State Senator James
Jujuga’s (D) Methuen, pushed through a
program whereby the State Health Department will
give away free needles to drug users in the City
of Lawrence and other poor communities.
Jujuga’s budget amendment was passed by the
Massachusetts State Senate last week. The new law
would give the Public Health Commissioner new
authority to set up needle-exchange programs at
sites where he deems it necessary. Cities and
towns will have no authority to stop needles from
being given out in their community if the measure
passes the House of Representatives and is signed
by the Governor. Free needle advocates are
lobbing hard for support in the House and say
they may have the votes before debate is over.
Governor Paul Cellucci may be only person who can
stop this bill.
“Governor Cellucci is supportive of
needle-exchange programs but he is not supportive
of this statewide amendment. The Governor
believes it should be up to individual
communities to provide needle-exchange
programs,” spokesperson Shawn Feddemam said.
Cellucci has always endorsed the idea of a free
needle program but is not in favor of forcing the
program on cities and towns who do not want it.
Cellucci has always advocated local control in
similar situations. Senator Jujuga, however, sees
forcing it on poor communities like Lawrence as
the only way to ensure the program will survive
local opposition.
Lawrence Mayor Patricia Dowling has publicly
opposed the program and Jujuga’s budget
amendment saying she will fight the free needles
from coming into the city. The issue was
presented to the City Council and School
Committee by a member of the public who urged
them to stand with the Mayor and send a letter to
the Governor and State Legislators opposing the
measure. Lawrence City Councilor Mike Sullivan
told Rumbo that he planned on making a motion at
the Council table proposing the Council send a
letter opposing the needles. School Committee
member Ralph Carrero also committed himself to
publicly opposing program at the next School
Committee meeting.
State representative Jose Santiago said he will
not support free needles coming into Lawrence and
will fight at the House level to stop the budget
amendment from reaching the Governor’s desk.
State Senator Susan Tucker has already registered
her opposition to the amendment by voting against
it on the Senate floor. Tucker represents
Lawrence in the Senate. State Representative
David Torissi, who represents sections of
Lawrencein the House, told Rumbo that he opposes
the measure. “ if (it) appears in its
present form, the state having the ability to
implement a needle exchange program without local
approval, than I will vote against it.”
Representative Torrisi said. Representative Barry
Finegold, who also represents Lawrence did not
return phone calls from Rumbo prior to
publication.
How you can make a difference
You can make a difference. If you believe that a
government sponsored free needle exchange program
in Lawrence will be a destructive force in your
neighborhood call your City Councilors and
members of the School Committee. Tell them you
want them to send a letter to the Governor and
State Legislature opposing the program. As our
duly elected representatives they have an
obligation to protect us from harmful programs
that sap away the rights of local citizens to
decide what type of programs should be accepted
in our neighborhoods.
The next School Committee meeting is June 22nd at
7pm on Essex Street. The next City Council
Meeting is June 20 at City Hall. Both the City
Council and the School Committee allow public
participation at the beginning of each meeting.
Go to these meeting and demand that our elected
officials vote to publicly protesting this
program.
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