STREET NEEDLES

RE "Needled by city van," (Jan. 27): What a provocative title that has
nothing to do with the story. Thomas Stamoulis was being a bully and
belligerently lied about having the right to tell the site van to
move. Where is Doug Hempstead's article with this title: "Drug users
downtown long before site van existed"? It's a mobile service so by
definition it goes to where the drug use is happening. It's not a bus
service to bring users downtown. As a downtown business owner
interested in a healthy and safe city, Mr. Stamoulis isn't helping
anyone. Donating some money to support Ottawa's sorely underserviced
addictions services would be a better way of getting what he wants.

People from all classes and backgrounds use the needle exchange
services. One of them might be in the life of Mr. Stamoulis and his
family right now. Clean needles programs are helping prevent the
spread of HIV and Hepatitis C for all of us. Who doesn't want that?

Mark Kaluzienski

Ottawa

(To answer your question, 93% of residents we surveyed think the van's
routes should be restricted)