Redeem state image: Nail drug traffickers

Connecticut's Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman is right: It's "sad", we would even
say "embarrassing", to have three state counties named by the White House
as areas with some of the nation's worst drug problems. However, the
designation can also become a help to those counties, because it qualifies
them to seek millions of federal law enforcement dollars.

Fairfield, New Haven and Hartford counties were named along with nine other
New England counties as particularly "high-intensity drug-trafficking"
areas. That doesn't mean the average resident of these areas is any more
prone to crime or addiction than others, or that law enforcement isn't as
diligent there. We suspect most of the counties suffer heavy drug traffic
because they happen to fall along the corridor between New York and Boston
and are simply more densely populated than most.

On the positive side, the designation allows the 12 New England counties to
share $1 million in federal aid to boost local, state and federal law
enforcement efforts. Certain neighborhoods in Bridgeport and New Haven
would be good places to start that crackdown.

The New England areas could also complete with several similarly designated
counties nationwide for another $185.5 million in federal grants that will
be awarded this year.

By working to obtain as much of that money as possible and then using the
aid effectively to break the hold of drug traffickers, Connecticut
authorities can redeem this state's reputation and enhance the quality of
life for all concerned.