Posted on: Wednesday, March 31, 2004

EDITORIAL
Wai'anae, don't give up on Weed & Seed

One would think Wai'anae, of all places, would easily win the Weed & Seed designation, a seven-year-old federal program to "weed" out gangs, drug dealers and repeat and violent offenders from high-crime areas and "seed" a safer community through prevention, treatment and neighborhood revitalization.

But it seems Wai'anae's application failed to impress the U.S. Department of Justice. The agency rated as "Not Acceptable" the management structure, needs assessment, strategy and coordination of Wai'anae's presentation.

It didn't help that community input in the application came from public meetings held in 2001. Nor was the DOJ impressed that management of Wai'anae's site would be directed through a statewide steering committee that operates three other sites on O'ahu.

"Although there are some obvious benefits to this arrangement, the application does not describe a community-driven program," the department noted.

"Basically, the application must do more to clearly and simply explain how this program management structure will remain community-driven and address its needs," the application review added.

It's always hard to hear rejection and criticism. But if it's constructive, it can give that needed kick in the 'okole. So what can we learn from the DOJ's response to Wai'anae?

The DOJ appears to be looking for evidence that the program is "community-driven," which is a reasonable quest. Do the people of Wai'anae care whether they have a Weed & Seed program, and if they do, are they communicating that to the feds? Also, are they prepared to come up with a less bureaucratic organizational structure?

We know that there are people working hard to improve the quality of life in Wai'anae.

But community leaders also must deal with apathy along the Leeward Coast. Perhaps it comes from poverty and repeated disappointment. Perhaps people are too busy trying to survive and eke out a living to look at how to improve the community as a whole.

Whatever the reason, we hope those who care can reach out to those who don't and inspire them to mobilize behind an effort to weed out the bad and sow the seeds of positive change in beautiful Wai'anae.