Residents of East Harlem are calling on the Trump administration to take action and shut down a controversial safe injection site that has been causing chaos and crime in their neighborhood for years. Grassroots organizations like the East Harlem Neighborhood Group and One City Rising have reached out to US Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging her to close the government-backed shooting gallery, which they believe is in violation of federal law.
Since its opening in 2021, the facility operated by the nonprofit OnPoint has been plagued by open-air drug dealing just outside its doors. Residents report witnessing drug addicts nodding off, lying in the streets, begging for handouts, and engaging in petty crime on a daily basis. The situation has become unbearable for those living in the neighborhood, prompting them to seek federal intervention.
The chaos and disorder near the safe injection site were evident during a recent visit by The Post, with drug dealers openly selling narcotics and individuals exchanging drugs for money just feet away from the facility’s entrance. Despite the intention of the site to provide a safe space for drug users, residents feel that it has only exacerbated the drug problem in the area.
While some, like security guard Devon Frost, believe that providing sterilized needles can help prevent the spread of diseases among drug users, others, like barber Cole Brown, feel that the site is enabling drug use rather than addressing the root causes of addiction. The community’s concerns have been largely ignored by local leaders, leading them to turn to the federal government for assistance.
The residents of East Harlem have seen a significant increase in drug-related incidents since the opening of the safe injection site, with 311 complaints skyrocketing in recent years. Despite efforts by OnPoint to provide services like medical and mental health care, residents feel that the negative impact on their neighborhood outweighs any potential benefits.
With the Trump administration back in power, there is a sense of cautious optimism among residents that the current government may be more inclined to address the issues surrounding the safe injection site. The hope is that the administration’s focus on law and order will lead to the closure of the facility, bringing some much-needed relief to the community.
As residents continue to push for action, the Department of Justice has yet to respond to their pleas for intervention. The fate of the controversial safe injection site remains uncertain, but residents are hopeful that their voices will be heard and that steps will be taken to address the ongoing crisis in their neighborhood.
