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TIME: Almanac 1990
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1990 Time Magazine Compact Almanac, The (1991)(Time).iso
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time
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042489
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04248900.033
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1990-09-17
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NATION, Page 25American NotesDRUGSOutline for a Skirmish
After weeks of rumblings, federal drug czar William Bennett
last week unveiled an $80 million emergency plan for an assault on
the drug-and-murder epidemic in Washington. But the proposal looked
more like an outline for a skirmish than for an all-out offensive.
Bennett snubbed Washington's embattled local government by
failing to invite any of its representatives to the press
conference at which the plan was announced. He went on to castigate
the administration of Mayor Marion Barry, saying it "has failed to
serve its citizens." Finally, he disclosed a set of measures that
may put more dealers behind bars but is likely to do little to curb
rampant drug use. Local police will get help from 82 federal
agents. A 500-bed detention facility will be built in the District
and more beds will be available in a federal prison in Maryland.
Drug treatment will gain only 300 beds instead of the 1,040 the
city asked for. Will Bennett's battle plan do much to help the
nation's capital kick the habit? Given the czar's imperiousness
and the swirl of rumors surrounding Barry, whose friendship with
an accused drug dealer is under investigation, that is far from
certain.