Pubdate: Tue, 01 Mar 2005 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Author: Chilliwack Times Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) NEIGHBOURS UPSET BY UNANNOUNCED ARRIVAL OF NEEDLE-EXCHANGE SERVICE CHILLIWACK - For property and business owners along Alexander Avenue, the problem over a needle exchange moving into their neighbourhood boils down to one of communication. About 30 of them gathered for an information meeting Monday morning at city hall. At one point, one person even threatened to stop paying city taxes, and it was clear most were unsettled by the prospect as well as the lack of notification about the move. "I just found about it this morning," Ken Popove, a local business operator, said. Another man described the development as a "real cloak-and-dagger little deal." The program had been running from a site in the Southgate area but had to move because of renovations. With little time to find a new home, program co-ordinator Samantha Mohan managed to locate a spot on Alexander. Mohan made the point that the exchange and counselling programs are run out of inconspicuous locations. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth