Greetings from CV Alliance!

Thanks to the 12 insightful teens from CV Alliance’s Youth Alliance, ASB, Fire House and Prom Plus who read and discussed topics raised by Jim Smiley’s students in their letters from CV kids to CV adults. Eighty attended this forum on Thursday night.

The CV Alliance Youth Alliance meets on Dec. 13 and Dec. 20 at 6:30 p.m. in our office (3131 Foothill Blvd., Suite D). High school students are welcome!

On Friday morning, we introduced our new name and new website to the 85 people attending our Strategic Partners meeting! Please visit our new website, CV-Alliance.org. We are still fine-tuning content, but you’ll get the idea. Get on our mailing list; be an ally!

We heard from our brilliant congressman Adam Schiff. As you might know, he was a federal prosecutor. At one time, his office would prosecute arrests involving one kilo of cocaine, but as resources became scarce it went up to five kilos. Schiff thought that it got as high as 25 kilos before the feds would take over cocaine cases from the district attorney’s office. So, in explaining the tension between federal laws stating marijuana use is illegal and states’ rights regulating medicinal and now personal use of marijuana, he said the federal government won’t intervene because it’s not the best use of scarce resources. However, the attorney general’s office will prosecute cases regarding use and sale to minors, interstate commerce violations, and when there is gang involvement. He’s glad California isn’t Washington and Colorado.  Remember: these states outlaw underage use.

Finally, the multi-person car accidents in the news are disturbing. In September, five Burbank school graduates, ages 18 to 22, were killed in a fiery crash.  One survived. Speed was a factor. Toxicology results were never made public, but responders said they smelled alcohol. This weekend the news covered two more fatal car crashes. Four young adults ages 24 to 27 died in San Clemente, the result of alcohol and speed. One survived. Five teenage girls ages 16 to 19 died in Rancho Santa Margarita, probably as a result of wet roads. Seasonal tippling and inclement weather demand we slow down, designate a driver, caller and texter, and watch out for the other guy.

  Suzy JACOBS