Pubdate: Wed, 24 Sep 2003 Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI) Copyright: 2003 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. Contact: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/195 Author: Mike Hinchey 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 . UNIFIED STRATEGY IN WAR ON ICE NEEDED I was very disappointed by the lieutenant governor's drug summit last week in Waikiki. For all of Gov. Lingle's talk of making these events nonpartisan, they ended up just being Republican rallies in the dress of fighting the drug problem. For one thing, Aiona didn't even bother to invite members of the City Council. How does the lieutenant governor think he is going to be successful in the fight against drugs if he doesn't even include the elected officials who have been pioneers in getting the community organized in the fight against ice? Councilmen Nestor Garcia, Donovan Dela Cruz and Mike Gabbard were the ones who took the lead on this issue, not the state. The only way we are ever going to make headway in the fight against ice is when the city, state and federal governments and the private sector truly begin to work with a unified strategy. Mike Hinchey Kailua - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk