MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown city council will move a letter of endorsement for the harm reduction program, but failed to advance a measure that would recognize the second Monday of October as Indigenous People’s Day rather than Columbus Day.
The letter of endorsement is a requirement of the new state law regulating needle exchange programs.
Representatives from Milan Puskar Health Right, updated Morgantown City Council on harm reduction programs that are being supported within the Morgantown community.
During the presentation, Laura Jones, Executive Director for Milan Puskar Health Right and Social Worker Caitlin Sussman, urged Council to consider an ordinance that would approve a letter of recommendation to keep Milan Puskar Health Right’s Harm Reduction Programs in compliance with new state standards. This letter, is one of several requirements being implemented in West Virginia to drug related Harm Reduction Programs.
“It’s going to be a much more regulated path moving forward, and that’s where we’re at,” said Milan Puskar Health Right Social Worker Caitlin Sussman. “So we’re here to ask you to please allow us to continue to provide this life-saving intervention,” she said.
The new state standards for Harm Reduction Programs, will also address requirements for people to use the services provided by Milan Puskar Health Right. These changes focus on the need for a valid form of identification for those using the service and a direct needle exchange program, which would change up their current needle distribution program.
“This is now going to require us to have West Virginia identification from our participants, we’re going to try really hard to get as many ID’s for people and help people get that,” said Sussman. “It’s going to require an exchange, not a giveaway,” she also mentioned regarding the changes to the needle program.
The new requirements, would also require for Milan Puskar Health Right to offer alternative services such as prevention education and treatment programs for diseases such as Hepatitis C. According to Sussman, Milan Puskar Health Right provides the majority of these services, so it appears that except for a letter of recommendation, an official license and changes to access for services, not much will need to change to the day-to-day operations for Council to endorse the long time public healthcare provider to be updated with state standards.
“The truth is, we already do this,” said Sussman. “And Monongalia County is home to the gold standard for harm reduction programs in the region, we train people all over the state and the region,” she said.
If Milan Puskar Health Right doesn’t receive the endorsement, and in turn the license, they could face fines of up to $10,000 if they continue to operate.
Council members also heard from the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and members of the public about an Indigenous People’s Day.
For the first time, a President of the United States recognized October 11 as Indigenous People’s Day. In a proclamation dated October 8, 2021, President Biden said,”Our country was conceived on a promise of equality and opportunity for all people — a promise that, despite the extraordinary progress we have made through the years, we have never fully lived up to.”
According to HRC member Jan Derry, the focus on Columbus and Italian Americans has resulted in a suppression of Indigenous culture. After countless tribal members were killed by settlers over hundreds of years the focus shifted from their culture.
Derry acknowledged Columbus Day celebrated the many positive things Columbus and Italian Americans have done, but she says there are other ways to recognize them after their own persecution when they immigrated to the United States.
Commission for Social Justice President for the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America Robert Ferrito said discarding one established tradition in favor of another alienates sectors of the community thereby creating less diversity.
“That’s how you celebrate diversity. You don’t replace one holiday for another holiday, or one ethnic group for another ethnic group,” Ferroti said,” We share days, there are 365 days.”
Morgantown resident Mike Oliverio pointed out that there are about 14,000 cities in the country and about 140, or 1-percent have passed similar measures. He told council members the HRC was charging them with with being the judge and jury after hearing one side of history. Oliverio contends that Columbus was a devote Christian and baptized many people.
“There’s 365 in most calendar years, and to date by my count there are 12 federal holidays,” Oliverio said,” That leaves over 350 other days this group could seek their observance.
In the end, council members agreed to seek more community input and work with the HRC before moving the measure to a meeting agenda.