Public drug use and syringe litter are frequent subjects of complaints at Bangor City Council meetings and on social media, and many voters say they’re key factors in determining who they’ll support in this year’s election.
The Bangor Daily News asked each candidate the following question: We’ve heard from a lot of residents who are concerned about public drug use and syringe litter. What policy changes, if any, would you pursue to address these issues, and what evidence do you have to support them?
Many candidates proposed restrictions on the city’s syringe service programs, which are generally funded by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention but can be limited or banned within a municipality. Although research shows that these programs reduce HIV spread and do not increase syringe litter, they are often unpopular, and some community members see them as enabling drug addiction.
Watch the video above to hear directly from the candidates. They are shown in the order they appear on the ballot.
The BDN has profiled all 12 candidates. You can read more about them here. Click here to see where the candidates stand on other major issues facing the city.