DARE to change

This community is known for its involvement in city government and

for its activism and generosity. Recently, the two came together, and

the result was a success.

At the City Council meeting last week, Councilwomen Pam Julien

Houchen and Cathy Green announced that they had collected $21,500 in

donations to keep the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, known

as DARE, going.

The two spearheaded an effort to raise money for DARE after the

council cut funding to the program on Dec. 16. It was the fourth and

final time in two years that the program, which sends uniformed

police officers into elementary schools to teach children of the

dangers of drugs, was on the city’s chopping block.

When it comes to taxpayers’ money and city budgets, every program,

every bit of money spent, every pet project should be examined, and

the effectiveness or necessity questioned.

DARE was questioned repeatedly and, in the end, did not withstand

that scrutiny.

There is no doubt that the motives behind DARE are good. But since

the effectiveness of the program is questionable, it was a wise cut,

considering the $15 million that must now be trimmed from the city’s

budget.

With that said, we are glad to see those who are so passionate

about the program, those who believe in its value, believe enough to

hit the pavement to save it. The $21,500 was just the beginning, they

said. They are not done fighting, they are not done beating on doors.

That’s great. It is a great message to send to the youth of

Huntington Beach.

The $21,500 is also not going to last long. Police Chief Kenneth

Small said the nine-week program would cost at least $77,000,

although he is willing to design a scaled-back DARE program for less.

Let DARE prove its worth as a privately funded program and,

perhaps in time, when the economy looks up, it will be considered for

city funding once again.