Let’s Dare to Drop D.A.R.E

Thursday, September 24, 2009

This is a media release from Anitra Brockman, Green Party candidate for Cincinnati City Council

Cincinnati, OH, September 24, 2009: Anitra Brockman, Green Party candidate for Cincinnati City Council agrees and stands with, Green Party School Board Candidate, Jason Haap that the D.A.R.E. program is ineffective in Cincinnati.

“I would like to challenge the status quo when it comes to public safety, and it starts with the DARE program. We must cease this ineffective program immediately and utilize the DARE officers on the streets in the neighborhoods where drug abuse is prevalent.”

Three out of four school districts in the United States use the DARE program, and Brockman believes that this is due to popularity versus the reality of the program’s ineffectiveness.

“If we continue to spend money on candy, bumper stickers, t-shirts, pencils and more for an ineffective program, such as DARE, then we are providing drug dealers with the opportunity to support the ineffective program as well.”

Brockman continues, “Let’s replace the DARE program with a multi-disciplinary approach that involves the schools, city government, parents, and local businesses to better utilize taxpayer dollars and resources within the community.”\
“Given the current budget deficit Cincinnati is facing, it is crucial that we begin to eliminate ineffective programs, such as DARE. Taxpayer dollars should be better spent, and I say let’s DARE to give our children the quality education and school resources they deserve, and an effective program that will work in the best interest of the community and taxpayers.

“I stand in support of saving the jobs of the police officers, and believe that it is crucial that we DARE to give our police officers more time to focus on reducing drug abuse and violent crimes outside of the classroom” said Brockman, “I believe that several neighborhoods would appreciate having the additional police officers on the street, and teachers would appreciate having more classroom time to focus on academics.”