COSTA MESA, Calif. - Oct. 20, 2018 - s4story -- Despite unanimous City Council opposition, the Southern California city still received notice that the California State Department of Public Health approved a mobile needle exchange program a block away from two elementary schools, surrounded by a residential area, and 1,500 businesses.

Mayoral candidate Katrina Foley said, "This needle exchange program is just one more instance where state agencies are making decisions or enacting policies that are detrimental to our quality of life without consulting us. In this case, it feels like Costa Mesa is being specifically targeted. Our city is already impacted with the 92 drug rehab facility licenses in traditional neighborhoods; then, the state hits us with this needle program that will be detrimental to our quality of life."

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The city and the Costa Mesa Police Department did their homework when initially learning about the program application. Foley, along with the rest of the council, unanimously opposed it.

"We made a very strong case that the operators of the Orange County Needle Exchange Program were negligent when they operated their program at the Santa Ana Civic Center. They were good at distributing needles, but not so good at collecting used ones," said Foley.

Stephens and Foley brought their legal expertise to put a temporary halt to the needle exchange program.  "This important community issue will require more thoughtful planning and a legal strategy, not a political one," said Foley.

Foley is the most qualified mayoral candidate to deal with this issue. The Committee to elect Foley for Mayor 2018 urges Costa Mesans to go to the polls on November 6, 2018 and vote Katrina Foley for Mayor.   https://youtu.be/akTS8peYflE