Viewpoints
Very painful
by Patrick Branco
June 24, 2004
Thursday
I agree with Dave when he said "It was very painful on Monday
to watch the Assembly cut most of its local non-profit grant
funding from the budget..."
He went on to reflect acurately on the profound impact of these
cuts. He fell short though in describing the impact on at least
one program. The Assembly eliminated Alaskans for Drug-Free Youth
(ADFY). ADFY has been a vital part of the community for nearly
20 years. The Borough funded this program under their responsibility
for education. In 1998, Ketchikan General Hospital agreed to
assist the program by covering all of the overhead expenses.
In this way, every dollar of the grant money from the borough
went directly to putting education in virtually every classroom
in Ketchikan.
Dave Kiffer and David Landis fought hard to keep the ADFY program
alive. Jack Shay voted for it as well. But Sarber, Lybrand, Tipton,
and Bergeron voted loud and clear to eliminate this program from
the community. It is gone.
I would ask the parents of the community to go home tonite and
ask their elementary-aged school children what they learned this
year about drugs. I think you will be surprised to hear the enthusiasm
and positive learnings they have achieved. I especially ask Sam
Bergeron to ask his children about the impact of ADFY education.
He will find it was a positive experience this year.
The program ceases on July 1st. I would love to know what went
through their minds when they eliminated this program.
Jack Shay indicated that the Borough is very likely to receive
an allocation of between $500,000 and $900,000 after the legislature
is reconvened. I would urge parents to urge the Assembly to reconsider
funding ADFY if they receive this extra boon.
Bobby McCreary has the right idea but sadly it is too late for
ADFY.
Anyway, that is just my opinion and I applaud people of vision
like Kiffer, Landis, and Shay.
Patrick Branco
Ketchikan, AK - USA
Related Viewpoints:
Re: To the Borough Assembly by Dave Kiffer - Ketchikan, AK - USA
To the Borough Assembly by
Bobbie McCreary- Ketchikan, AK - USA
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