{"id":2011106,"date":"2023-08-24T17:17:02","date_gmt":"2023-08-24T21:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-arrogance-of-mandated-needle-exchange-programs\/"},"modified":"2023-08-24T17:21:28","modified_gmt":"2023-08-24T21:21:28","slug":"the-arrogance-of-mandated-needle-exchange-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-arrogance-of-mandated-needle-exchange-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Mandated Needle Exchange Programs: A Display of Arrogance"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-arrogance-of-mandated-needle-exchange-programs%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2011106&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Arrogance and Mandates: The Frustrating Reality\u200d of the Democrat-Controlled State Legislature<\/h2>\n<p>One of the most frustrating aspects of the Democrat-controlled\u2064 state legislature is its arrogance. Elected officials and \u2064their support\u200b staff in Sacramento constantly broadcast their belief that they are smarter and more knowledgeable than\u200b those in locally elected\u200c positions.<\/p>\n<p>But don&#8217;t \u200cjust take my word \u200cfor it.<\/p>\n<p>Take a\u200c look at how they are forcing\u200d city councils to build an excessive amount of housing within their city borders. Just ask the city of Huntington Beach how well this is\u2064 working out for them. They have been left with\u200d no choice but\u200c to take legal action (see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/judge-denies-early-trial-in-states-lawsuit-against-huntington-beach-5422896\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Judge Denies Early Trial in State&#8217;s Housing \u200cLawsuit Against Huntington Beach<\/a> from July 25).<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/santa-monica-residents-push-backs-against-outdoor-needle-distribution-site-5314701\">Santa Monica Residents Push Back Against Outdoor Needle \u2063Distribution Site \u2064for Homeless<\/a> (6\/5\/2023)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/california-county-officials-oppose-states-needle-exchange-program-5288657\">California County Officials Oppose State&#8217;s\u200d Needle-Exchange \u200dProgram<\/a> (5\/24\/2023)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Another example of Sacramento&#8217;s \u2063overreach is the requirement for a\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/atlantic-city-shutters-needle-exchange-site-amid-spike-in-deadly-overdoses\/\" title=\"Atlantic City Shutters Needle Exchange Site Amid Spike In Deadly Overdoses\">needle exchange program<\/a>\u2063 in the \u200ccity of Santa Ana, despite the city banning \u2062such\u200b programs back in\u2064 2020 \u200d(see\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/syringe-exchange-program-approved-in-santa-ana-despite-city-leaders-objections-5473884\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Syringe Exchange Program Approved in Santa Ana Despite City Leaders&#8217; Objections<\/a> from Aug. 17). Here are \u2062some selected quotes from\u200d the \u200darticle:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Harm Reduction Institute, which offers free opioid reversal medication and\u2064 overdose training to individuals and nonprofits, received \u200cthe approval from the California Department of Public Health Office of AIDS, which\u200b works with organizations throughout the state to combat HIV and \u200dAIDS.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow the\u2063 agency\u2014in collaboration with other nonprofits\u2014is authorized to collect used, dirty needles and \u200ddeliver clean ones to residents\u2019 homes,\u200d RVs, or to homeless individuals that are not near playgrounds or\u200d schools, according to an announcement by\u200b the city.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So, are we supposed \u200cto believe that if we can&#8217;t discourage individuals from opioid\u200d dependency, the next best\u200d approach is\u200c to enable them?<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>In this file image, a syringe is\u200c shown at a free clinic in California \u2064on Dec. 19, 2014. (Justin Sullivan\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In March of 2019, while serving\u2064 in the State Senate, I introduced Senate Bill 689 to allow <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/joe-biden-will-visit-texas-on-friday-following-deep-freeze-that-left-millions-without-power\/\" title=\"Joe Biden Will Visit Texas On Friday Following Deep Freeze That Left Millions Without Power\">local elected officials<\/a> to determine if syringe and needle \u2064programs would be\u200c permitted:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis \u2063bill would &#8230; allow\u200c the [Department of Public Health] to authorize an entity &#8230; only if the\u2062 city, county, or city and county in which the entity\u200c will be operating has adopted an ordinance or resolution approving\u200d that\u2063 authorization or reauthorization.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>We held a well-attended announcement ceremony in front of \u2064Orange City \u2062Hall, with notable speakers such as Orange County District Attorney \u2063Todd Spitzer,\u200c then Orange Mayor\u2063 Mark Murphy,\u200d then Anaheim City Councilman Trevor O\u2019Neil, then Costa Mesa City\u200d Councilwoman Sandra Genis, and Tamara Jimenez \u2064of the Anaheim Lighthouse Treatment Center.\u2062 Orange City Councilman Chip Monaco also showed his\u200d support.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, like Huntington Beach, the only\u2064 recourse\u2063 for a city council to \u200bstop \u2064this\u2062 unilateral activity \u2064is to sue\u2063 the state, which is not a cheap endeavor.