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REMARKS
Council Member Feliz's opening remarks on syringe service programs and community impact
0:37:59
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Council Member Feliz opens the discussion by acknowledging the lifesaving nature of syringe service programs while expressing concerns about their impact on communities. He emphasizes the need for basic standards to prevent syringes from ending up in front of schools, in parks, and playgrounds.
- Recognizes the success and importance of syringe service programs
- Highlights the ongoing issue of syringe litter in public spaces
- Questions the effectiveness of current cleanup efforts by the Department of Health
Oswald Feliz
0:37:59
Thank you so much.
0:38:00
Thank you, Charity.
0:38:01
I just want to start by reiterating repeating what I mentioned earlier.
0:38:05
These programs are lifesaving.
0:38:07
They're lifesaving, and they're also successful in many ways.
0:38:10
And even more than that, I think there are ways that we could even go further and expand them.
0:38:14
But I think the question before us today is how can we install basic standards so that as so that syringes don't, on a daily basis, hundreds of syringes don't end up in front of our elementary schools, inside our parks, inside children's playgrounds, and much more.
0:38:32
You mentioned earlier today that there's a lot of steps that DOH is taking to make sure that that's not the case, including the three one one calls, the the different meetings, the responses, and also installing places where individuals can discard the needles.
0:38:46
The reality is that none of that is working.
0:38:49
None of that is even close to working.
0:38:52
And, you know, just want to talk I guess, I'll start my questions on your position on the bill.
0:38:57
So the bill the bill doesn't require the bill requires the the bill doesn't require that providers pick up every syringe in the vicinity.
0:39:10
I know earlier you mentioned that there are different providers that are providing needles, including city related providers, state, and much more.
0:39:16
This bill does not require that providers pick up every single syringe in the vicinity.
0:39:21
What it requires is that providers play a role in cleaning up the the issues that we're seeing by picking up more or less a similar amount of needles that they're providing and are not brought back.
0:39:32
It does not require that providers pick up every single, syringe.
0:39:35
Of course, as you mentioned, that could get messy, you know, that there's different levels of government provided needles.
0:39:40
And the second thing is this bill also does not require that participants, bring back needles.
0:39:46
What it requires is that providers and the Department of Health play a role in, helping resolve this issue by, number one, creating a plan, to make sure that those needles that are provided and not brought back are picked up by the DOH and trained professionals.
0:40:02
And you mentioned training as an issue.
0:40:03
This bill also requires that DOH and providers train on that issue.
0:40:08
So a few questions.
0:40:13
Can you repeat your position on the bill that prohibits distribution between 450 feet away from a children's park and an elementary school?