Brooklyn Residents Furious About Group Giving Out Needles and Crack Pipes

Residents of the Clinton Hill neighborhood in Brooklyn are expressing frustration over addicts openly using drugs on their street, facilitated by a city-backed harm reduction group that provides them with drug paraphernalia, according to a report by the New York Post.

Vocal-NY, an organization offering harm reduction services to drug users in NYC, has been distributing free needles, crack pipes, and heroin “cooking” devices every Wednesday at the Clinton–Washington Avenue subway station on the C line, as reported by the Post.

Neighbors like Stephanie Cole have witnessed drug use firsthand, with individuals using the free paraphernalia for activities such as “shooting up” and smoking crack. Cole mentioned encountering broken crack pipes on her stoop, emphasizing the need for a cleaner environment.

Another resident shared concerns about finding needles and syringes near her home, highlighting the impact of Vocal-NY’s services in the community.

Funding for Vocal-NY comes from various sources, including the City Council, George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, and the Ford Foundation, as detailed in the Post’s report.

Alyssa Aguilera, co-executive director of Vocal-NY, stated that their outreach team not only provides supplies but also works to clean up outreach sites to maintain the neighborhood’s cleanliness.