Pubdate: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 Source: Standard-Times (MA) Copyright: 1999 The Standard-Times Contact: http://www.s-t.com/ Author: Polly Saltonstall, Standard-Times staff writer CITY'S WAR ON DRUGS NEEDS AID Panel asks White House team for agents, money NEW BEDFORD -- Despite a valiant effort to battle drugs, New Bedford needs more federal dollars to help with prevention, treatment and enforcement, local leaders told a team of White House policy makers yesterday. Particularly pointed were the calls for a greater federal law-enforcement presence in the city and surrounding region. Both Police Chief Arthur Kelly III and Kevin Connelly from the Bristol County district attorney's office pleaded with the federal officials to open a local office for the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Currently, INS has one agent stationed in the Police Department, and the two DEA agents assigned to the city work out of the Cape Cod bureau. "Time after time we have heard talk of the establishment and opening of DEA offices in New Bedford, yet they have not yet come to pass," said Chief Kelly. "A presence that is designed to focus resources and attention on the drug issues in our community and surrounding areas will make great strides toward enhancing our efforts to increase the quality of life for our citizens." The federal team coordinated by the president's Office of National Drug Control Policy included representatives from the Justice Department, the Office of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. Also present during the two-hour forum at the Hayden-McFadden Elementary School were U.S. Attorney Donald Stern and Mayra Rodriguez-Howard, director of the state's Bureau of Substance Abuse Services. Noting that the panel had met earlier with state and federal law enforcement officials, ONDCP's deputy director for the Bureau of State and Local Affairs, Joseph Peters (pictured at top right), said the city might see progress in getting a local DEA presence "sooner rather than later." Budget problems had prevented DEA from following through with earlier plans to open a local office, said Mr. Stern, but he was willing to sit down with local officials to consider creative solutions to the problem. The panelists and federal officials engaged in a back-and-forth dialogue when Mr. Connelly said his office opposes the creation of a drug court in New Bedford. The district attorney's office would rather see more resources allocated to the present, overloaded court system, he said. "New Bedford already has a drug court, it's the 3rd District Court," he said. His fellow panelist, Carl Alves, director of the treatment and outreach agency Positive Action Against Chemical Action, took a slightly different stand, advocating for more alternative sentencing programs. He noted the city had tried unsuccessfully several years ago to start a drug court. Both representatives from ONDCP indicated their support for "paradigm-shifting" programs such as a drug court that concentrated on case management and rebuilding families. Also during his testimony, Mr. Alves asked for more funding to expand programs for youngsters, to expand outreach, treatment and harm reduction programs, and to support the creation of a master plan for drug treatment and prevention in the region. Local panelist Joel Burns, director of human resources for The Standard-Times, told the federal officials of the financial toll drug use takes on the business community, in the form of absenteeism, drug testing, and programs to counsel employees. Repeatedly during the session, the federal officials praised New Bedford's approach to the problems of drug abuse and trafficking. "I'm impressed with the level of involvement," said Mr. Peters, "and at the insight into these issues." His colleague Sandra Lawson agreed. "It's good to know New Bedford is on the right track," she said several times. Mr. Peters praised the emphasis on treatment, noting that was a priority for ONDCP. Addressing the requests for additional funding, he noted that the recent designation of New England as a federal High Density Drug Trafficking Area could help attract federal seed dollars. The local presentations resulted from a planning session several weeks ago involving more than 50 people, including representatives of outreach organizations, law enforcement agencies and treatment providers. Today, after a 9 a.m. press conference, the Washington visitors will walk through the Bay Village Housing Development and the Acushnet Avenue area of the city's South Central neighborhood. The team will write up a report on its visit and make recommendations to the city at a later date. Drug czar Barry R. McCaffrey, a Southeastern Massachusetts native, agreed to send the team to New Bedford last winter after speaking with Mayor Frederick M. Kalisz Jr. during a function at the White House. The mayor has said he hopes the team of experts will help the city tap into additional funding sources for its battle against drug abuse and addiction. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart