Boise Selected For Drug Project

Boise is one of eight U.S. cities selected by the federal government as a methamphetamine pilot project city.

Mayor Brent Coles, Police Chief Don Pierce and Don Baranco of the Treasure Valley Alcohol/Drug Coalition were in San Diego this week, along with representatives from seven other selected cities, talking about ways to curb methamphetamine production and use.

The conference was funded by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The project was spearheaded by U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.

U.S. Attorney Betty Richardson, based in Boise, had a hand in the city’s selection, Suzanne Burton, the mayor’s special assistant on drug issues, said.

“We were selected because of what we’ve been doing in this area,” she said Wednesday. “The mayor is kind of known as `Mayor Meth’ on a national level.”

The other cities selected are Des Moines, Iowa; Tulsa, Okla.; Harrisburg, Pa.; Omaha, Neb.; Salt Lake City; Sacramento, Calif.; and Honolulu.

Boise has launched several drug-related projects under Coles.

The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking grant money for the next two years to help Boise and the seven other cities fully develop their anti-drug campaigns and then measure their effectiveness, Burton said.