Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
We Don't Want a Free Needle Exchange in Downtown, Say Dyer and Councilmen
By admin
Published 2 years ago on
September 11, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Nearly a week after a needle exchange program won approval to operate out of the Fresno County Department of Public Health, some city elected officials publicly complained.

Mayor Jerry Dyer said the Fresno County Board of Supervisors made the “wrong decision” when it voted 3-2 on Sept. 5 to approve a $0 lease with the nonprofit San Joaquin Valley Free Medical Clinic & Needle Exchange.

Dyer said county leaders did not consider the impact on surrounding businesses, including school district buildings and residential neighborhoods.

“It’s wrong because they didn’t understand the impact it might have on investors that we are trying to lure into downtown for the purpose of building housing and retail and restaurants,” Dyer said at a Monday morning news conference at City Hall.

Dyer said the supervisors were “perhaps … in a vacuum, in a cave” for not realizing the city’s downtown revitalization efforts.

“It will have an impact, a negative impact on downtown Fresno,” Dyer said.

The nonprofit will use the public health offices for its program on Saturday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The program is funded through state grants and private donations.

Advocates say providing clean needles and other paraphernalia, as well as other health and wrap-around services, will lead to positive health outcomes for the community.

Pacheco Explains Needle Exchange Benefits

Supervisor Brian Pacheco explained why he backed the program in a statement to GV Wire on Monday afternoon.

“After visiting the current site of the San Joaquin Valley Free Medical Clinic and Needle Exchange and hearing the Department of Public Health presentation last week, I felt it was in the best interest for those administering the program and the program clients to be taken from the street and moved indoors to the Department of Public Health facility,” Pacheco said.

“Because the program only operates on Saturdays for a limited time period, I did not believe it would impact the businesses downtown.

“In addition to the needle exchange, this program operates as a low-barrier clinic utilized by the most vulnerable in our population. It’s a place where they are treated with respect and dignity.”

Pacheco added that by allowing users to properly dispose of needles, the number of needles left in parks and other public spaces will be reduced.

Needle Exchange Program Locator Map

Councilmen Criticize Needle Exchange

City councilmembers Garry Bredefeld and Miguel Arias joined Dyer, blasting the county.

“This is a terrible and, frankly, destructive decision,” Bredefeld said. “ Frankly, in my opinion, the Board of Supervisors is a complete disgrace.”

Bredefeld questioned whether such programs encouraged drug use, and why taxpayers should cover the costs.

Arias said he was “pissed off” by the board’s vote. The supervisors never bothered to reach out to other stakeholders on the block, including schools and other businesses, Arias said.

“Instead of providing our residents with shelters and treatment programs, the Board of Supervisors has become the drug dealer’s assistant,” Arias said. “What’s next? Should we expect them to start providing free opiates to kids to reduce the harm of fentanyl?”

Arias said the city would have to cancel downtown Fresno events because of the needle exchange’s new location.

“It’s really short-sighted and it’s a really big middle finger to everyone who has spent years revitalizing downtown,” Arias said.

The county responded later in the afternoon about health concerns.

“Because of the ample space available at the Department of Public Health (DPH) building and the current rate of participation, all persons served would be able to wait inside the building instead of waiting in lines outdoors. Proposed resources including security would ensure a secure and safe environment for both the administrators of the program and persons served, both inside and outside the facility,” the county said in a news release.

City Leaders Unaware of County’s Proposal

The three Fresno leaders asked their county counterparts to reconsider the motion. They seemed to be unaware that he county was discussing the motion, despite it being on the publicly released agenda the prior week.

“I can tell you where I was. I was here at work at City Hall and did not know that the item was even being heard at the Board of Supervisors because I don’t check their weekly Board of Supervisor agendas. But I found out about it from my chief of staff after the decision was made and reading about it in the paper,” Dyer said.

Dyer said it is the county’s responsibility to let the city know what they are doing.

“We should have had a sit-down conversation discussion,” Dyer said.

Arias said the county was exempt from city requirements to notify properties within 1,000 feet.

The county said in its news release: “The program was listed in a Board Briefing Report (a public document) as of August 14, 2023. The item wasn’t voted on until September 5th. Throughout these 22 days, the County has never received any calls from the Mayor, councilmembers, or city staff about their concerns.”

Supervisor Nathan Magsig, who voted no on the lease, said he wants a stronger city-county relationship.

“I would welcome the (county) having more open communication with the city of Fresno,” Magsig said.

Arias, Bredefeld Running for Supervisor

Dyer noted the political aspect of his news conference colleagues. Bredefeld and Arias are running against current supervisors Steve Brandau and Sal Quintero, respectively.

“I’m not running for Board of Supervisors. I’m trying to protect our downtown and revitalize it. My motives are pure. Their motives are pure. It’s because I care about this city and they care about downtown. And so do I,” Dyer said.

Fresno County scheduled a news conference to offer a rebuttal on Monday afternoon.

County Has Their Say

Later Monday afternoon — and after the filing of this first story — Fresno County officials responded.

County Administrative Officer Paul Nerland and others from the health department told the media the benefits of the needle exchange program. They spoke from a cul-de-sac a few blocks north of Roeding Park, where the nonprofit needle exchange operates every Saturday afternoon.

“This program is about building trust … to get people to participate in drug treatment programs, you have to build trust, and a lot of these programs around this will assist with that,” public health director David Luchini said.

The county also shared a 2021 study from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, that said needle exchange programs are safe, help prevent disease, and are not associated with increased drug use or crime.

Several other studies researched by GV Wire found similar conclusions.

