UPLAND FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS GETS CONGRESSIONAL ASSISTANCE

*Rep. J.C. Watts (R-Oklahoma) And Rep. Gary Miller (R-Diamond Bar) Also
Support Allocation Of Funds For City's YMCA.

UPLAND -- Rep. J.C. Watts (R-Oklahoma) -- the fourth highest-ranking
congressman -- visited the city's YMCA on Wednesday with Rep. Gary Miller
(R-Diamond Bar) to assure the community that he would back efforts to
obtain money to keep drugs out of public housing and expand services to
youth in the city.

A 1988 federal law allows cities to apply for funding to keep drugs out of
public housing authorities, but because Upland has successfully fought
those crimes, the city is not eligible to apply for the funds.

"We said, 'That's wrong. We should not reward failure,' " Miller said. "We
need to do everything we can to get dollars to this area."

An amendment to the law authored by Miller would allow cities that are
successful in fighting crime to remain eligible for the money to stay on
top of potential problems. The amendment was passed by the House of
Representatives two weeks ago and is expected to be voted on by the Senate
in May, Miller's press secretary Bruce D. Kehe said.

In 1997 and 1998, Upland police handled 27,000 drug cases. Of those cases,
only 31 occurred in public housing, Kehe said.

But Upland Housing Authority executive director Xenia (Sammie) Szabo said
the city needs about $40,000 to $50,000 to hire an officer to keep on top
of any potential crimes before they occur.

"We agree with the fact that you guys are trying to return these dollars,"
Watts said. "We should allow local districts and communities the latitude
it takes to use these federal dollars and get the results they want. We
have to fight to make sure the track record Upland has had stays intact."

LeeAnn Faucett, the executive director of the Upland YMCA, said she was
excited by the visit by the two congressman because she's hoping to get
federal funding for the center's expansion.

Members of the community banded together to complete the teen center, which
was the first phase of the YMCA expansion last November, but Faucett is
looking forward to building a swimming pool and gymnasium that also would
be accessible to students in the Upland Unified School District.

It would cost about $3 million-$4 million for the pool and gym, she said.

The YMCA provides after school sports and activities for youth in the city,
as well as day-care services to 170 children at three different schools,
Faucett said.

"The YMCA needs funds for this center," Miller said. "Getting the youth in
here to get them on the proper course means putting dollars back into the
cities. If we keep the money in Washington, D.C., we spend it. Let's put
the money with local people."

While the focus of Watts' visit was to support Upland's fight against crime
and drugs, he said he also came to support Miller's reelection to the House
of Representatives.

"He's been very helpful to me as conference chairman," Watts said. "Helping
him get reelected is important, but I'm very proud of what's been done
fighting drugs."