Off the Streets Project: Modesto Brown Berets

Showing posts with label Modesto Brown Berets. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Event Community BBQ, Training, & Clean-Up Nov 29 @ Mellis Park

Off the Streets Project is working in collaboration with Modesto Brown Berets and will be out in the community cleaning up, reaching out, and working together to make a difference. Check it out:

Sunday November 29, 1pm-5pm
@ Mellis Park in Modesto
BBQ, Free Music, Open Mic
Know Your Rights Info & Training
Used Needle and Trash Clean-Up

Please come out and join us! It promises to be a great afternoon.

Props to Tom and Bianca of MBB for organizing this event...

Legal Update: Medical Necessity Defense Ruled Not an Option for Public Health Volunteers

Two volunteers facing charges for their involvement with an Airport District syringe exchange program were back in court on May 17. Judge Ricardo Cordova ruled on several points, including the addition of tourniquets, sterile cookers , sterile water, and cotton balls to the DAs definition of "paraphernalia". These items will be allowed to be considered as drug paraphernalia when the defendants face a jury presumably sometime later this year.

The most disheartening ruling came in regards to the use of a medical necessity defense. Judge Cordova heard from both sides of the table regarding the 6 stipulations necessary for the defense team to fulfill. There was lengthy discussion around "emergency" and the "imminent need" of syringe access programs. In the end, he found item 3 regarding "legal alternatives" problematic and ruled against the defendants. A medical necessity defense will not be allowed.

He stated that legal alternatives for the defandant's actions in fact do exist : 1) doing the work necessary to get local leaders to authorize, or 2) to vote those leaders out. He also added that the actions of the defendants were politically motivated. This is very frustrating for obvious reasons. Most frustrating - while the "legal alternatives" as stated by the judge continue on as they have for several years, users are still spreading disease, people are still dying, people are still addicted, and money is still being shoved down the drain.

And the insult? Simply stated, any alleged actions by the defendants were absolutely NOT politically motivated. This is about public health, common sense economics, and human life. YES, HUMAN LIFE. Ill-informed members of the community have made this political and public health, community health, family health is suffering.

Please join Off the Streets in supporting these public health workers and syringe access authorization for Stanislaus County.

NEXT COURT DATE:

Stanislaus County Courthouse
800 11th Street
Downtown Modesto

AUGUST 2, 2010 @ 8:30 AM in Dept. 8

Upcoming trial dates TBA

For more information or to find out how you can help, contact Off the Streets Project at offthestreetsproject@yahoo.com.

Off the Streets Project

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Event Community BBQ, Training, & Clean-Up Nov 29 @ Mellis Park

Questions? Call Hep C: 411

Syringe Exchange Programs:

POLL What is the biggest challenge of authorizing syringe exchange locally?

Legal Update: Medical Necessity Defense Ruled Not an Option for Public Health Volunteers

Blog Archive

Off the Streets Project's Fan Box

Important Links

About Me

The Quote I Like Right Now

Labels

Off the Streets Project

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

*Event* Community BBQ, Training, & Clean-Up Nov 29 @ Mellis Park

Questions? Call Hep C: 411

Syringe Exchange Programs:

*POLL* What is the biggest challenge of authorizing syringe exchange locally?

Legal Update: Medical Necessity Defense Ruled Not an Option for Public Health Volunteers

Blog Archive

Off the Streets Project's Fan Box

Important Links

About Me

The Quote I Like Right Now

Labels

Event Community BBQ, Training, & Clean-Up Nov 29 @ Mellis Park

POLL What is the biggest challenge of authorizing syringe exchange locally?