Nerland said Mayor Dyer should have handled his complaints about the lack of county-city notification differently.

“I would have appreciated further a direct phone call to say that instead of a press conference to say, how about we work together on this?” Nerland said.

“Nobody wins in the end when we are fighting with each other. At the end of the day, we need to work together, and I think we can. But we need to communicate more effectively. We need to work together. And I think together we can do a lot more. But no, it doesn’t help when the communication is in a press conference,” Nerland said.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

High-Speed Rail CEO Won’t Commit to Size of Fresno Station. What’s in the Future for Rail?

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Crew Rescues Man Who Fell Into Ponding Basin Near Coalinga

DON'T MISS

Where Valley Lawmakers Stand on Punishing Seekers of Teens for Sex

DON'T MISS

Arias Criticizes Smittcamp Over Lack of Drug, Homeless Arrests

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Man Convicted of Child Molestation, Faces 16 Years in Prison

DON'T MISS

California Democrats Reject Push for Harsher Penalties for Soliciting Sex From Older Teens

DON'T MISS

Trump Turns to US Supreme Court in Bid to Strip Protected Status From Venezuelan Migrants

DON'T MISS

Fresno’s Audra McDonald Earns 11th Tony Nomination, Eyes Record Seventh Win for ‘Gypsy’

DON'T MISS

US Imposes Sanctions on Mexican Fuel Theft Network It Links to CJNG Cartel

DON'T MISS

Last Chevron-Chartered Vessel Starts to Return Oil Cargo in Venezuela, Data and Source Say

UP NEXT

Fresno County Crew Rescues Man Who Fell Into Ponding Basin Near Coalinga

UP NEXT

Where Valley Lawmakers Stand on Punishing Seekers of Teens for Sex

UP NEXT

Arias Criticizes Smittcamp Over Lack of Drug, Homeless Arrests

UP NEXT

Tulare County Man Convicted of Child Molestation, Faces 16 Years in Prison

UP NEXT

California Democrats Reject Push for Harsher Penalties for Soliciting Sex From Older Teens

UP NEXT

Trump Turns to US Supreme Court in Bid to Strip Protected Status From Venezuelan Migrants

UP NEXT

Fresno’s Audra McDonald Earns 11th Tony Nomination, Eyes Record Seventh Win for ‘Gypsy’

UP NEXT

US Imposes Sanctions on Mexican Fuel Theft Network It Links to CJNG Cartel

UP NEXT

Last Chevron-Chartered Vessel Starts to Return Oil Cargo in Venezuela, Data and Source Say

UP NEXT

At Least 9 Dead in Drone Strikes After US and Ukraine Sign Minerals Deal

Arias Criticizes Smittcamp Over Lack of Drug, Homeless Arrests

4 hours ago

Tulare County Man Convicted of Child Molestation, Faces 16 Years in Prison

5 hours ago

California Democrats Reject Push for Harsher Penalties for Soliciting Sex From Older Teens

6 hours ago

Trump Turns to US Supreme Court in Bid to Strip Protected Status From Venezuelan Migrants

6 hours ago

Fresno’s Audra McDonald Earns 11th Tony Nomination, Eyes Record Seventh Win for ‘Gypsy’

6 hours ago

US Imposes Sanctions on Mexican Fuel Theft Network It Links to CJNG Cartel

7 hours ago

Last Chevron-Chartered Vessel Starts to Return Oil Cargo in Venezuela, Data and Source Say

7 hours ago

At Least 9 Dead in Drone Strikes After US and Ukraine Sign Minerals Deal

7 hours ago

New CIA Videos Aim to Lure Chinese Officials

7 hours ago

Trump Taps Waltz for US Ambassador to the United Nations

8 hours ago

High-Speed Rail CEO Won’t Commit to Size of Fresno Station. What’s in the Future for Rail?

As part of the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s attempt to rein in a ballooning budget, its new CEO in a townhall last week walk...

3 hours ago

3 hours ago

High-Speed Rail CEO Won’t Commit to Size of Fresno Station. What’s in the Future for Rail?

A man was rescued early Thursday, May 1, 2025, after falling 60 feet into a ponding basin near Coalinga and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. (CAL FIRE)
3 hours ago

Fresno County Crew Rescues Man Who Fell Into Ponding Basin Near Coalinga

3 hours ago

Where Valley Lawmakers Stand on Punishing Seekers of Teens for Sex

4 hours ago

Arias Criticizes Smittcamp Over Lack of Drug, Homeless Arrests

Justin Mills, 36, of Pixley, was convicted on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, of six felony counts of child molestation and faces up to 16 years in prison. (Tulare County DA)
5 hours ago

Tulare County Man Convicted of Child Molestation, Faces 16 Years in Prison

6 hours ago

California Democrats Reject Push for Harsher Penalties for Soliciting Sex From Older Teens

An aerial view shows Diover Millan of Venezuela, top left, and other detainees at the Bluebonnet Detention Facility, the facility where Venezuelans at the center of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling are held, in Anson, Texas, U.S., April 23, 2025. (REUTERS/Daniel Cole/File Photo)
6 hours ago

Trump Turns to US Supreme Court in Bid to Strip Protected Status From Venezuelan Migrants

Fresno’s Audra McDonald, already the most decorated performer in Tony history, is nominated for a record-breaking seventh award for her role in the “Gypsy” revival. (Shutterstock)
6 hours ago

Fresno’s Audra McDonald Earns 11th Tony Nomination, Eyes Record Seventh Win for ‘Gypsy’

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend