NEEDLE-EXCHANGE ISSUES SHOULD BE OUT IN OPEN

As someone who has had an office on Cormorant Street for four years, I
was compelled to share my perspective after reading letters regarding
the new location of the needle exchange.

There is concern how the location might impact St. Andrew's Elementary
School and local businesses.

As anyone who lives or works in the area knows, the school is only two
blocks from the current exchange. The users of the exchange already
frequent the areas within a two-to three-block radius.

I ride by the school on my bicycle and witness users in the nearby
parks, churches and back roads that lead from there to Cormorant
Street and the needle exchange. I have a hard time seeing how moving
it to Pandora will change the patterns of these users.

Regardless of where it is, the emphasis needs to be on treatment and
strict and consistent response to those who choose to plop down on the
street to shoot up.

Over the past few months, I have seen a real effort by the city to do
just that, and I have noticed a difference on Cormorant Street.

I think it is more important to press the city to show how it will
follow up with this program, as opposed to where they will place the
exchange.

The more open the site is to the public, the less can be hidden from
view.

We all need to see what goes on, daily, on Cormorant Street. And we
all need to participate in finding solutions, for it is everyone's
problem, not just the addicts.

Michael Lium-Hall,

Saanich