Source: Miami Herald

GOV. BUSH LAUNCHES ANTI-NARCOTICS DRIVE IN OPA-LOCKA

Two blocks from where young men have died in turf battles, a
delegation of state leaders made the point that the war on drugs boils
down to creating a future for children.

"When a generation is drug-free, it will change the face of our
state," said Gov. Jeb Bush, who visited Opa-locka's drug-scourged
Triangle neighborhood Friday to announce his statewide anti-drug strategy.

Rain forced hundreds of people inside the Young, Bowers and Brown
Cultural Arts Center; among them were Bush, Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan,
state drug czar Jim McDonough and Speaker of the House John Thrasher.

Bush said drugs affect just about everyone in some way and he called
for a different attitude.

"We need to change the culture that says it's cool to take drugs,"
Bush said.

Bush's drug-control strategy has four goals: to prevent young people
from acquiring drug habits, to reduce the supply of drugs, to cut the
demand, and to lessen suffering and other costs of drugs such as
treatment and imprisoning offenders.

Already, for the first time in 10 years, the state has increased the
funding 25 percent for treatment, Bush said.

Jim McDonough, director of the Florida Office of Drug Control, said
getting drug dealers off the street is a part of the plan. "But the
real importance of the strategy is to give these children a safe place
in which to grow up drug-free."

The visit by the state delegation attracted anti-drug activists from
as far away as Ocala and Naples.

In the Triangle, near State Road 9 between Northwest 22nd Avenue, Ali
Baba Avenue and Northwest 151st Street, one resident said she wished
Bush had come sooner.

"I want to know what took him so long to get here," said Rosalyn Paul,
a 35-year-old School Board cafeteria worker.

Myrtle Ross, 96, was glad the governor made the trip.

"If he's afraid to come, then we wouldn't have anybody," she said.
After the governor spoke, she showed her appreciation with a little
jig.

"I think it's great," said Bernice Ferguson, who has lived on
Washington Street for 50 years. "I hope it does some good."