INITIATIVE WILL DO GOOD

Santa Cruz's city attorney and police officials are concerned about
the marijuana initiative on the November ballot.

They should look into the experience from similar initiatives in two
larger cities - Seattle and Oakland. Seattle has been under a similar
vote passed in 2003, while Measure Z passed in 2004. Seattle's
initiative required statistical research into how the newly freed
police have spent their time and found salutary effects on violent-
and property-crime rates.

Santa Cruz has much to hope for and little to fear after the
initiative passes in November.

Bill D'Amico

Ben Lomond