CRIME AND SPENDING

Judith Offer (Aug. 9) has written an excellent and thoughtful letter,
saying she is mystified about the point of your editorial about crime in
our community. She wants to know how you propose that the public have any
effect on "this drug-dealing and ignorant" culture. May I suggest one
possible radical change that we could all ask our legislators to consider?

A large percentage of these crimes are related to our draconian drug laws.
Billions of our tax dollars have been spent, and continue to be spent, on
these drug-related crimes, and on the resulting law enforcement, which
includes new jails.

These wasted dollars could go a very long way to providing the mental,
physical and educational services our communities sorely need. Legalization
is not a perfect answer, but it would certainly be a workable improvement.

How about a college education for all who want it? That might get a few
people off the streets and even create some intelligent future leaders.

Gerta Farber

Oakland