some background info.

only in Jersey City....

GIVE US $HOT IN THE ARM
'Exchange' depends on state aid

Tuesday, July 31, 2007
By N. CLARK JUDD
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Jersey City officials will get a shot at a long-awaited program aimed at reducing rates of AIDS among drug users - but unless it comes with critical state funding, city officials say they won't take it.

A spokesman for the state Department of Health and Senior Services says the state will accept new applications from cities seeking permission to run needle exchange programs, which would allow drug users to trade used syringes for clean ones, beginning as soon as later this week. City officials missed the original deadline to apply at the end of May.

"Because there was still interest in a syringe exchange program, we extended the deadline," said DHSS spokesman Tom Slater.

But Jersey City's health director, Harry Melendez, says that if the state won't pay for the syringe exchange, the city won't play.

"(The state) should be willing to fund any program which can provide adequate evidence of experience and competence providing services to this population," Melendez said through Mayor Jerramiah Healy's press secretary, Jennifer Morrill. Melendez called the state's decision to authorize syringe exchange programs but leave them unfunded "shortsighted and unproductive."

The state has appropriated $10 million to fund treatment programs for intravenous drug users, but those programs are separate from the syringe exchange initiative. Morrill said that Jersey City's position is the state should reallocate some drug treatment money for needle exchange - but state officials say that won't happen.

"No state money can be used for needle exchange. That's been made very clear to us," said Ellen Lovejoy, a DHSS spokeswoman.

Slater explained that the Bloodborne Disease Harm Reduction Act, which Gov. Corzine signed into law in December, allows the state to authorize syringe exchange programs but not to spend money on them. "The legislation didn't come with any funding attached to it," Slater said.

Atlantic City, Camden, Paterson and Newark have applied for the right to operate syringe exchange programs. Trenton applied, but later withdrew its application.

Roseanne Scotti, director of Drug Policy Alliance New Jersey, says there are other places cities can go to for funding.

"You couldn't fund this before because it wasn't legal," Scotti explained. "Now we're hoping that folks in New Jersey will step up to the plate."

Scotti named several foundations that fund syringe exchange programs, including the Comer Foundation and the Syringe Access Fund, each of which donates tens of thousands of dollars per year, according to their Web sites.

Melendez said that it was too soon to estimate what a program in Jersey City would cost.

Atlantic City's program is to cost $105,000 annually, said Gene Brunner, HIV coordinator for the city. Atlantic City will pay $25,000 a year for supplies, while a nonprofit firm contracted to run the program will pay the remainder through private grants, Brunner said. Brunner said that a program in Jersey City would probably cost more than one in Atlantic City because Jersey City is considerably larger.

According to a 2006 DHSS report, more than 6,000 people in Jersey City have HIV or AIDS. Of those, more than 2,400 - about 40 percent - contracted the virus from uncleaned needles, the report said.

I've rang and agree in principle, but I just don't want syringes all over the place - there better be a good 'old for new' program in place and a mobile unit collecting them when drugged out ass-wipes toss them around, which they will. If I hear of any syringe found in schools or sandpits for kids, I'll go ape.

CITY HALL HAS BEEN OVERWHELMED!!

Jersey City Hall has been literally bombarded with hundreds of phone calls and emails over the pat 24 hours in response to Hudson Diversitys Action Alert to ensure that we are included in New Jerseys Syringe Access pilot program. THANK YOU ALL!! A special note of thanks to JCLGO, GSE, and NJ Stonewall Dems for forwarding our Action Alert and helping keep the pressure on City Hall.

I have been in contact with several people both within Jersey City government and in Trenton and this is where we currently stand (it is a good news/bad news thing).

The bad news first: our application has not and will not be submitted today.

The good news is that the program remains open!! The original legislation allowed for 6 cities to be included in this pilot and there still at least 2 slots open. The Department of Health and Senior Services has committed to accept our application at any time provided an opening remains available.

What happens next? Hudson Diversity Action Council will continue our "full court press" on City Hall until this application has been completed and submitted. We will be circulating petitions tomorrow at Jersey City Pride and I will be meeting personally with Director Melendez next week.

WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP!

If you are interested in volunteering to collect signatures at Jersey City Pride tomorrow (see www.jclgo.org for details), please stop by the Hudson Diversity table and grab a clipboard. We will also be planning another email/phone surge on City Hall after Labor Day so watch you mailboxes.

Join The Hudson Diversity PARTY FOR PROGRESS

Saturday, August 25th Jersey City Pride, Hudson Diversity After-Party

8:00 PM at Star Bar, 34 Wayne Street, Jersey City, $5.00 suggested donation


After spending the day celebrating Jersey Citys 7th Annual LGBT Pride Festival (hosted by JCLGO www.jclgo.org), join your advocates in the local political realm for a Party For Progress at Jersey Citys favorite night spot, Star Bar. Your $5.00 donation to Hudson Diversity gets you a free well drink or domestic beer. With music provided by DJ Foodguy and drink specials and giveaways all night long, this will be a party not to be missed. Join us as Jersey City celebrates the greatest party of the summer.

Hudson Diversity Action Council advances the issues of underserved populations through political action, voter mobilization, and community education. Our mission is to represent a unified voting bloc and raise both awareness and funding for electoral candidates who will foster progress on the issues that are important to our community.


Thanks,
Walt Boraczek, President
Hudson Diversity Action Council
www.hudsondiversity.org


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Quote:

Hudson Diversity Action Council
info@hudsondiversity.org

Diversity Action Council desperately needs you help!


Tomorrow (Friday, August 24), the deadline will expire for Jersey City to file our application to be included in New Jersey’s Syringe Access Pilot Program and City Hall has yet to act!


Please take 5 minutes to call the Mayor’s Office and Harry Melendez, Director of Health and Human Services to let them know important it is that this application be completed and sent by the close of business tomorrow. Call and email City Council members as well and forward this email to your friends and family.

Hudson Diversity Action Council and other local organizations have spent almost 3 years trying to bring syringe access to Jersey City. We are now in the final hours. WE CANNOT GIVE UP NOW AND WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Jersey City has the 3rd largest rate of new HIV infections in the nation according to the CDC (We have been in the top 10 for over 10 years).

We have the support of the Mayor and the entire Municipal Council to authorize a Syringe Access program.The resolution was passed by the City Council on July 18th.The State of New Jersey extended the deadline to accommodate Jersey City’s application demonstrating their commitment to seeing Jersey City admitted to statewide pilot.

What happens in Jersey City doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Even if you’re not a resident of Jersey City, you can still call as a concerned citizen. The spread of infection in NJ’s second largest city will further the spread of blood borne diseases throughout the state of New Jersey.


If the phones are busy, KEEP CALLING . . . our voices must be heard on this. If you choose to email, a sample is included below. Just copy and paste it into your own email application and include the email addresses provided.


Phone Numbers:

Mayor Jerramiah Healy, (201) 547-5200

Harry Melendez, Director of Health and Human Services, (201) 547-6800


Email Addresses:

mayorhealy@jcnj.org; holleyv@jcnj.org; marianov@jcnj.org; floodw@jcnj.org; brennanp@jcnj.org; sottolanom@jcnj.org; spinellom@jcnj.org; lipskis@jcnj.org; gaughanw@jcnj.org; fulops@jcnj.org; richardsonv@jcnj.org


Dear Jersey City Elected Officials:


I am concerned that Jersey City has yet to file our application to be included in the New Jersey Syringe Access pilot program. As you have expressed public support for this measure, I ask you to help slow the spread of HIV and other blood borne diseases by urging the Department of Health and Human Services to be sure our application is filed by Friday, August 24.

As the second largest city in the state and city with the third largest HIV infection rate in the nation, it is imperative that we act now in the interest of Public Health and Safety. We must send a message to our citizens that their health comes first. We must send a message to our children that HIV is still a significant danger and we, as a community, are doing all we can to keep them safe.


Please call today and urge the filing of Jersey City’s application.


Thank you,


City Council Contact Information:

NAME
OFFICE
Email

Mariano Vega, Jr.
Council President
(201) 547-5268
marianov@jcnj.org

Willie Flood
Councilwoman-at-Large
(201) 547-5134
floodw@jcnj.org

Peter Brennan
Councilman-at-Large
(201) 547-5319
brennanp@jcnj.org

Michael Sottolano
Ward A Councilman
(201) 547-5098
sottolanom@jcnj.org

Mary Spinello
Ward B Councilwoman
(201) 547-5092
spinellom@jcnj.org

Steve Lipski
Ward C Councilman
(201) 547-5159
lipskis@jcnj.org

William Gaughan
Ward D Councilman
(201) 547-5485
gaughanw@jcnj.org

Steven Fulop
Ward E Councilman
(201) 547-5315
fulops@jcnj.org

Viola Richardson
Ward F Councilwoman
(201) 547-5338
richardsonv@jcnj.org









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