Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST
The United States has an enormous drug problem. An estimated 24.6 million Americans aged 12 or older—9.4 percent of the population—had used an illicit drug in the past month. This number is up from 8.3 percent in 2002. The increase mostly reflects a recent rise in use of marijuana, the most commonly used illicit drug.
Abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs is costly to our Nation, exacting more than $700 billion annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity and health care.
It is critical to the success of a community to have a war on drug use. The leadership in towns must be focused on this initiative. It is critical to the safety of the community, ability to attract businesses and the financial success of a community.
Imagine our surprise when we saw this press release on Sept 24, 2015 from the Mayor of Hamilton, Mercer County. (see link below)
http://www.hamiltonnj.com/news/?FeedID=1376
They also put this on their Facebook page that evening. (https://www.facebook.com/Hamilton-Township-192161034187633/timeline/)
The mission of the Hamilton Alliance Against Substance Abuse Committee (HAASA) is to serve as the official Township coordinating body for the planning, awareness and education of substance abuse prevention efforts on Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD’s). The committee is dedicated to promoting safe, healthy and responsible lifestyles through community involvement, education programs and family oriented events for all residents of Hamilton Township. HAASA is advisory in nature; and awards State allocated funds to programs that meet certain criteria.
We were surprised that the township posted that a "new" ordinance was just passed, focused on this new program. (see link below) HAASA. (Hamilton Alliance Against Substance Abuse) (see ordinance link below)
http://www.hamiltonnj.com/filestorage/228428/228430/229761/284288/Municipal_Alliance_Ordinance_of_Establishment.pdf
Is this ordinance just window dressing? Why would they be voting on something that has existed since 1991? Was there even a vote?
If you visit the townships website (see link http://www.hamiltonnj.com/HAASA) you will see the first words on the site are: "In 1991, Hamilton Township formed the Hamilton Alliance Against Substance Abuse committee (HAASA), a volunteer committee comprised of representatives from the Mayor’s office".
If this has been around since 1991, why just write an ordinance now? This seems odd to anyone with a functioning brain. You would not be able to OPRA information on this group (unless it was after June 2011) because all of the digital government records, emails, etc have been destroyed. This was shared with us by the Township clerk's office. There were never any certifications done either in the past 35 years to destroy the government records according to Ms. Gore either. She has been in her position as clerk for the past 35 years. All certifications would come through her office.
We took the extra step to call HAMSTAT to ask about this program. We asked the HAMSTAT employee," What can you tell us about HAASA?" The response we got was," I know nothing about this program, I have never heard of it? You should call the mayors office."
Call the mayor's office? This seemed odd to us. Why is HAMSTAT not equipped to educate the community on this program? They should be with all the heroin deployments that have occurred in Hamilton. Every single person should know about this program and what it offers.
We then called the Department of Health in Hamilton and spoke to one of the nurse practioners. We asked the same question, " What does she know about HAASA?" Her response was," I just got back from vacation, I know nothing of this program." Let me see what I can find out."
She just got back from vacation.....this program has been around according to the townships website since 1991. Has the nurse practioner at the Department of Health been on holiday since 1991? Again, we question why the Department of Health knows nothing of this program. How can this be? There is a sign at Steinert's track which has rusted bolts advertising the group (HAASA)that has been there for years. How is it that HAMSTAT employees and the Hamilton Dept of Health know nothing of this program. One would think they would know.
This is a very sad state of affairs. What if a person who was calling HAMSTAT or the DEPT of Health was in dire need of help. Maybe they were on the fence to try drugs for the first time or otherwise. These two interactions could have sent that person into a world of heroin that they would never get out of. The ramifications of this could have been horrifying.
More confusion occurs when you click on the link that supposedly shows when HAASA meets. (see link below)
http://www.hamiltonnj.com/content/228309/228375/229619/284299.aspx
" In 1991, Hamilton Township formed the Hamilton Alliance Against Substance Abuse committee (HAASA), a volunteer committee comprised of representatives from the Mayor’s office, the education system, the court system, the health care community, law enforcement, and the community at large. The committee meetings are usually held on the 1st Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. in the Hamilton Township Municipal Building, Legal Conference Room. The public is encouraged to attend. For the full list of meetings during the year check the Hamilton Township Calendar (Click Here to View)."
When you hit "click here to view" you are taken to the twelve month calendar for the township. However, it does not demonstrate when thois group actually meets.
What is going on in Hamilton? Why all this deception on something so important? Why does no one know about this program? Hamilton has the highest deployments in the county and there appears to be a game being played with this program. This is not how a program so important should be managed.
In speaking to people within the township we learned that on occasion this group does meet, however there hardly ever is a quorum (which would not allow for any votes) and not all the positions are filled. What is this group actually doing? Are they getting any grants? Who knows.
Below is a link to the miraculous ordinance that appeared out of thin air.
http://www.hamiltonnj.com/filestorage/228428/228430/229761/284288/Municipal_Alliance_Ordinance_of_Establishment.pdf
In early September, Mayoral candidate, Amy Inman held a press conference to educate the community on how to help with the heroin crisis. She shared with the community how one can become certified at TOPAC to administer Naloxone. At her town meetings she has educated residents on her plans for helping Hamilton with their addiciton issues. She has a plan.
The residents of Hamilton are confused. Or is this just another gimmick by the current administration? Does the current administration feel pressure to react to the positive things Mayoral Candidate, Amy Inman is doing in the town by sending residents into circles for answers? Why does the current administrations Dept of Health and HAMSTAT teams know nothing of this program? Residents want answers, not gimmicks and to be sent in circles. They want leaders that care and make a positive impact.
The current administration needs to read their own website. They need to know what is on their own site. Sending out this ordinance more than 20 years after the inception of the group makes zero sense and makes them look foolish. There was nothing in any recent council meetings to review or read this ordinance either that we could find on the township web site. An ordinance does not become an ordinance without going through a process. No one, not even the mayor can scribe an ordinance on a whim and make it official. There is a process ordinances must go through. Residents have lost trust in the current administration with these types of shenanigans. The residents of Hamilton are smart, they see through this nonsense. The current administration talks about a "transparent government". The only thing that is transparent, is that these types of behaviors demonstrate a lack respect for residents.
