower East Side a well-respected and well-populated segment of New York state prisons. No matter where you are there will be 15-20 LES thugs throwing up the "L." Often it’s someone from another gang showing respect.