Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
REMARKS
Council Member Oswald Feliz introduces bills on needle exchange programs
0:04:03
ยท
152 sec
Council Member Oswald Feliz presents his views on needle exchange programs and introduces two bills related to their implementation. He acknowledges the life-saving nature of these programs but expresses concerns about their current implementation, particularly regarding needle distribution near schools and playgrounds.
- Feliz criticizes the Department of Health for not properly exchanging needles and lacking plans for needle collection.
- He highlights safety risks for children in low-income communities due to improperly discarded needles.
- Feliz emphasizes the need for responsible implementation of needle exchange programs to avoid creating new issues while solving others.
Oswald Feliz
0:04:03
Thank you.
0:04:03
Thank you so much.
0:04:04
Good morning everyone.
0:04:05
I'm council member, Hazel Feliz.
0:04:06
I wanna thank you chair, Linda Lee for this hearing.
0:04:09
Proud to have two bills, being heard before this committee today, bills related to needle exchange programs.
0:04:15
I'll start by saying what we all know.
0:04:17
These needle exchange programs are lifesaving.
0:04:19
They ensure that those suffering from addiction related issues, it ensures that they have access to safe needles, so that rather than using and then reusing used needles, which can further exacerbate health issues, it ensures they have access to safe needles so that they don't create new health issues.
0:04:37
These programs are lifesaving, but we have to make sure that we, as a city, implement these programs properly and responsibly.
0:04:46
We've had major issues with how the Department of Health has implemented these programs.
0:04:50
First, not honoring the exchange part of the program.
0:04:54
Rather than exchanging, simply distributing hundreds of needles in a community.
0:04:59
And even worse, distributing hundreds of needles with no plan on picking them up.
0:05:05
The result, hundreds of needles being scattered in all places of our community.
0:05:10
Last week, I received one of many pictures of needles are found at the front entrance of a children's elementary school.
0:05:17
Nobody would ever should ever tolerate something like that.
0:05:20
So so unacceptable and irresponsible.
0:05:23
The second thing, the second problem, placing a needle distribution truck not only inside a park, but directly beside a children's playground.
0:05:34
Placing a needle distribution truck distributing hundreds of needles on a daily basis directly beside a children's playground, and again distributing with no plan on picking them up.
0:05:45
The result, hundreds of needles being found in all places of that park, including inside that children's playground, creating safety risks, for children in low income communities.
0:05:54
This is something that nobody would ever imagine doing in a in a wealthy community.
0:05:58
The worst part of all is that concerns brought to the Department of Health has been have been nothing but dismissed.
0:06:04
I don't know when it became okay to dismiss quality of life and safety concerns of of low income disadvantaged communities, but proud that we have these two bills to help resolve that.
0:06:14
Again, these needle exchange programs are lifesaving, and I would even go further.
0:06:19
We could even go they can even be expanded.
0:06:22
But we need to make sure that we implement these programs properly so that while trying to resolve one issue, we don't create other issues.
0:06:30
Having used needles in the children's playground, that's a tragedy waiting to happen.