<\/p>\n<p>SB 689 was a response to a judge&#8217;s ruling \u2064that temporarily blocked a nonprofit from operating a needle exchange\u200c in Santa Ana\u2063 after\u200c Orange County officials filed a lawsuit\u2063 against it. \u2063The discovery of needles <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ocregister.com\/2019\/02\/28\/local-control-is-key-to-making-needle-exchange-programs-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">in\u200c library books and incidents of janitors getting poked<\/a> were also motivating factors behind\u200c my efforts.<\/p>\n<p>The goal was to establish \u2064a protocol for collaboration and \u2062respectful communication between Sacramento\u2064 and California&#8217;s 482 cities, in order to avoid \u200bcostly\u200c litigation. There \u2062is nothing more infuriating than watching municipalities sue each other and waste precious tax dollars.<\/p>\n<p>With SB 689, we aimed to give cities a choice. What a concept! District Attorney\u2062 Spitzer also reminded \u200cthose in attendance \u201cthat\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/mynewsla.com\/ORANGE-COUNTY\/2019\/03\/01\/MOORLACH-PROPOSES-NEEDLE-EXCHANGE-LEGISLATION\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-arrogance-of-mandated-needle-exchange-programs\/\" title=\"Mandated Needle Exchange Programs: A Display of Arrogance\">retail chain pharmacies provide needles<\/a> already<\/a>.\u201d If you \u2062need a needle, you can simply go\u200b and\u2064 get \u200ca free one. The effort received significant <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ocregister.com\/2019\/04\/16\/proposed-bill-would-allow-cities-to-veto-needle-exchange-programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media attention<\/a> prior to the\u2062 first hearing before the nine-member Senate \u2062Health Committee.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>A used syringe lays discarded on a sidewalk \u200doutside of downtown Los Angeles on Jan. 21, 2022. (John\u2062 Fredricks\/The Epoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Local advocates for needle distribution \u2063took their \u2063case to the public, arguing against the bill \u2064in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ocregister.com\/2019\/03\/10\/in-orange-county-local-control-is-code-for-inaction-on-syringe-exchange\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Orange County Register<\/a>. They claimed \u2063that there was &#8220;overwhelming evidence on\u2064 the efficacy\u2062 of \u2063<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-biden-admin-says-it-never-planned-to-fund-crack-pipes-house-democrats-are-set-to-ban-funding-anyway\/\" title=\"The Biden Admin Says It Never Planned To Fund Crack Pipes. House Democrats Are Set To Ban Funding Anyway.\">syringe exchange programs<\/a>:\u200c they decrease the spread of infectious diseases, do not increase drug use or\u2064 local crime, and often act as \u2063an entry point\u200c for people who use injection drugs to\u200d access\u2062 healthcare, drug treatment, and resources for their recovery.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps these advocates should have presented their arguments to \u200cthe city council of\u2064 Santa Ana, where they \u200cwould have to\u2062 explain to their constituents \u200bwhy needles \u2064are being found by\u200d young children and toddlers in public\u200b parks. The voters will ultimately decide if the benefits of this strategy\u2064 outweigh the \u2062dangers posed \u200bby the resulting \u200dhazardous waste. Even in a liberal city like\u200d Santa Ana, this argument\u2063 did not hold water. However, a city council should at least be given \u200cthe choice and \u2063respect\u200d the wishes of their residents.<\/p>\n<p>The Harm Reduction Institute was present at the hearing and\u2062 spoke in opposition. The cities of Anaheim, Orange, and Santa Ana were in support, as were\u2062 the County, the District Attorney, and the Association of Cities\u2013Orange County, among many others.<\/p>\n<p>The only two Republicans \u200bon the Senate Health Committee, Senators Grove and Stone (a pharmacist), voted in support of the bill. It required five\u2062 votes to pass. Democrat \u2063Senators Durazo, \u2062Leyva, Monning, Pan, and Rubio voted against it, while\u200c Democrat Senators Hurtado and Mitchell abstained.<\/p>\n<p>Once again, the Democrat-controlled state legislature has imposed a mandate on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-debate-democrats-hit-gop-hard-over-the-issue-of-abortion-in-milwaukee\/\" title=\"Democrats in Milwaukee strongly criticize Republicans during the Republican debate for their stance on abortion.\">local \u200celected officials<\/a>. Even in \u2064a city like Santa Ana, which is as blue as an Orange County city can be, all its city council members are registered Democrats.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One frustrating aspect of the Democrat-led state legislature is their arrogance, as they claim to be smarter than locally elected officials. This is evident in their insistence on city councils constructing excessive amounts of housing within their borders. Just ask Huntington city.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2271,"featured_media":2011107,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2011106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2011106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2271"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2011106"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2011106\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2011107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2011106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2011106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2011106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}