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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 12071999 - D1 D.1 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Date: December 7, 1999 Matter of Record Subject: Public Comment On this day, the Board of Supervisors heard comments from the following people: Kate Ertz-Berger, Child Care Council, 1035 Detroit Ave, Concord, on difficulties with the time limits in regard to families receiving child care assistance through the CalWorks program; Kevin Dimmick, 669 Oberlin Ave, Kensington, regarding possible misuse of funding as related to AIDS/HIV services in the County. THIS IS A MATTER FOR RECORD PURPOSES ONLY NO BOARD ACTION WAS TAKEN K Z/-7 � a EEIVED DEE 0 7 1999 > � oCLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 0 i CONTRA COSTA CO. rrt > cn � t}yr) :m w =r- Z a �—, � Lool z < z o Zz n �! r DC ;K ' ` R1 �R W r t'•_Y .1 ! �.61 ! ! S .r . ! s �M !r. s ! !r w_ -_ r-ece U cp Tvoy" ev;v) l ;r�►�;r k Dov have s Use Your Power Write your elected representatives in Sacramento in support of needle exchange. AB 518(Mazzoni/Shelley)authorizes local jurisdictions to run clean needle and syringe exchange projects. More than half of new HIV infections are directly or indirectly related to injection drug use. Right now needle exchange is still illegal, even though it saves lives. Existing needle exchange operators often face arrest or intimidation. And many counties are unwilling to start needle exchange programs,because of the risk of high legal fees to defend their actions. There are several steps that need to happen before AB 518 can go into effect and help make needle exchange more available in Contra Costa County. FIRST The California State Legislature needs to pass AB 518. The Assembly voted yes on AB 518 in May. Now it is the Senate's turn to approve the needle exchange bill. Senators Richard Rainey(who represents central and East Contra Costa) and Don Perata (who represents West Contra Costa) need to hear from you in support of the bill! Please sign and mail the enclosed letters. Feel free to make copies of the letters for others to sign and send. Please respond as soon as possible,to be sure your voice is heard! SECOND Governor Davis needs to sign AB 518 into law. Another letter to Governor Davis when the time comes. THIRD The Contra Costa Board of Supervises needs to authorize needle exchange programs in our county. Your Voice Will Make a Difference! More information on AB 518 is available on-line at www.sen.ca.gov. For more information on policy in Contra Costa,please contact Nancy Puttimmmer,AIDS Program(925)313-6776. Ke v h (�;rte► ;c Senator Richard Rainey 1948 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Walnut Creek, CA 94596 tel: 925-280-0276 FAX: 925-280-0299 Dear Senator Rainey: I am writing to ask you to help stop HIV/AIDS in Contra Costa by supporting AB 518 (Mazzoni/Shelley), to allow local communities to establish needle exchange programs. Needle Exchange is a strategy that is known to prevent HIV as well as other blood-borne diseases like hepatitis. Experts agree that needle exchange interrupts the chain of HIV transmission without encouraging people to use illegal drugs. In Contra Costa, one third of people now living with AIDS were infected as a result of sharing unclean needles. More than 2000 of my fellow Contra Costa residents have been diagnosed with AIDS, and many more are infected with HIV each year. HIV/AIDS is not going away on its own. Please do your part to end the epidemic by supporting needle exchange programs. Sincerely, (Name) (Address) Senator Don Perata 1515 Clay St. #2202 Oakland, CA 94612 tel: 510-286-1333 Dear Senator Perata: I am writing to ask you to help stop HIV/AIDS in Contra Costa by supporting AB 518 (Mazzoni/Shelley), to allow local communities to establish needle exchange programs. Needle Exchange is a strategy that is known to prevent HIV as well as other blood-borne diseases like hepatitis. Experts agree that needle exchange interrupts the chain of HIV transmission without encouraging people to use illegal drugs. In Contra Costa, one third of people now living with AIDS were infected as a result of sharing unclean needles. More than 2000 of my fellow Contra Costa residents have been diagnosed with AIDS, and many more are infected with HIV each year. HIV/AIDS is not going away on its own. Please do your part to end the epidemic by supporting needle exchange programs. Sincerely, (Name) (Address)