NEEDLE EXCHANGE BACKER TO TABLE IT

HOLYOKE - The sponsor of a measure calling for approval of a
needle-exchange program in the city said last night he will seek to
table the order when it comes up at tonight's City Council meeting.

Ward 2 City Councilor Diosdado Lopez said he wants more time for
councilors to investigate a needle-exchange program in Northampton
and to allow a nonprofit agency to propose a program here.

"I'd rather see a specific program come forward," Lopez said.

Last month, the Board of Health voted 3-0 to recommend the council OK
a needle-exchange program to help the fight against the HIV virus and
AIDS. State data show both are at epidemic levels in the city.

During a public hearing held by the council's Public Safety Committee
last month, several people said that dirty syringes are putting
heroin users at risk, as well as those with whom the users have
unprotected sex.

In Springfield last night, City Councilor Timothy J. Rooke asked the
council to go on record once again as being opposed to a needle
exchange program, but his resolution failed in a tie vote.

The council previously rejected the needle program in 1996 and 1998,
and Rooke sought another vote in response to a recent request for
reconsideration by the Springfield Alliance for Needle Exchange.
Council President Angelo J. Puppolo Jr., who opposes the needle
program, said be believes the 4-4 tie vote sends the message that
other options need to be explored. Councilor Daniel D. Kelly, a
program opponent, was absent due to illness.

Opponents in Holyoke, including several city councilors, say the
program here would not help, and would draw drug users and dealers to
the city, making matters worse.

One opponent, City Councilor at large Kevin A. Jourdain, has filed an
order asking the council to put the issue before voters on the Nov. 6
ballot.

"I think we should hear from the citizens," Jourdain said yesterday.

Since this is a local election year, he said, voters would be able to
listen to arguments on the issue from elected officials and their
challengers.

"It would raise the consciousness on the issue," he said.

Ward 6 Councilor Mark A. Lubold, a proponent of the needle-exchange
program, has filed another order asking the council to urge state
lawmakers to fund more drug treatment beds.

Lubold said yesterday that at one public hearing both those against
and for a syringe-exchange program here acknowledged a critical lack
of publicly funded in-patient beds for those seeking heroin addiction
treatment.

As for Lopez's desire to postpone a vote tonight, Lubold said he
favors tabling the needle-exchange measure to let councilors visit
the Northampton program, which is downtown.

Northampton Police Chief Russell P. Sienkiewicz has said there have
been no incidents related to the program since its inception in 1995.

And Timothy W. Purington, a Holyoke resident who runs the Northampton
program, said about 28,645 dirty syringes were taken out of
circulation there last year.

City Councilor at large James M. Leahy has filed another order that
would ask the Board of Health to produce pamphlets in English and
Spanish showing the risks of dirty syringes, telling where they can
be safely disposed of, and providing information on treatment and
counseling services.

Lopez said he will offer to table his measure when it comes up
tonight as part of the Public Safety Committee's report.

Mayor Michael J. Sullivan, as well as Police Chief Anthony R. Scott,
have said they oppose the needle-exchange program here.

Sullivan said yesterday he would favor statewide needle-exchange
programs, rather than singling out the city.