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Council Member Feliz criticizes syringe cleanup efforts and program implementation
1:09:24
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102 sec
Council Member Feliz expresses concern about Parks Department employees being forced to pick up syringes due to what he perceives as inadequate efforts by the Department of Health and service providers. He criticizes the implementation of syringe service programs as 'incompetent' and 'sloppy'.
- Feliz argues that Parks Department employees shouldn't have to pick up syringes but are forced to due to program failures
- He emphasizes that parks and playgrounds filled with syringes cannot be used by the community
- The council member acknowledges the importance of syringe service programs but insists on the need for basic standards to protect public spaces
Oswald Feliz
1:09:24
So, yes, you know, Parks Department shouldn't be picking up, syringes.
1:09:28
Generally, Parks Department employees are generally there for general parks stuff.
1:09:33
They're not health experts.
1:09:36
They shouldn't be picking up syringes.
1:09:38
But given the fact that the Department of Health and providers who are experts and professionals on the issue not willing to do their part, parks department people are being forced to allocate resources and pick up syringes.
1:09:52
Because of course, the parks department is not there just to have a park, but to make sure that people could actually use it.
1:09:57
And a park and a children's playground filled with syringes cannot be used by the community.
1:10:03
So I just want to make that point clear.
1:10:04
Parks Department, nobody would want to pick up.
1:10:07
They shouldn't be picking up syringes, but they're being forced because the Department of Health and the providers have implemented this program in a very incompetent, sloppy way.
1:10:18
I mean, if hundreds of needles are ending up in a children's playground, I can't I can't think of a better words to describe that.
1:10:26
Earlier, you mentioned many good things about the program that they do refer people to treatment.
1:10:31
These are, you know, I think every everybody here agrees that these programs are really important programs.
1:10:38
People that need help deserve to be treated with compassion and they deserve to be to receive the services that they deserve.
1:10:45
Great program.
1:10:46
I think there's no dispute about that.
1:10:49
But no one is questioning how good or bad the program is in general.
1:10:54
What we're questioning or what we're proposing is basic standards so that these needles do not end up in a children's playground, places that should be, safe for innocent people.