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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Desiree Bell, Member of the Public, on Syringe Service Programs and Accountability
2:26:53
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3 min
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Desiree Bell, a youth attending her first legislative hearing, testifies in support of Council Member Oswald Feliz's efforts to increase accountability for syringe service programs. She emphasizes the need for better regulation and tracking of needle distribution, particularly in underserved communities.
- Highlights the issue of needle litter in areas like the Kingsbridge Underpass
- Argues that there are ways to track syringes through serial numbers on medical supplies
- Supports an "integrity ban" to modify how syringe services are provided
Desiree Bell
2:26:53
Thank you.
2:26:54
Good afternoon, everyone.
2:26:55
I hope everyone can hear me.
2:26:57
I do have some comments on some of the things that I've heard so far.
2:27:00
I've taken a lot of notes, and I've heard from all the parties involved.
2:27:04
I just wanna thank council member Oswald Feliz for, bringing this.
2:27:07
I know it's hard to challenge some things that after things have already been predicated and implicated.
2:27:14
But I do see some inordinate self interest involved in some of these, statements.
2:27:20
I am a youth, and this is my first time attending a legislative hearing.
2:27:24
So, you know, you could you guys could keep that in mind.
2:27:27
But, you know, I think Oswald, Feliz, and the other members of this panel should not have to explain themselves on why this is a concern.
2:27:36
I've seen not too long ago how himself, George Alvarez, and mayor Adams had to walk through the Kingsbridge Underpass due to the proliferific, amounts of needles and, harm that has been done to that area, and that is reflective across America.
2:27:53
I'm here to really speak on some of the things that I heard earlier, about specifically the regulations of these programs, and I can speak to these things because I've had to go through the process in which, you know, at the moment, you know, we were, we are not a part of that at this point, but I've had to go through the process.
2:28:13
And I would like it to be properly accounted for.
2:28:16
So I did hear some things.
2:28:17
I did hear some well, first, I will say this.
2:28:20
It's not only surrender service or exchange, whatever the the term is gonna be at this point.
2:28:26
There are also opioid overdose prevention programs also by done through the New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene.
2:28:34
I didn't really get out of county for, but, we are also a part of the, combating the overdose epidemic.
2:28:40
We've given 25,000 NARCAN kits, etcetera, phenyl you know, these things also have to be talked about.
2:28:48
That's not again, we're talking about not the only solution.
2:28:51
But I think what Oswald Feliz is saying here, and I do hope that either if he's not there at the moment that this message will reach to him.
2:28:59
What he's saying is, again, accountability.
2:29:01
No one's saying that these services can't be provided or, you know, that I don't really hear that is being restricted.
2:29:09
I hear more of an accountability.
2:29:11
He he's already stated how the Department of Health has been unreachable for the last three years.
2:29:16
We've presented this to him, community board six and community board seven.
2:29:20
We presented needles, to the Department of Health to which we were told, oh, we can't track the needles.
2:29:27
We we were told a lot of a lot of things of a lack of accountability, and we see the and we see the result in the most, needed communities, aka black Americans, the, aka Latinos, aka there's other populations that have been affected by the gross neglect of lack of regulation.
2:29:48
There were no site visits on any of the programs until us.
2:29:52
So that already goes to show that there was already an accountability.
Linda Lee
2:29:57
Sorry.
2:29:58
You can, go ahead and wrap up in the next couple, like, few sentences.
2:30:03
Go ahead.
2:30:03
Sorry.
Desiree Bell
2:30:04
Sure.
2:30:04
That's no problem.
2:30:05
Thank you for letting me know.
2:30:06
But, yes, definitely, I I again, I just well, as far as I just wanna end with this, your question that you had, madam chair Lee, you had of you asked the person that is the, how can the needles be tracked?
2:30:20
There is a way actually to do that because I just wanna remind everyone here, there are serial numbers attached to the syringes.
2:30:27
These are medical supplies, so there is regulation on, who belongs to what.
2:30:33
So I just wanna I I will say that I will support Oswald Feliz and what he said.
2:30:38
We there should be an integrity ban as far as the modification of how the services are provided.
2:30:44
Thank you everyone for allowing my testimony.