BOOTING THE RIFF RAFF DESERVES PRAISE

With a zero tolerance drug policy in the back pocket, the new
Tonawanda Housing Authority board has actually taken a bite out of
crime.

No need for a dog in a trench coat, or even drug abuse resistance
education. Tightening the enforcement at the Housing Authority has
made a true difference. Last week, the City of Tonawanda Police
Department reported of the 14 or so "problem houses" the authority
used to contend with, there are only one or two now.

The news must come as a relief tot he other 80 percent of the
residents there, who, according to Housing Authority Board President
Betty Hoffman, never posed a problem.

Housing authorities, when the idea first came about, were designed so
people on the cusp of financial instability could find affordable
housing for themselves and their families. For many families, it was
the difference between a life fraught with crime and dependence on
others, and contributing to society in a balanced manner.

Public funds are needed for these housing units -- and it's a
justifiable reason for taxpayers to open their wallets. But it makes
it intensely frustrating when people taking advantage of taxpayer
generosity by selling or using illegal drugs. It's a slap in the face
of good faith.

The City of Tonawanda Police Department knows this, and the Housing
Authority board knows this. Thankfully, City of Tonawanda residents
along with law-abiding Housing Authority residents can find some
comfort in this.

Before this pat on the back gets too hearty though, remember there are
still one or two acknowledged problem areas. Those need to be
addressed, and then the authorities responsible for keeping things
clean need to do their due diligence.

It's hard to shove out the riff raff, as our City of Tonawanda Police
Department knows. But it's easy to slide back into disrepair.