NYC Distributes 70000 'How-to' Heroin Handouts (I wish I didn't have to read news like this)

NYC

New York City residents struggle to pay some of the highest tax-rates in the nation. Unfortunately, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg does not always utilize common sense in regards to fiscal matters of the municipal budget.

According to the New York Post, "the city spent $32,000 on 70,000 fliers that tell you how to shoot heroin, complete with detailed tips on prepping the dope and injecting it into your arm."

New York's top drug prosecutors and abuse experts are expresing outrage at the city's Health Department handout.

John Gilbride, who heads the Drug enforcement Administration's New York office, said, "it's basically step-by-step instructions on how to inject a poison."

City Council member Peter Vallone Jr. (D.-Queens), responded, "it's sick." Dr. Herbert, Columbia University drug researcher and treatment expert, simply stated: "Foolish."

As reported by the NY Post, "the 16-page pamphlet features seven comics-like illustrations and offers dope fiends such useful advice as 'warm you body (jump up and down) to show your veins,' and 'find the vein before you try to inject.'"

The guidebook even encourages addicts to continue jabbing if their needles don't hit the mark. It says, "if you don't 'register,' pull out and try again."

Experts contend that the brochure sends the wrong message about the dangers of the drug.

Gilbride said, "it concerns me that the city would produce a how-to on using drugs. Heroin is extremely potent. You may only get the chance to use it once. To suggest there is a method of using that alleviates the dangers, that's very disturbing."

Mr. Vallone, who chairs the public safety committee, pledged to depose of the distribution of the pamphlet.

He fumed, "this is a tremendous misuse of city funds, and I'm going to see what I can do to stop. It sends a message to our youth: give it a try."

To read the entire article from the New York Post, link here:

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Mondays crazyness New York City Reigns as Number One Tourist Destination

NYC

By Gabriela Resto-Montero

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — It looks like New York City just showed Mickey Mouse who's boss.

The city that never sleeps overtook Orlando, the house of mouse, as the most popular city destination in the United States for 2009.

A total of 45 million visitors boosted the local economy in 2009, bringing in close to $28 billion to the city, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Monday.

"Last year, while tourism declined significantly in cities across the country, we fared better than most," Bloomberg said in a statement.

Travel to the city dropped by just 3.9 percent from 2008, a smaller percentage than expected.

New York City also knocked out Los Angeles as the most popular city favored by international visitors. The Big Apple attracted 8.6 million visitors from abroad, more than double the amount that visited Los Angeles.

While New Yorkers may complain about the tourists, visitors from abroad spent five times as much money in the city as their American counterparts.

Apart from the cash boon to the city in the middle of the recession, the visitor influx has brought employment numbers in the hospitality industry to pre-recession levels, Bloomberg said.

Bloomberg and Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert C. Lieber credited an aggressive tourism marketing campaign for the visitor numbers.

Plans to stretch the welcome mat into 2010 include weekend promotions, hotel specials and a new round of restaurant week highlighting the city's cuisine.