Notice to drug addicts: Santa Monica wants loves you. In fact, using tax dollars they are willing to help you commit suicide.
“In The Santa Monica Coalition, Inc., John Emil Alle Versus The County of Los Angeles, Barbara Ferrer in case number 24STCP00510, the Coalition alleges that on June 12, 2018, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Board of Supervisors authorized a needle distribution program, operated by RPI Venice Family Clinic, to prevent the spread of blood-borne viruses, including HIV. The program was initially approved for a three-year term, with options to extend for two additional one-year periods.
Petitioners claim that the authorization violated Health and Safety Code section 121349, pointing to several alleged infractions, such as failure to consult local law enforcement, exceeding the initial two-year operation limit and inadequate notice to law enforcement agencies.
Democrats like killing babies, so why not drug attacks. It is not as if Democrats believe in following the law—they break it every day. So what if you give a gun, ur, needle to a drug addict—this will let them die quicker. Democrats believe in the Darwin Theory of Evolution.
Lawsuit challenges needle distribution program in parks
by Scott Snowden, Santa Monica Daily Press, 2/27/24 https://smdp.com/2024/02/27/lawsuit-challenges-los-angeles-countys-needle-distribution-program-over-alleged-violations/
The Santa Monica Coalition has filed a lawsuit against County Health Director Barbara Ferrer, the Los Angeles County Health Department and the Venice Family Clinic in connection with the Needle Distribution Program, which has been conducted for a period of approximately four years at Reed Park, Palisades Park and Tongva Park.
In The Santa Monica Coalition, Inc., John Emil Alle Versus The County of Los Angeles, Barbara Ferrer in case number 24STCP00510, the Coalition alleges that on June 12, 2018, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Board of Supervisors authorized a needle distribution program, operated by RPI Venice Family Clinic, to prevent the spread of blood-borne viruses, including HIV. The program was initially approved for a three-year term, with options to extend for two additional one-year periods.
Petitioners claim that the authorization violated Health and Safety Code section 121349, pointing to several alleged infractions, such as failure to consult local law enforcement, exceeding the initial two-year operation limit and inadequate notice to law enforcement agencies.
Despite claims of legal violations, the suit says officials extended the program beyond the initially approved period. Allegedly, this was done without proper consultation and notice to law enforcement, further violating the Health and Safety Code.
The lawsuit says the County illegally authorized the program, allegedly utilizing taxpayer dollars for the unlawful initiative. The Petitioners request various forms of relief, including a writ of mandate to cease and invalidate the Needle Distribution Program, a permanent injunction against taxpayer funds for the program, a refund of expended funds, prejudgment interest, attorney’s fees, costs, and any other just and equitable relief deemed appropriate by the court.
A spokesperson for the City of Santa Monica told the Daily Press, “We are aware of an announcement distributed by a local advocacy group today regarding the syringe exchange program funded and operated by the county of Los Angeles,” adding, “The program that the coalition is referring to is not funded by the city and the city does not have oversight over the program.
“The City Council has taken a strong position on the program and conveyed that stance consistently to the county. The Council has taken action as far back as 2022 to urge the county to address concerns about program operations in Santa Monica. It is the city’s understanding that the program currently operates one hour per week, out of mobile vans.”
The lawsuit authors are longtime critics of City hall and the needle program.
In August 2023, the long-standing “Santa Monica Is Not Safe” sign that downtown business owner and Coalition co-founder John Alle hung at 1327 Third Street was replaced with another sign that said “Santa Methica Is Not Safe.” It also said “Our City Manager supports the Needle and Meth Pipe Distribution Program in Our Parks. and Public Spaces” and even featured a picture of City Manager David White along with his name.
The program has also been opposed by Santa Monica officials. In September of 2022, in an open letter to Los Angeles County officials, then Mayor Sue Himmelrich called for a halt to the program and “immediately [move] this program to a service rich environment (preferably indoors) where individuals in need of substance abuse, mental health, and other services can coordinate and work directly with service providers.”
The local lawsuit follows a similar action in Santa Cruz that prompted the City Council to take a new look at a local needle exchange program with an eye towards additional restrictions on local distribution. Consequently all seven councilmembers voted to direct the City Manager and City Attorney to investigate and analyze the processes employed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and its syringe exchange program currently operating in Santa Monica.
The Daily Press reached out to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the Venice Family Clinic, the former said, “[we] cannot comment on pending litigation” and the latter declined to comment.
The Santa Monica Coalition also alleges two former mayors of Santa Monica, Sue Himmelrich and Gleam Davis, former City Manager Lane Dilg and current City Manager David White, “covertly acknowledged and approved the program” and “will be served separate lawsuits in Federal Court.” No additional information regarding these has been made available yet.
