Pols to Meth Clinic: Shape Up or Ship Out
Faced with a growing frustration among Clinton Hill residents over a host of quality of life issues associated with the methadone clinic at Waverly and Fulton, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and Councilmember Letitia James held a sit-down recently with several officials from the state agency that oversees such operations and established a task force to try…
Faced with a growing frustration among Clinton Hill residents over a host of quality of life issues associated with the methadone clinic at Waverly and Fulton, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and Councilmember Letitia James held a sit-down recently with several officials from the state agency that oversees such operations and established a task force to try to remedy the problems. Of particular concern was the combination of loitering, peripheral drug trade and aggressive behavior of clinic visitors and their hangers-on. The high concentration of such clinics in the immediate vicinity was also discussed. (The three clinics above service roughly 1/3 of methadone patients in Brooklyn.) According to Councilmember James, the people running the Fulton clinic have been extremely unresponsive to her overtures about addressing the problems, which are impacting not only the residential character of the neighborhood but the ability to revitalize an entire stretch of retail along Fulton Street. “Assembly Member Jeffries and I are hopeful this taskforce will serve as the proper vehicle to address issues that could threaten the commercial viability and success of Fulton Street,” Councilmember James said. “If matters persist, then I will renew my call for consolidation, downsizing and/or closure.” A community-wide meeting is being planned for late January. More details to come.
Mary what avenue? What happened to Washington Ave?
With respect to cigarettes, is there such a thing as driving under the influence of tobacco? Do people smoke cigarettes to get stoned and high? For that matter, do people smoke pot because they like the taste and smell?
I would not snort cocaine – legal or illegal. But as it stands, because cocaine is illegal I have no idea where to get it. If cocaine were legal, don’t you think more people would try it and use it because it were readily available?
“You’re making my argument for me. Legal drugs cause more damage because they’re more widely used. You think this has nothing at all to do with the fact that they’re legal?”
Tobacco is the most widely used drug because it’s the most addictive drug. More so even than heroin.
And tobacco and cigarettes are more widely used because of the same exact sentiment which has allowed them to be legal while most drugs aren’t- they are seen as “better” drugs, ones that don’t end up ruining your life when taken in moderation. In a way, this may be true.
As is stands, tobacco alone causes several hundred thousand deaths a year.Alcohol, tens of thousands. And countless billions in health care dollars. Legalized crack or heroin would never cause that type of damage, unless legalization somehow caused usage- frequent usage, like the type we see with cigarettes and alcohol- to increase tenfold.
if you actually bought in clinton hill, what the f did you expect?
“Alcohol and tobacco cause far more damage to society than every illicit drug combined, including marijuana.”
You’re making my argument for me. Legal drugs cause more damage because they’re more widely used. You think this has nothing at all to do with the fact that they’re legal?
If you want to argue that drug offenders are over-prosecuted and over-incarcerated, you have a sympathetic ear here. But let’s be realistic, if you make obtaining hard drugs more convenient, more people will use them. Decriminalizing heroin et. al. is an interesting thought experiment, but thinking that use wouldn’t go up and that street gangs would vanish as a result seems more than a bit naive.
@ Lothar of the Clinton Hill People: Meth clinics exist because it’s cheaper to satiate people’s addiction rather than actually try and fix their problem. Do you think rich heroin addicts get treated at meth clinics? Of course not. So, it’s a question of priorities. What’s more important, money, or these addicts? For decades it was money, but now, the two have finally become the same issue.
Maybe James should advocate for BETTER treatment facilities, rather than downsizing or removing the only ones we have. But that’d take integrity.
And I’ve lived here 20 years. From what I can see, poverty and the illegal status of drugs (the only factor pols have complete control over) are the biggest reasons for the drug problem.
Notice that there’s no mention of the clinic on Bergen between 6th and Carlton. I assume that because this one is across from a police station, it’s a better functioning block? Or is it just a miss? I live near there, and always wonder if that block has problems.
My guess is that Councilmember James is saber-rattling in order to effect change in practices at the methadone clinic, not to close it down. Much of the visibility issue will be dealt with as the new condos open up on Fulton, Washington, Clinton and northern Prospect Heights, bringing more customers to a more varied commercial strip. Fulton Street in that area really underserves the possible client base (restaurants, etc), and the empty lots, abandoned buildings are perhaps as much to blame as the methadone clinic. I’m not sure what 11:14’s point is about stores versus bodegas, but I have seen people buy crack pipes in at least two bodegas on Fulton – the one at the corner of St James and the one next to the Fort Greene Senior center near Grand. One of the local drug dealers hangs out inside the Chicken place near the mosque.
“People knew this clinic was there when they chose to buy there”
Amen!
“Several of the filfthy bodegas are complicit in the illegal drug trade. They have no interest in making that stretch of Fulton a nice shopping strip again. It will happen though. Oldtimers who live here, and the huge influx of newcomers have been working together to make their voices heard. You don’t have this sort of debate at community and block association meetings from either newcomers or from people who’ve lived here their entire lives. Everyone is in agreement that it is a problem that needs to be addressed.”
Rant of the clueless. What stores (not bodegas) are selling drugs?Fulton St has been a shithole for years but, you knew this when you bought your overpriced Brownstone here. People just because you overpay for a house, the neighborhood don’t have to respond to your wishes. I think it’s sad that Hakeem Jeffries and Letitia James are kissing the wrong people ass.
Oh by the way!! It’s 2008 boys and girls the housing bubble is finished!!!
The What *lmfao*
Someday this was is gonna end