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Q&A
Discussion on the unresolved nature of syringe litter issues
0:46:51
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87 sec
Council Member Feliz and Rebecca Linn-Walton discuss the ongoing nature of syringe litter issues and DOHMH's efforts to address them.
- Linn-Walton acknowledges that the problem is not yet resolved but emphasizes ongoing efforts to improve the situation
- DOHMH has implemented multiple strategies and is continuously working to address the issue
- The department recognizes the complexity of the problem, especially in the context of the ongoing opioid epidemic
Oswald Feliz
0:46:51
Okay.
0:46:52
So I have a lot of questions.
0:46:52
I'll ask one more, then I'll give it back to the chair.
0:46:55
I'm sure everybody has more questions.
0:46:57
But it seems like the Department of Health acknowledges that it's an issue that has gone unresolved.
0:47:04
Right?
0:47:04
Is can we agree that that's the case?
0:47:08
I mean, we I've reached out for three years about Yeah.
0:47:11
Needles everywhere, children's playgrounds in front of elementary schools, And three years later, we still have the same issue.
0:47:16
Can we agree that the issue has gone unresolved?
Rebecca Linn-Walton
0:47:19
Oh, it's not fixed.
0:47:20
And so that's why since I've been there, I know I've spoken with you in your office multiple times.
0:47:25
I know we've responded to your letter.
0:47:27
We're here today to talk about it.
0:47:29
We've layered on more and more things.
0:47:30
I'm not saying in any way the problem is fixed because if there are syringes in a park, the problem is not fixed.
0:47:36
But what we are trying to do is do everything we possibly can to remediate the problem, to make things better because I want children to go to a beautiful park.
0:47:45
That's why I come to work every single day and why it's so important to be working with parks, to be working with sanitation, to be working with the communities.
0:47:51
So please, please, please don't think that we're not taking it seriously.
0:47:56
It's just a long complicated problem and we're in the middle of an opioid epidemic.
0:48:01
And so what we're doing is trying to use every skill and tool we have at our resources to address the issue with the goal of fixing the problem.
0:48:11
And you're right, it still continues to be a problem.
0:48:13
And please, please know that we're all working very actively to solve it.