SOUTH SIDE DOESN'T WANT TO SHOW OFF "NEEDLE LADY"

I'm writing this letter in the hope that our city officials can answer this
question. What are you doing to make us feel safe?

Like other sections of town, South Siders are trying to improve the quality
of life in our community. It would be great to invite people into our
neighborhood to see what we are trying to accomplish. But who wants to show
off prostitutes, drug dealers and the latest to hit our area, "the needle
lady"?

It's enough that we have had to put up with the heavy drug traffic. But now
the neighborhood has to deal with someone not from around here who comes to
our section of town every Wednesday to provide comprehensive harm reduction
services for persons who inject drugs. This service is supposed to provide
counseling, prevention education and syringe exchange.

Don't get us wrong; we're all for any type of drug outreach programming,
but not in our backyard. This is being done in an area where our children
see what is taking place. And I can just imagine how this street looks to
someone driving into town from the airport.

We were told that there isn't anything the law can do to make her quit
doing this. I guess it's all fine and dandy for her to peddle her goods in
our section of town, but what if it was being done downtown near the
riverfront? Would it still be legal then?

There are a lot of good things happening in our city. Too bad we can't say
it's happening in our neighborhood.

June Moore

Olde Towne South Neighborhood Association

Peoria