In her letter criticizing my support of Santa Cruz Together, Aptos resident Denise Elerick said Santa Cruz voters value focused prevention and diversion efforts. Santa Cruz Together is a grassroots coalition devoted to creating a thriving local economy and community. I am surprised Ms. Elerick professes these values of Santa Cruz voters while simultaneously leading the effort to create a syringe distribution program under the deceptive name, “Harm Reduction Coalition of Santa Cruz County.” I encourage community members to read Elerick’s application submitted to the state Department of Public Health in support of a syringe distribution program and opposed by local law enforcement leadership. This program will enable harmful behavior without means to address the underlying cause. It will encourage increased intravenous drug abuse, negatively impact our already strained county resources and litter Santa Cruz County with harmful discarded syringes and needles. Harm reduction? You decide.
— Kevin Vogel, Santa Cruz
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