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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Erachie Brown, Member of Bronx Community Board 5
1:55:28
ยท
4 min
Erachie Brown, a member of Bronx Community Board 5, testifies against Intro 868, which would prohibit the distribution of syringes by mobile service programs near schools and playgrounds. Brown argues that this bill would hinder harm reduction efforts and community outreach programs that are crucial for addressing substance abuse issues.
- Brown emphasizes the importance of outreach programs like OPST and community kiosks in addressing public health concerns related to substance use.
- The speaker argues that limiting harm reduction organizations' work would put more strain on the NYPD and suggests negotiating between schools and outreach personnel instead of imposing blanket prohibitions.
- Brown calls for additional funding for harm reduction organizations to expand their services rather than limiting their work.
Erachie Brown
1:55:28
Yes.
1:55:28
Good afternoon.
1:55:29
My name is Iraji Brown.
1:55:30
I'm from the Bronx Community Board five.
1:55:34
The testimony I believe for this bill here, o eight sixty eight, needs to be dismissed.
1:55:43
The local law amendment to prohibit to prohibit distribution of hypodermic syringes and needles by mobile service programs.
1:55:51
What we have here is a failure to recognize fear.
1:55:55
The idea that fear can be paralyzing and prevents people from taking chances to make changes, standing by action until completion, which will produce a concrete positive outcome for our residents and our communities.
1:56:11
We can accomplish great things if we look at the problems face on rather than being held back by lack of knowledge, doubt, and fear.
1:56:20
Addressing this bill prohibits the distribution of hypodermic syringe and needles by the mobile syringe service program within 450 feet of schools and playgrounds.
1:56:33
What it does, it prevents serving the community which serving the community means being out in the community.
1:56:42
We have outreach and public safety teams such as OPST which serves the individual in East Harlem, Washington Heights, The Bronx.
1:56:52
All connecting comprehensive programs to provide the basic needs such as food, clothing, safer drug use supplies, and educational materials as well as addressing syringe litter and other hazardous waste.
1:57:06
Community kiosk in mobile units is a collaborative effort between the parks department, the department of health, and OnPoint NYC which aims at addressing public health concern related to substance use.
1:57:20
The initiative require the installment of syringe drop box in high impact areas specifically in public spaces which is which has a known history of drug use.
1:57:31
As far as public schools, the OPS team reaches out to the neighboring schools and offer them these tools and services to reduce the risk of needle stick injury, support safer environments, reinforce harm reduction principle and commitment in promoting safety and cleanliness.
1:57:52
Rather than limiting the work that these harm reduction organizations do, we should be talking about making sure that they get additional funding so that they can continue to provide the services and and expand on them.
1:58:07
That is the goal we all should be striving for, not localizing specific points and nitpicking on semantic which always results in some type of verbal delusions.
1:58:18
For example, NYPD is not the solution in solving this dilemma.
1:58:23
They cannot do all of it.
1:58:24
This crisis of substance abuse is much larger than we can even imagine.
1:58:29
Limiting the work of the harm reduction services play a much bigger strain on the NYPD, not to mention the amount of dollars and manpower needed to attempt to resolve this problem.
1:58:39
The NYPD already has hundreds of matters to tend within our community.
1:58:44
We need more mental health and addiction services professionals during this work like one of these programs provided.
1:58:50
They say it takes a village to raise our children, the standards which our democracy imbues and guarantees our right as free thinking citizens to thrive in the land of freedom, our country America.
1:59:01
Let us not leave out the foresting of trust in building a greater community by helping to create a more livable and welcoming environment for everyone that lives here.
1:59:11
Prohibiting the distribution of syringe and needles serviced around the public school area, I feel should be negotiated between the schools in questions and the outreach personnels involved.
1:59:21
All children are faced every day seeing community members using these drug abusers firsthand.
1:59:26
You have drug dealers and substance selling their wares around school children's at school.
1:59:34
Yet, I see no one no one outcrying to stop these action of illegal sales.
1:59:39
Yet, you would punish the very people who are trying to offer a solution to the problem.
1:59:43
The amendment to me, if you are not a part of the problem, then you must be a part of the solution.
1:59:48
Let us not negotiate out of fear.
1:59:50
Let's both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divides us.