I read about the Tampa City Council again promising to address the
prostitution and street-level drug dealing in Seminole Heights
(Florida Metro, Feb. 5). The council members once again made the
politically safe promise to increase punishment for people they
consider insignificant - prostitutes and drug users.

Prostitution and drug dealing have been rampant in Seminole Heights
for more than 30 years.

There will be no change until adequate in-patient drug treatment is
available in Tampa. Even people court ordered into treatment must wait
many weeks or even months to get space in a treatment facility.

Hillsborough County judges understood this need for treatment when
they established the very successful Drug Court. Unfortunately, the
fine judges in Drug Court cannot provide funding for treatment.

That must be done by our elected officials at every level of
government. Seminole Heights may be cleaned up when our city council
members care more about helping all the people of Tampa and a bit less
about retaining their power at all costs!

Most Rev. Charles Leigh Tampa [The writer is Bishop of the American
Catholic Church, Diocese of Florida.]