Subsequent to this blog post, and associated Letters to the Editor, concerning the need for a public input on the use of opioid settlement money in Keene, State Representative Jodi Newell and I met with City Manager Elizabeth Dragon and Police Chief Steve Stewart.
We had an engaged and fruitful discussion that reminded me of why I appreciate our public servants, and it addressed a lot of the concerns that Rep. Newell and I brought to the table.
Based on that discussion, today I submitted a letter to the Mayor and City Council, cosigned by City Councilor Bettina Chadbourne, that asks the City to sponsor a public forum about our community response to the opioid overdose crisis.
Here is the letter:
June 13, 2023
City of Keene Clerk’s Office
3 Washington St
Keene, NH 03431
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council,
With the settlement of lawsuits against companies responsible for instigating the opioid crisis, financial resources are now available in our city and at the state level to put toward projects aimed at preventing overdose deaths.
As a City Council, we will need to make decisions about how to spend the money that the city is receiving as part of the settlement, and we will need to understand how the City can benefit from grants available from the state-level pool of funds. We also need to ensure that our efforts take place in coordination with those of other organizations in the region, including the County, as well as various local social service organizations engaged in the work of overdose prevention.
Further, as the Council considers these things, we must listen closely to the voices of members of our community who have been personally affected by substance use and overdose, who are in the best position to understand the reality of the challenge we have before us. That challenge is to save lives.
To that end, we – Councilors Williams and Chadbourne – are requesting that the City sponsor a community discussion on our response to the overdose crisis. This would be a public forum, at an appropriate venue and in concert with appropriate partners, and we hope that all City Councilors will attend.
Sincerely,
Bobby Williams
City Councilor, Ward 2
Bettina Chadbourne
City Councilor, At Large