Program Provides Important First Step

By Corey Fischer

Feb 21, 2019 | 12:45 PM

The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce is giving a thumbs up to a new program to clean-up discarded drug needles.

The City of Vernon will launch the Folks on Spokes pilot program this spring, providing a hotline to report needles, and helping with a daily clean-up of identified hot spots by a group of peers working through the Community Safety Office.

The chamber was part of the Activate Safety Task Force that made over 40 recommendations to City council last summer.

One recommendations was for the city to initiate a public information campaign on how to report improperly discarded needles.

Chamber president Diana Wilson (pictured) says the needles are a real concern for businesses, and this program will help.

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“The chamber recently reached out to many of its members downtown and there was a common concern about safety for themselves, their employees, their customers and those who are truly disadvantaged. Folks on Spokes is an important first step towards addressing those concerns,” says Wilson.

Wilson adds it’s not just the downtown that needs assistance.

“Many of the issues identified downtown, including discarded needles, are also occurring in other commercial areas of Vernon. Safety issues and the impact on business don’t follow any set boundaries,and there is a need for a broad-based, community response that assists all business owners.”

“Council’s desire is that people will see fewer discarded needles, and if they do spot needles, they can make a phone call and the needle will be disposed safely and properly,” said Mayor Victor Cumming about the program which will be evaluated later this year

by Corey Fischer