COUNCIL ORDERS NEEDLE CLINICS TO KEEP AWAY FROM HOMES

Most neighborhood disputes that make it to the Albuquerque City Council
have two sides: those who want a building or a project in their area and
those who don't.

The debates typically end with some going home happy and others mad.

But the dispute over needle exchange facilities in the city ended with a
little bit of both Monday night.

Take Sally Popejoy.

She works at the Harm Reduction Center on Silver Avenue Southeast but lives
about six blocks away.

The facility - responsible for the distribution of 500,000 clean needles to
intravenous drug users this year - was at the center of a barrage of
criticism by neighbors and the target of a bill that would require it to
move elsewhere within six months.

The facility had been there 18 months. Under the bill, approved on a 9-0
vote Monday night, it will have to move to an area not within 500 feet of a
church or residential area or within 1,000 feet of a school.

"It's ironic in a lot of ways," Popejoy said. "We selected that area
because we'd have less of the 'not in my back yard' attitude. We have
support for the program, just not in that area."

Not in that area and not in many others: Councilors unanimously supported
taking the centers out of all residential areas. Several clinics now
operate across the city.

The bill sets up a permitting process that would grant permission for the
centers to operate only in certain areas and with the consent of the mayor.

For City Councilor Hess Yntema, who sponsored the measure, the approval was
bittersweet.

"It's definitely a mixed bag because the testimony was significant that the
programs do promote public health, but we've missed the havoc it's wreaking
on neighborhoods," he said.

Neighbors and property owners in the area near the center at 4120 Silver
Ave. S.E. told the council they were tired of car and home break-ins,
discarded needles in their yards, prostitutes, gangs and the garbage left
behind by those who use the facility.

But public health specialists testified that the program is sorely needed
and that its closing could lead to a spike in the spread of infectious and
deadly diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis.

They also touted the center as one of the best in the country: The needle
exchange rate - the number of used needles brought in in exchange for new
ones - is 86 percent.

Dr. Steve Jenison, who works in the infectious diseases bureau of the New
Mexico Department of Health said with regard to the concern expressed by
neighbors of the center, "we believe those issues need to be worked out."

Those who opposed the bill's approval said they will consider their legal
options to fight it.

"It's a big blow to public health," said Dr. Bruce Trigg, who works for the
public health division of the state Department of Health.

In other business at the meeting, which lasted nearly six hours, the council:

Approved a set of measures that will pay for the $25 million renovation to
the Albuquerque Sports Stadium. The financing package includes loans from
the New Mexico Finance Authority that will be paid off by a 10 percent
surcharge on goods sold at the stadium; rent from the Triple-A Calgary
Cannons; and $10 million in general obligation bonds as approved by voters
in May. The project is expected to be complete by April 2003.

Approved a bill that will pay the health insurance and salary difference
for city employees who are on military duty as a result of the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks. The bill's sponsor, Councilor Tim Kline, said there are
about a dozen employees serving now.