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Flores, Dora <br />From: <br />Chris S <chris714oc@gmail.com> <br />Sent: <br />Tuesday, September 01, 2020 12:49 PM <br />To: <br />eComment, Gomez, Daisy <br />Cc: <br />Penaloza, David; Bacerra, Phil; Councilmember Jose Solorio <br />Subject: <br />85D Prohibiting Needle Distribution programs <br />Mayor & City Council Members, <br />I fully support the prohibition of a needle distribution program in our city! <br />When the OC Needle Exchange Program (OCNEP) operated in our city from 2016 to 2018, I observed their operations <br />that took place in the civic center on Saturdays. My last visit was in November of 2017 when I spoke with 2 of the <br />OCNEP Reps. The 2 OCNEP Reps followed us back to our car that was parked on Ross St, and as we walked through the <br />city civic center there were needles discarded on the ground every 10 to 15 feet and right next to our Main Library. <br />When we arrived at our car, the car next us pulled out from the stall and there was a pile of discarded needles lying on the <br />pavement. The 2 OCNEP Reps asked us to stay to keep people away from the discarded needles while they went back to <br />get tools and a sharps container to properly dispose of the discarded needles. <br />As we watched them pick up the needles from the grounds, we also found needles left in a trash can in front of the parked <br />cars. <br />OCNEP was not staffed or properly trained to run a successful needle distribution program which is why the courts shut <br />them down and they are no longer allowed to operate in our city. It's my understanding the 2 founding OCNEP members, <br />Kyle Barbour and Miriam Mcquade, no longer live in California, and relocated to another state to continue their medical <br />training. <br />I live 4 miles from the Civic Center, and there were 100's of discarded needles left in the Santa Ana Riverbed near my <br />house. I asked OCNEP to come out and clean up all the discarded needles but they refused my request. <br />Santa Ana residents and businesses should never have been subjected to this, or have to deal with discarded needles in our <br />community. <br />Once again, I fully support a prohibition on a needle distribution program in our city! <br />Kind regards, <br />Chris Schmidt <br />92704 <br />