DENVER (KDVR) — Denver Mayor Mike Johnston vetoed a measure passed Monday night by Denver City Council that lifted the cap on the number of needle exchanges in the city as well as how close to schools the sites could be located.
The measure was intended to provide more needle exchange sites in the city, as only three have been allowed in Denver since 1997. The measure allowed for an unlimited number of needle exchanges in areas zoned for medical offices.
On Tuesday, the mayor's office released a letter sent to members of city council detailing why Johnston is vetoing the issue. In the missive, Johnston said he is "supportive of the syringe access program as it currently operates, which is evidenced by Denver's continued funding for these services at over $526,000 per year." However, he cited the need to emphasize connecting individuals from needle exchange programs to substance misuse services so as to help them break the addiction cycle.
He said his administration will continue to find real estate to assist current syringe access facilities.
"Ordinance 24-1791 is the wrong solution at the wrong time. I support harm reduction strategies and also believe we need to place more emphasis on connecting individuals from needle exchange programs to substance misuse services to help them break the cycle of addiction," Johnston wrote to city council.
He said he saw "no reason to remove a reasonable cap on the number of needle exchange programs" and said there is no evidence that providers in the city "need an unlimited number of sites," and said Denver residents have also not shown the need for unlimited needle exchange sites.
"In fact, while data shows that such programs play an important role in preventing communicable diseases and preventing overdose deaths, the reality is that use of syringes to ingest drugs has declined and the current number of providers is able to meet the current need," Johnston wrote.
He also said that eliminating common sense setbacks for regulated entities is not reasonable. He noted that needle exchange programs can ask for a variance from the Denver Board of Public Health and Environment, and said the current proximity restrictions show that 66% of the area available for medical zoning would be available for needle exchange facilities.
"There is no shortage of sites available to providers without eliminating the reasonable setback from schools that is currently in law," Johnston wrote.
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