Approximately 30 persons met in Winslow Monday to discuss alcoholism and public intoxication problems in the area, and ways to address the problem. The meeting was organized and directed by Navajo County Attorney Brad Carlyon with Sheriff K.C. Clark sharing the leadership. Also providing vital information were Winslow Justice of the Peace Alison Kolomitz, County Supervisors Jesse Thompson and J.R. DeSpain, County Treasurer Manny Hernandez, Winslow Police Chief Steve Garnett and City Attorney Dale Patton. Also attending were representatives of the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, counseling centers and religious organizations, as well as city councilmen and citizens.
The problem and abusers were described by those such as Kolomitz and Garnett who deal with them regularly. There was near unanimous agreement that the problem is not just the responsibility of the City of Winslow, the Navajo and Hopi tribes, Navajo County or even the state of Arizona. It is really a problem for each of those entities and one that must be solved collectively, with the entities acting together to solve the problem.
It was agreed that the problem has existed for generations and has more than one cause. Therefore, it needs more than one solution. It was generally agreed that one possible solution would be to reach agreements with the city, the Navajo and Hopi Tribes and the county to work together in a number of areas, such as establishing a detoxification center. One person said that it is time to get serious and really address the problem.
Most agreed that incarceration, the most used action, is not a solution that works. One suggested solution was to institute a tax upon the liquor industry to get those who profit from the problem to help pay for the solution. Some saw getting cooperation from local retailers as being possible, but cautioned that they are pressured by corporate management to sell alcohol, which adds to the problem.
Another suggestion was to create a zone where alcohol could be sold, but to also create a park near there where alcoholics could go to sleep and congregate. This would localize the problem and possibly make solving individual problems easier.
Robert Carr, who has worked with alcoholics, and had success in getting many to return to their homes on the reservation and solve their problem, said that we should be looking at our successes instead of just dwelling on failures. He said that finding out what works and doing it makes sense.
Carlyon and Clark ended the meeting by announcing that they had to leave for a meeting in Gallup, N.M., to discuss how that city has devised a program that has had some success. It also entails getting an agreement with the tribes and other governmental agencies. The two promised to communicate with attendees and set up another meeting to continue to address the problem.
