Worcester, Mass., City Council Votes to Oppose State Bill That Would Allow Rules, Regulations on Needle-Exchange Programs

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May 22, 2005

Worcester, Mass., City Council Votes to Oppose State Bill That Would Allow

Rules, Regulations on Needle-Exchange Programs

The Worcester, Mass, City Council on Tuesday voted 8-3 to oppose a state Senate

bill... (SB 1272) that would allow the state Department of Public Health to

establish rules and regulations for the implementation of needle-exchange

programs in the state to reduce the spread of bloodborne diseases such as HIV

and hepatitis C, the AP/Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports. The council said

that it opposes the measure because it would " remove local legislative control

from the decision-making process " for implementing needle exchanges, according

to the AP/Telegram & Gazette. " Local control is something that is so important

to our democracy, but sometimes the folks at the state level in Boston take it

for granted, " council member Gomez said, adding, " We don't need big brother

telling us what to do. We know better than the state as to what is better for

our community. " However, council member Dennis Irish said the bill would

establish community advisory boards that would address local issues before a

needle-exchange program is implemented, according to the AP/Telegram & Gazette.

" The issue is not needle exchange and drug users; it has to do with this city's

high rates of HIV and hepatitis B and C, " Irish said. The council defeated 7-4 a

motion by Irish to refer the issue to a committee. The Worcester City Council

twice has defeated measures to establish needle-exchange programs in the city

(AP/Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 5/18).

" Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org kaisernetwork.org. You can

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