Pubdate: Sat, 08 Jun 2002
Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (NY)
Copyright: 2002 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.democratandchronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/614
Author: Rick Armon

DUFFY SEES DROPOUT, DRUG LINK

Chief Says Keeping Kids in School Can Shield Them From Abuse, Dealing

The city should focus on lowering the City School District's dropout rate 
as one way to combat the illegal drug trade, Police Chief Robert Duffy said 
Friday.

Speaking at a drug summit sponsored by City Council, Duffy said many of the 
children who drop out of school end up dealing and using drugs. "These are 
kids we need to put our arms around," he said. "We need to find a way to 
get those kids redirected and back in school."

In 2000-01, Rochester's dropout rate was 9.9 percent.

"We feel that dropout rate is leading to young people who are dealing drugs 
and selling drugs on the street," Duffy said.

He said he sent a letter to Superintendent Clifford Janey in April asking 
for specific information on the dropout problem, including the names of 
students who have left school early.

Duffy said one district official told him as many as 1,000 students each 
year leave school before they graduate, either by dropping out or on 
long-term suspensions. He also said he would like to join forces with the 
school system to keep more students in school, to stem the tide of future 
drug dealers.

The information from the district should be analyzed and then a 
communitywide strategy should be developed, he added.

"There are a lot of other agencies that have to step up," Duffy said.

The council hearing featured eight panelists -- ranging from a national 
expert to a neighborhood leader -- talking about their viewpoints on 
illegal drugs.

Their recommendations included developing a communitywide strategy, 
reducing the number of addicts, attacking the "business" of drug dealing, 
providing jobs so people don't feel forced to become dealers, improving 
access to treatment programs and promoting more collaboration among groups.

Mayor William A. Johnson Jr. has set aside $500,000 in the proposed 2002-03 
budget for drug initiatives. Council's hearing was held about six months 
after a daylong drug summit was convened in Rochester by Johnson and Duffy.

"Drugs are a market. They are a business," said Dr. John Carnevale, a 
former director in the White House's Office of National Drug Control 
Policy, who urged city leaders to develop a communitywide plan after 
thoroughly assessing the problem.

Tisha Smith, a criminal justice researcher at Rochester Institute of 
Technology, said the drug trade in the city is a $32.1 million underground 
economy. That figure is a conservative estimate based on interviews with 
inmates who reported how much drug houses earn on a daily basis, she said.

A typical drug house can make $1,000 a night, and there are at least 300 in 
the city.

Councilwoman Gladys Santiago said she witnessed one of those drug houses in 
operation earlier this week on Bay Street.

"It's outrageous what's going on," she said.

Duffy admitted the city is not tough enough in closing stores or taking 
over houses where drugs are sold.

"We give too many warnings, and we're too lenient," he said. "There really 
should be a hard-line approach."

Council also will hold a special hearing at 10 a.m. today on the 
Renaissance 2010 plan. The hearing will be held at the Gleason Works 
Auditorium, 1000 University Ave.

Council will hear updates on how the plan, which is supposed to help guide 
city development, is evolving and how it relates to the proposed budget. 
The public can comment after the hearing.

A formal public hearing on the city and the school district budgets will be 
held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Council Chambers.

Council is expected to vote on the city budget June 18.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart