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

May 23, 2005

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).

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