STATE GETS $3.5 MILLION TO FIGHT DRUGS

Minnesota reaped nearly $305.2 million in 1999 federal money allocated
for fighting drug abuse and drug-related crimes in public housing.

Reps. Martin Sabo and Bruce Vento, Minnesota Democrats, joined Housing
and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo Wednesday to announce the
$3.5 million in grants via closed-circuit television. "Just saying no
to drugs is not enough, in my opinion," Cuomo said. "You also have to
say yes to something."

Minneapolis and St. Paul will get the bulk of the grant money, with
the rest going to Duluth and the housing authorities of the Mille Lacs
and Red Lake Indian reservations.

"It's better to spend the money on prevention rather than the punitive
efforts that are sometimes advanced in Washington," Vento said.

The Minneapolis Housing Authority will use its $1.6 million for a
drug-reduction effort combining police, public housing tenants and
programs for families and children.

The bigger of St. Paul's two grants -- $1.1 million -- will fund a
drug-prevention program for public housing residents. The St. Philips
Gardens housing development received $125,000 for security additions,
including a perimeter fence and a key-card entry system. "Clearly,
these are programs that are working," Sabo said.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry