To the Fresno County Board of Supervisors
Submitted by jarah on Wed, 05/24/2006 - 10:33.
Dear Supervisors Perea, Larson, Case, and Waterson:
Your lack of leadership on the biggest health crisis facing Fresno County is shameful. It is unconscionable that you would sit idly by as hundreds of preventable cases of HIV occur under your watch. You have the power to prevent 25% of Fresno County HIV cases, and yet you've hemmed and hawed and passed the buck to the City. Think about that: you, personally, could help prevent one in four cases of HIV in Fresno County. And yet you chose not to allow a safe, legal needle exchange in Fresno County.
Fresno has the highest rates of IV drug use in the nation, a distinction it's held since at least 2004. In 2004, 75% of the county's drug users had Hepatitis C, according to a county report. Dr. Edward Moreno now says that number is 81%. If these rates continue, by 2012 every IV drug user will have Hep C. Who will pay for the medical care of those infected? Who will look after their children? Do you think it's a good idea to have tens of thousands of people in your County infected with Hep C, and hundreds infected with HIV? Do you think this is something that only affects the drug-using community?
The Board's ignorance on this issue is frightening. Supervisor Case was quoted in the Fresno Bee as saying, "We end up as a magnet for people who don't want to seek treatment but want to get a needle to continue their habit." Guess what? You already have the highest rates of IV drug use in the nation. You are in crisis mode. It's time to look at harm reduction strategies. There are 38 counties in California with needle exchanges Supervisor Case, why haven't Fresno's addicts flocked there?
Health is in the purview of Fresno County. To sit around and say that it's the City's responsibility to open a needle exchange is to shirk responsibility in the most cowardly way possible. You are cowards, not leaders. A grand jury, your own county health officer, the Urban Institute, and countless doctors, nurses, and patient advocates have told you there is a problem. And still your response is nothing.
Your decision to do nothing has negative impacts far beyond AIDS rates, Hepatitis C rates, IV drug use, and public health. It sends the message that Fresno County has a culture of looking the other way. Of not facing our problems head-on. Fresno County is not a place for people of action, for people who see problems and seek to find solutions. Fresno County is not a place for people who have the ability to reason. It's not a place for our young, educated children to come back to. It's not a place for progress, and it makes me want to move.
Sincerely,
Jarah Euston
Feel free to write your own letter (or use this one), and let the Supervisors know how you feel. According to their web site, the Supervisors would prefer you email their assistants: ppinedo@co.fresno.ca.us, cbourbon@co.fresno.ca.us, JBarlow@co.fresno.ca.us, Dbeigi@co.fresno.ca.us, Kburrows@co.fresno.ca.us.
We're guessing the Supervisors' emails are sanderson@co.fresno.ca.us, hperea@co.fresno.ca.us, bwaterson@co.fresno.ca.us, plarson@co.fresno.ca.us, jcase@co.fresno.ca.us.
Note: Susan Anderson is the only Board member who supported acting on the needle crisis.
UPDATE: Responses
From Supervisor Perea:
jarah,
As an editor, you should understand what the board directed before you go off.
This board is moving towards a county program tied to treatment. This program will be coordinated and under the direction of our health officer. This makes sense to me. Handing out needles with no program helps no one.
Our only concern with the city is why they think it is ok to sanction an illegal needle exchange on a cul de sac in the city. Where is the dignity in that.
I am willing to support a program that is tied to treatment. Do you think that is a good idea?
From Christine Bourbon:
Jarah:Thank you for your e-mail correspondence. It will be forwarded on to Supervisor Anderson.
Christine Bourbon
Assistant to Supervisor Anderson
District 2
From Kathy Burrows:
Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns. I will give your message to Supervisor Waterston.Kathy Burrows
Assistant to Supervisor Waterston
Fresno County Board of Supervisors
Phone (559) 488-3665
Fax (559) 488-6830
email kburrows@co.fresno.ca.us
To Supervisor Perea, I thank you for taking the time to respond to my heated email and engage in conversation. I have to beg to differ with your assertion that "Handing out needles with no program helps no one." I think it might help the estimated 15,000 IV drug users in Fresno County. Yes, they're addicts. Yes, they're breaking the law. But is that really a reason to put the entire community at increased risk for HIV and Hep C (not to mention the strain on county coffers for the health care of those infected)?
Preventing one case of HIV should be enough reason to allow an existing needle exchange program to operate legally. In the two years that the county has debated this issue, the rate of Hep C in IV drug users has increased from 75% to 81%. Had there been a legal needle exchange program, these numbers might have been contained.
"Our only concern with the city is why they think it is ok to sanction an illegal needle exchange on a cul de sac in the city." Perhaps they think it's ok because it's preventing the spread of AIDS and other diseases. I'm all for treatment, I think the county has an obligation to provide some form of treatment program. Of course a needle exchange tied to treatment would be ideal. But the situation is so out of hand that to wait any longer for a legal needle exchange seems criminal.
UPDATE 2: More responses
From Supervisor Perea:
Jarah,
Thanks for the response and I hope you will be a part of creating the solution. I will not give up on creating an effective treatment program for this population. I think it was incumbent for our health officer to go beyond the obvious of identifying the crisis and give the board options. Why can't we create the model treatment program? We have wasted at least the past 2-3 yrs in not engaging in that discussion.
Public policy can be painfully slow. Before I came on the board, it was an absolute no to needle exchange. Since I have been on the board, I believe I have been able to at least open the door to a program tied to treatment. Let's take advantage of that and create the model. I have been consistent in saying I would support that. I appreciate you r passion and I hope you will engage in a solution that will pass the board.
Iv drug users have taken many paths to get to where they are today. I can't say I understand all the reasons why they made the choices that they have but I have a keen interest in putting a face on the issue. Please know though that even though I understand that much of this population has lost the luxury of free will, part of the road to recovery is accepting responsibility.
I don't pretend to have the answers, but I am willing to engage. Join in
hp
I sympathize with the viewpoint that addicts need to take "personal responsibility" and commit to controlling their addiction. But I think this philosophy has blinded the Board to the larger public health issue of preventing the transmission of HIV and other deadly diseases.
HIV is increasing at a rate of 17% in Fresno County, almost entirely due to IV drug use. I don't want to suggest that some on the Board might think these addicts are getting what they deserve. But even if you believe we do not have a responsibility to help those that are not yet ready to help themselves, don't we still have a responsibility to protect the public's health? The fact of the matter is IV drug users have children. They have sex with non IV drug users. If we can easily prevent the prevalence of HIV in our community, don't we have the obligation to do so?
Needle exchanges are extremely effective in reducing the spread of HIV and Hep C. The World Health Organization said in 2004 "there is compelling evidence that increasing the availability and utilization of sterile injecting equipment by [I.V. drug users] reduces HIV infection substantially ... There is no convincing evidence of any major, unintended negative consequences." You can read the 61-page study here.
I understand the political reality, but without advocates to challenge conventional wisdom nothing will be accomplished. It seems unlikely that all 15,000 of the county's IV drug users would enroll in a treatment program immediately, even if one were available. Do we let them continue to spread HIV and other diseases?
for the record
In the intrest of disclosure here was my response to Supervisor Perea:
Dear Supervisor Perea and Ms. Pinedo,
I appreciate you taking the time to pass these along. You are the only supervisor who has responded to my letter.
I also appreciate your hope for creating a model treatment program. However, I do not agree that the establishment of a needle exchange program must be paired with a treatment program. Insisting the two be created together ensures losing even more time and more lives in what you have agreed is a health crisis.
My overall message to the board is: In times of crisis reality should weigh much heavier than morality or the fear of community backlash. Imagine what the board could accomplish in terms of educating the public if it were willing to stand up to the controversy and create a needle exchange program. Simplify/separate the issue. Be willing to engage in public debate that follows. No solution will be perfect. Any solution is better than none. Something needs to happen immediately.
Thank you again for your time.
Best,
Suzi Arnold
needle exchange responses
I'm glad jarah got responses. I emailed each of the supervisors and Perea was the only to answer. What did he say? He told his assistant to forward the email exchange he had with Jarah. Totally strange (+ a cop-out) - somewhat enlightening. My overall read on this is that fear of right-wing backlash is what keeps any exchange program from being established. Shifting focus will ensure nothing ever happens in this arena. Quoted from one of Perea's emails to Jarah:
No clean needles for you unless you are really sorry about being a dirty drug addict. Sorry kids. God forbid we start talking about condoms too...
Thanks Jarah. You nailed it. If I remember correctly,when I saw Henry Perea on the news he was shown saying that he feared encouraging addicts to come to Fresno (nothing about treatment). Either way, both reasons are BS as you so clearly demonstrated.
Jarah you Rock!!!!
