Pubdate: Wed, 14 Nov 2007
Source: Long Beach Press-Telegram (CA)
Copyright: 2007 Los Angeles Newspaper Group
Contact: http://www.presstelegram.com/writealetter
Website: http://www.presstelegram.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/244
Author: Paul Eakins, Staff writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

CITY MOVES TO RESTART DARE

Council Votes 6-1 To Examine Funding, Including Possible Surcharges 
On Alcohol Sale, Abuse

LONG BEACH - The City Council voted Tuesday to find a  way to restart 
the police department's DARE program for  children, possibly through 
new surcharges that would  affect some businesses and drug and alcohol abusers.

Under Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske's proposal, two  surcharges would 
be established: one on towing services  when a vehicle owner has been 
cited for alcohol or drug  use, and another on business licenses for 
businesses  that sell alcohol, tobacco or spray paint. The towing 
surcharge could range from $10 to $25, while the  business license 
surcharge would be $1 to $2, according  to a report from Schipske's office.

The council voted 6-1, with Councilman Gary DeLong  opposed, to have 
city staff report back on the  feasibility of the proposal. Council 
members Suja  Lowenthal and Tonia Reyes Uranga were absent.

Betty-Jean Thompson, president of the Long Beach DARE's  board of 
directors, said outside the meeting that the  council had made a 
meaningful decision.

DARE, which stands for Drug Awareness Resistance  Education, teaches 
children about good decision-making  and also gives them a personal 
connection with police  officers, she said.

"A lot of kids never know how to deal with a situation  unless they 
role play in that situation," Thompson  said.

However, some council members said they were concerned  about whether 
DARE fits the needs of Long Beach  students.

Addressing two local and regional representatives of  DARE who were 
at the meeting, Councilwoman Rae Gabelich said she would like DARE to 
re-examine its reading materials, which she said can be too complex 
for some children.

Councilman Patrick O'Donnell said the city should  investigate 
combining DARE with other youth programs  and should ensure that DARE 
is appropriate for the  community.

"We need a program that fits Long Beach," O'Donnell  said to the DARE 
representatives. "I think what you  need to do is maybe ... convince 
us that the DARE  program is the right one for Long Beach."

Dale Brown, regional director of DARE, told the council  the program 
has supplements beyond the basic program  that focus on issues such 
as Internet safety,  methamphetamines and alcohol.

He said DARE is working on creating an anti-graffiti  supplement as 
well, something that Schipske had said  DARE should incorporate in 
its curriculum.

Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal said other information city  staff should 
also research are what would be the best  use for the new funding 
sources, and what other funding  sources have yet to be tapped.

The money from the surcharges would go to the city's  program, better 
known as DARE, for one school year. The  program could start as soon 
as spring, but possibly  wouldn't begin until the 2008-09 school 
year, police  officials have said.

The program was discontinued with the start of the new  school year 
because of budget constraints.

DARE's nonprofit board has pledged $35,000, but an  additional 
$13,000 is needed, according to a report  from Schipske's office. 
DARE's major costs include the  salaries of two retired, part-time 
police officers who  run the program.

The officers work 50 hours a week for 30 weeks of the  year to 
instruct more than 1,800 Long Beach fifth-grade  students, the report says.

Exactly how much money would be raised by the  surcharges isn't yet 
known, but Schipske said she plans  to seek other funding sources as well.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom