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Indybay Feature

Fire and Don't Fall Back

by Steve Pleich
When the Debate Heats Up, We Should All Step Up
It has recently been suggested that local politicians (of which I an often identified as one) have failed to "step up" on needle exchange at a time when their opinions and persuasive powers can do the most good. I entirely reject this notion. For the people who spent three hours of their time on a Wednesday night to attend a Community Forum on Needle Exchange (which some critics did not) it was an opportunity to lobby those in attendance about the value of urban core exchange, one-for-one "as needed" exchange models and the wisdom of retaining parts of an existing exchange which has served our community well. It was also an opportunity to "step up and speak up" about the very serious concerns raised by the new county model of exchange which was unveiled for the first time at that forum. Those who would criticize this form of community engagement because they believe it does not speak "truth to power" should remember that every voice raised on an issue in any forum is valuable and, perhaps, even more so that the strident chorus preached only to choir.
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