TALK OF THE TOWN: WAR ON DRUGS, MONEY FROM TREES

Beads: The display of frustration by local law enforcement officials about
the lack of support they get from the federal government for the war on
drugs was refreshing.

Law enforcement officials met Thursday in Alexandria to discuss their
problems - and to vent their frustration in a meeting with U.S. Reps.
Rodney Alexander, R-La., who is seeking re-election, and Mark Souder, R-Ind.

The sale and use of illegal drugs cause significant problems locally and
nationally, affecting everything from community safety and municipal
budgets to health care and public education.

When asked what the feds could do to help, Loren Lampert, a Rapides Parish
assistant district attorney, said they could listen more to local police
and prosecutors and put tax dollars where they are needed - in the
communities. We agree.

Boos: During that same meeting, Rep. Souder, responded to a comment from
Alexandria Police Chief Daren Coutee, who said the city needs more federal
money to pay for officers. "Money is not free in the federal government,"
Souder said. "We don't go out in the national forest and pick it off."

Could have surprised us. Any rational person who examines Congress'
discretionary spending would come away thinking that federal money is not
only free, but that it grows on trees, falls in great quantities, and waits
only to be raked up by free-spending politicians.

Beads: What is this? College students back in the political process? It's
true. Across America student organizers are energizing political groups,
discussing the political process and signing up voters.

Louisiana College debate students, for example, watched the final
presidential debate and shared their critique with readers of The Town
Talk. Many college students largely dropped out of the political process
after the campus turmoil over the Vietnam War subsided in the 1970s. Now,
it seems, another war has captured their attention.

What does it say that it takes a war to get young people aware of the
nation's political scene and actively engaged in the process?

Boos: Some elderly patients visiting doctors in Central Louisiana last week
were surprised to learn they were not getting the flu shots they had hoped
would be available for their age group.

There is much confusion as to when, where or if they will be able to get
the vaccination this year. The problem: One of only two supplies of the
vaccine was tainted. Thus, there's not enough to go around. We must not let
this happen again.

Beads: The Alexandria city administration is correct to preserve Alexander
Fulton Park. The downtown mini-park, which was being considered for
development, offers a welcome spot for visitors, strollers and office
workers on their lunch break. The location also reflects the city's plan
for downtown redevelopment. The development proposed by the local
subsidiary of Atlanta-based Mallory & Evans would build retail space,
condominiums and off-street parking on city-owned property.

Taxpayers have questions about the developer's pursuit of public property
for private development. Those questions remain as city officials debate
whether to let the developer lease the site of a city-owned parking garage
on Fourth Street for the same project.

It's encouraging that potential investors are showing interest in downtown.
The city's challenge is to make sure that any proposal involving public
property benefits the taxpayers.