AURORA MAYOR LEADING PUSH FOR STRICTER METH PENALTIES

Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner will join several area state legislators
Monday to unveil two pieces of legislation to create stricter
penalties for those convicted of crystal meth-related crimes.

The proposals, drafted by Democratic state Sen. Linda Chapa LaVia of
Aurora, will call for stiffer custody rights penalties for parents
charged with making, selling or using the drug. The second proposal
calls for stiffer punishments related to fires caused by
the process of making the deadly drug cocktail.

"Meth use and the process of making it used to be a rural phenomenon
and is now moving into the cities," Weisner said Friday. "We haven't
experienced a big problem out here, but we don't want to either, so
we're trying to be proactive."

The announcement is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Monday at the Aurora
Community Center Police Area 2 Facility at the corner of Root Street
and College Avenue.

Weisner said the announcement was sparked by Tuesday's $3 million
methamphetamine bust at a lab on Chicago's northwest side.

"That's just more proof that we're seeing these labs creep into the
cities," Weisner said. "And we need to get them out."

More details are expected to be unveiled Monday.

The public is invited to attend the announcement and is asked to
RSVP by calling (630) 844-4731.