Pubdate: Thu,  7 Aug 2003
Source: Maui News, The (HI)
Contact:  2003 The Maui News
Website: http://www.mauinews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2259
Author: B.J. Reyes, The Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Note: To read about the "ice epidemic" in Hawaii, go to
http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Hawaii .

LINGLE COMMITS TO BATTLE AGAINST 'ICE'

Kailua Crowd Asked To Help; Governor Will Visit Maui On Saturday

KAILUA, Oahu -- Gov. Linda Lingle on Tuesday assured Windward Oahu residents
that her administration continues to confront the state's crystal
methamphetamine epidemic in the first of her town hall-style meetings aimed
at getting input directly from communities about issues important to them. 

Lingle also urged residents to get more involved in government by sharing
any ideas -- on drug enforcement or anything else -- with their elected
officials. 

''I think it makes a very strong statement from the community that we're not
going to be passive about this,'' she said. 

About 200 people turned out at Kailua High School to hear from Lingle and
members of her administration, who fielded questions for about 90 minutes
and met personally with audience members for another 30 minutes. 

While Lingle met with Windward Oahu residents, Lt. Gov. James ''Duke''
Aiona, who already has held three previous ''talk story'' sessions, attended
another one in Hilo to hear from Big Island residents.

The governor will be on Maui on Saturday for another "talk story" session,
starting at 4 p.m. at the Royal Lahaina Resort.

At the same location starting at 5:30 p.m., the former Maui County mayor has
been invited to be the featured speaker at a program to support an
acute-care medical facility for West Maui.

That meeting is sponsored by the West Maui Taxpayers Association and the
West Maui Improvement Foundation, and there will be a $25 admission charge.

There is no charge for the first meeting. 

Lingle has touted her "talk story" series of forums as a way to get in touch
with the communities and hear about their concerns firsthand. Critics have
called such events nothing more than campaigning. 

Several residents raised concerns about the state's burgeoning problem with
crystal methamphetamine, or ''ice.''

Lingle was asked what her administration is doing specifically to combat the
drug. 

Lingle said her administration already was working with state agencies to
come up with alternative strategies such as getting more law enforcement
into the community. 

''There's been a lot of money thrown at this problem, but it hasn't
necessarily been coordinated,'' Lingle said, adding that coming up with a
coordinated effort against ice would be a focus of Aiona's upcoming drug
summit next month. 

Other topics raised by audience members ranged from getting a second access
road for Kailua High School to welfare and social service reform to
bureaucracy within the state's educational system. 

Lingle -- again citing a poll done earlier this year showing a majority of
residents wanting local school control -- urged residents to lobby lawmakers
to support her plan to establish up to seven local boards. 

''I really need your help next session to convince legislators that this is
a very important first step,'' she said. ''We think each community in the
state is very unique and special and should be able to chart its own
course.'' 

On the Net: Hawaii State Government: http://www.state.hi.us
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