Thank you for giving it to all the backwards people of this region with such eloquence! I think you should run for office!
sign me up
I'd sign my name under both of these letters (eric/romeovoids) and Jarahs.----of course Jarah does seem to have more of a gift with ecomony-of-words....
A direct letter to municipal leaders on a religious front
This will not be a popular letter.
I am suggesting that the reason why 'arts,' and 'alt.' communities do not feel comfortable around people of faith has a lot to do with the attitudes that are affecting the programs and adequate care of the valley residents.
They (these communities,) are told that we are to be about care and love, ---and instead see the exact opposite.
As a person of faith (Christian,) I am appalled at the lack of caring that I see on a grande scale in this area.
I am writing directly to those who read this, or are in charge of programs who claim to be people of faith.
If you read your Bible, you will find very clear and direct remarks by St. James (Book of James,) (-long believed to be the younger brother of Christ,) which warns, very directly, the Church, with regard to having an appearance of being devout, ---yet failing to care for the sick, the poor, the fatherless and the widowed.
It warns further, that God Himself takes note of those who 'make meat of the poor.'
Based upon the sheer numbers of fellow 'Born Again,' or simply 'Faith Based,' people in this area, ---and the massive churches that I find on so many corners, I am shocked at the 'us and them' attitudes that I find demonstrated, and by the lack of care of those who are less fortunate.
Christ Himself, in talking to his Apostles stated that when He was 'hungry, sick, lacking of clothes, and imprisoned,' -the Apostles had cared for Him... -they were baffled by His remark, ---to which He explained that 'What you have done to the least of these, you have done to me.'
A while ago the very disturbing trend of this area sending more people down the path of capital punishment (versus other areas of the state,) sent a chill down my spine... All those little silver fish on the backs of cars, -more assured that folks needed to die for their sins, ---rather than be forgiven and healed.
I would sugggest that the reason why the Thinkers, the Artists, and the Alt. communities are so averse to being around those 'of Faith,' is because when they are with us, --they know that we look at them, and at each other in judgement,---and not with a desire to be in communion. The very people who are to be representing and acting as the Creator of all, (and sharing in the joy of creation, the creative process, caring for others, giving hope, and celebrating the differences of all people, ---instead are damning everything that they lay eyes on that is not just like them...)
I don't blame these communities for for not being polite about it, and applaud their honesty.
The very (in)action of taking care of the poor, the immigrant, the different, --the dying, is the same as saying to someone '...would you like a life flooded in Grace, Mercy, Tenderness, and Peace in the love of Christ? No? ---fine then, -go to hell.'
Silence on such issues as drug addiction, HIV infection, as well as other human frailities and sicknesses is the same as telling people 'you get what you deserve.'
---If our Bible is true, Nobody deserves Grace, Hope, or Forgiveness,,, ---yet it is given, wholesale, as a gift to all who will believe in it, --by our Creator, and the lover of our souls. It's a gift of love and compassion, it's affirmation and acceptance, it's nurture and adoration, ---totally unearned, ---and far exceeding anything we can imitate as people...
---Where do we get off looking at anyone else and saying 'sorry, this is not for you.'
If you have a relationship with God, (and I am speaking to 'the Faithed,') you need to read your Bible and understand that it is through no fault of your own, it is purely due to His Grace --and desire to hold you close and be with you ---regardless of your condition....
--The sad truth of it is, we (as a Faith community,) are either failing by ignorance, or by choice, --to act in kind to our brothers and sisters...
If, when we get to heaven, God asks us '...did people fail to accept my love for them --based upon their problems with Me ---or them alientated by Your attitudes? ---what are you going to tell Him?'
I don't expect others who are not Faith Based to see this post as anything other than a fanatical letter that may be just another reason to dislike organized religion...
That is fine, it is their right, like I said, this may not be a popular letter, Christians, (myself included,) have earned others distrust and dislike...
But to those of you who are in a relationship with God, I am appealing, begging, and challanging you...
If God Himself has created each person in His Image, ---if each person is an unfinished poem of our Creator,,,
-and if you are not about your Father's business of caring for others (whether they are nice to you or not,)
-You are failing at the most basic thing we were told, as a belief system to do.
Christ said to St. Peter, 'If you love me, feed my flock, and care for them.' -and this as part of His restoration, having failed and ran from Christ' crucifixion like a coward...
I am not in the position of deciding who is worthy of heaven or hell, I am not in the position of deciding who should live and who should die, and I am not in the position of deciding who deserves good care, and who is to be rejected.
---Therefore, I am taking my positon as being just someone who loves God, and is loved back,,, -along with my directions to care for others, as a lifelong task of demonstrating that love and grace to whomever is in my path.
This means all are worthy and all are to be treated the same, all are precious and to be cared for, loved, and given hope, ---no matter what they've done, what my heritage dictates, or what my own opinnions may have been at one time.
--Further, if the Biblical example is looked at even in a passing sense, it is a story of a Supreme Being (and Creator,) who will stop at nothing to express their love for us, --and is absolutely elated at being with us for any length of time, --much like parents adore their children...
Whoever and wherever you are, If you have this relationship with your Creator, look around, and realize,
---the person you see, be they one or a hundred, no matter what country of origin, or what language they speak, is loved by God, and deserves not only your care but your advocacy,
---if for no other reason, than because this was demonstrated towards you.
I am told, that the Mayor on down shares my beliefs.
I've been told that so many high officials in this town share my beliefs.
-These people run these institutions, ---yet compared to such (Godless and Liberal) areas (such as NY City,) the care for the poor and sick in this town is a joke. (And the money is there to change this.)
Well, despite the varying altitudes on the food-chain of government, The ground is level at the foot of the cross, so, eye to eye -I am offering this request, as well as this challange.
Stop 'telling' others of your faith,
Stop advertising it, and using it as a 'platform',,,
Instead, start demonstrating it by caring for others, as the one who did this first, and continues to do so, and needs us to do so as well, does.
There can no longer be hiding behind 'the world rejects Christ, and therfore rejects us.' ---when it is our behaviors and hypocracy that is giving Christ a bad name.
---Based upon the Biblical example, -and the life that was written as being of Christ, --the very people that we are now letting rot and reject, ---are the people that Christ would have hung out with first,,, ---and had in His family line.
-His own mother was from a really bad section of town, and was reminded of her alleged 'sexual exploits' until she died, (as the whole concept of Virgin Birth, was as easily accepted back then, -as it is now... -but back then they killed girls over pregnancy outside of wedlock...)
---Now, this perceived 'trespass,' is dealt with no longer by picking up rocks and reducing two lives to a pile of stone, ---but by ignoring them and letting their fate play out as '..getting what they deserve.'
-Whether it is a sin of Omission or Comission, it is still witholding grace, and I don't think our Lord approves.
-For all we know, if the Bible is true, Christ is among those who we reject and allow to go down nameless, with no dignity nor care.
-This is pathetic, and needs to stop. (Especially in the land where I find more Christian symbols on the backs of cars than anywhere else in the country, and at any other time in my life.)
-To those of you who are not religious, are not interested in God? have been scalded by the Church?
-I apologize for what has been done to you, and ask you not to give up on love, or those, such as myself, who claim to know and be filled with love, wish to express it, and do such a lousy job at it.
Don't judge God, and confuse His adoration of you -with our bad behavior, please.
-To those of you who are religious, are filled with God, and are demostrating this love to others, don't give up, we have a lot of damage to repair and failures to own up to...
-To those who are religious, filled with God, and are witholding this love. Stop. Repent, and live as we've been shown.
(we now return you to our regular schedule of others demonstrating God's love to you... I do hope you enjoy the program, please feel free to contact us at any time with any concerns or lapses that you may find... Bless You)
Eric Louis Field
thanks
You have articulated this issue really well, Jarah. Thanks so much for "calling out" our local supervisors and giving us a fantastic letter to spam them all with.
the do nothing Supervisors it's a part of the family
Is there really a public record of what the Fresno County Board of Supervisors does? I remember Sharon Levy was on there for many years, and I don't know what she ever did and she was on the board from 1975 - 2002 and now she sits on the new Zoo Corporation. Talk about the Good Old Girls network. (We had nepotism with the Gottschalk's families for 26 years, Husband, Wife & Friends)
Then there is the nepotism in County and City with Supervisor Henry Perea and Henry T. Perea District 7 Councilmember ... a Father & Son.
Is this good for the City or County?
Late note please never elect Bret W. Levy or any other Levy related family to anything in Fresno or any Government again, thank you
I'd argue that the IV drug/clean needle problem is even more acute than asthma or obesity because 1. we're not doing anything about it and 2. the negative outcomes are much more severe and communicable (AIDS vs. obesity). That's not to say asthma and obesity aren't crises as well.
Health crisis?
I thought asthma or childhood obesity was the biggest health crisis facing the county?
Amen.
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