11-08-1989 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 Federal Update NLC urges cities to participate in Cities Against Drugs Week The National League of Cities (NLC) is urging all cities to join together to over- come drug addiction and drug- related violence during Cities Against Drugs Week, December 3 -9. In letters to city officials, NLC President Terry Goddard, mayor of Phoenix, is en- couraging broad -based community response to demand that the federal government provide immediate, adequate, and direct financial assistance to cities to combat drug abuse. What cities can do • Prepare a resolution proclaiming the week of December 3 -9 as Cities Fight Back Against Drugs Week (see sample resolution); • Cities should send copies of the resolu- tion to President Bush, members of the Minnesota congressional delegation, the press, Governor Perpich, and to NLC; • Identify activities that cities could im- plement to draw attention to efforts to halt the threat of drug abuse; • Send letters to President Bush and members of the Minnesota congressional delegation to urge action to help cities; • Invite local congressman, senator, and state lawmakers to participate in local anti-ding rallies; and • Let members of Congress know your views on how to address the drug prob- lem; • Make members of Congress under- stand that the local perspective must be reflected in the availability of resources to combat the problem; • Meet with local press to publicize local concerns and actions; • Get the attention of the press by hold- ing briefings or press conferences when appropriate; • Meet with editorial boards, appear on radio or TV talk shows; and • Conduct a poster campaign to get com- munity involvement in identifying the problem at the local level. The League urges city officials to con- tact members of the state's congressional delegation to get them to cosponsor reso- lutions proclaiming December 3 -9 as National Cities Fight Back Against Drugs Week. Goddard's call to action on drugs en- courages all city officials to help rededi- cate local energies and community ef- forts to create a "national crusade against drugs." It is time for communities to crusade for legislative remedies and to send the follow- ing messages to Presi- dent Bush and members of Congress: * Cities need at least $5- 6 billion nationally to upgrade law enforce- ment, community pre- vention, treatment, and other measures to com- bat the effects of drug abuse; * Cities need direct, flex- ible federal funding - -a block grant program to provide assistance di- rectly to cities; * Cities must receive assistance that does not divert funds from cur- rent municipal programs; and page 10 * There must be a comprehensive ap- proach to the problem of drug abuse that includes education, treatment, preven- tion, law enforcement, housing, and research. NLC suggestions for state league activi- ties include: identifying local initiatives, publicizing innovative ideas, holding workshops to focus attention on anti- drug programs, distributing press state- ments and conducting letter writing campaigns, and organizing statewide anti- drug rallies or forums. NLC wants to keep track of local re- sponse and activities in this effort. Please contact Julio Barreto, at the National League of Cities, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004 to let NLC know what activities your city has done. AH 1 SAMPLE RESOLUTION CTIES MCUT BACK AGAINST DRUGS WEEK Dubs 3.1,01* WHEREAS ,b prance sidings m weeds le our society b• mated in maanble problems of lama masertery. ,o •Sri: diem: and WHEREAS Me bmepmaal druarnitMp.sH® re itemised lass baba.. Bees, the ire. of .meonia producd,im. the Music. of public remoras to adsea man problem on W fromu and .e thna•a W lough of oar pesple: of WHEREAS, me tl.aud*. of a bmir. o irad.wa• education rem, poverty. wwp%mo..us Pad all combos to Blyel dne w: N W HEAFAS me demand Ire meal mop It e Mme problem that Naas all segments of oar beery, ecludiog pa•alo•,l and •m a. people: ad W HEREAS GY W dvp pIY* totem abmba end rvN me®idos of MI icon ad regions: ad WEED 9M. Illegal droop tm.dm• •ptbk. bee csmaWry sad lead b• lea of problems suds es bomleds. subbases. MvdWis ad abet reset- domaee violate; ad WHFRESS a adoelw m drop ha bee declared to combos me lmporwioa uNrdiol ale end Muse or deep: ad WHEREAS our aCa t deco ad pun on to dos RxOlan dam .v on dive: ad WHEREAS bmtt& of Amaba damea.d public stream b., died and Dowadr of abed rW their tiro duly b Babe m e-e' IbO,iAai beta wino maps di.p ad me rtiaiai activities mom- midst bemdltel tap, NOW. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that (dryM.o mine) declare December papa 'Odes ngMBW Apba Drop W ma" and BE R FURTHER RESOLVED ma *Mrs ma col Me tlrysoa,rmsponsor- BE R EVRT ER RESOLVED Ma tits toeseben of me dryfo.n will go on need urging community Dome aba4 ad babes ds der o pemdons to appon and patidMre in medal emeriti.; during bawl to den community .rtaw'O b rill *At Wes Page 29 LMC Cities Bulletin