State legislators meet with health department about Holmesburg methadone clinic 0
Hundreds attended a rally Tuesday to express opposition to a methadone clinic on the 7900-block of Frankford Avenue.
From the office of State Rep. Kevin Boyle:
State Reps. Kevin Boyle, Mike McGeehan, and State Sen. Mike Stack’s office held a meeting in Harrisburg Wednesday with the Department of Health to discuss the application for a narcotics distribution permit from Healing Way LLC. The three expressed the Holmesburg and Mayfair community’s outrage over the prospect of the new facility planned for the 7900-block of Frankford Ave.
“Just yesterday, I stood with 300 people willing to endure 90+ degree temperatures for over an hour to oppose this facility” said Representative Boyle. “Healing Way is attempting to slip under the radar, by failing to meet with any community groups or local elected officials about their planned facility.”
Continuing coverage
7/19 Hundreds rally in opposition to Holmesburg methadone clinic
7/13 Rep. Kevin Boyle pens letter to the editor about methadone clinic
Among Boyle’s concerns is the lack of on-site parking available for the facility which is located on the heavily trafficked Frankford Avenue. “After these clinics become fully operational, it is fully possible that they could serve as many as 600 to 700 patients daily. Under the C2 zoning classification, Healing Way must provide ample parking for its facility. They will be unable to do this, thus they will be in violation of the C2 zoning provision”, said Representative Boyle.
The state legislators were assured by the Health Department that a formal decision was “highly unlikely” to be made any time before the scheduled August 31st zoning appeal. This will allow for the community to finally have its voice heard at the city zoning appeal.
“The community must have input into this process”, said Stack. “Trying to blindside them with methadone clinic is the wrong approach. There are significant issues such as parking and the impact on residential and business development that need to be addressed. When you look at the facts, it is clear that 7900 Frankford Ave. is not a good location for a methadone clinic.”
Put these facilities in industrial areas to protect residents, especially children, from the elements that are attracted to these facilities. Adult caberets such as The Penthouse and Daydreams are required to be away from residences because they provide all nude entertainment, we should protect families from drug addicts with the same laws. To call their clients ‘patients’ is a farce created by businesses who profit from illegal drug use. That in itself is disgraceful and should not be funded by taxpayers. Drug use is a crime, not a disease. Those that tell you different are the ones that make a living from theses people that made poor choices and use drugs. Crimes are supposed to be punished; not rewarded with taxpayer funds such as SSI and medical benefits. Remember these same ‘patients’ are the ones that rob, burglarize, shoplift, and commit multiple other quality of life and violent crimes to support their habit. Are neighbors supposed to welcome this facility into their neighborhood with all the negative elements it will attract? Time to get the drug problem and dealers off our streets and solve the problem once and for all instead of constantly applying these overpriced band aids.
i hear ya on that i would love for people to go n get help for themselves everybody i know goes to the methadone clinic n i dont knock them for their addiction or for them goin to get help thats watsup but 90% of the people that go to the clinic go for their dose n on the way out get whatever they want to mix it with right there so re…ally how does that help cause mixing that shit they’re just slowly f**kin themselves up more or ending up dead NOW THIS IS THE ONLY REASON i liked this page for no methadone clinic in holmesburg cause i see people i really care about do this all the time.they need to figure out sumthin more then just these clinics.i wanted to say im happy for the people that went n got there lives back didnt forget about ya i know how hard it was you know who you are
Do you want this near your kids day care or their school.A library down the street, and taking up parking on the ave that our local businesses need.I believe theres a meeting tuesday night at lincoln high school. please attend and speak up.Ill see you there!!
@ joey k…you have made some very important points that I agree with 100%. I am more than shocked that the major concern for the clinic’s location is ample parking. School zones are supposed to be drug free, and methadone is a narcotic so I am confused as to why the clinic would even have the option of opening at that location. I also agree with the suggestion about utilizing industrial areas for methadone clinics. State Rd is just a short distance away, still accessable by public transportation and not located directly across or down the street from an elementary school.
Marianne-Ample parking being the main concern is the only argument a politician can make because they have to worry about hurting someones feelings and possibly violating the numerous federally protected disabilities. I am not a politician and could care less about ridiculous concepts such as addiction being a disability. Bottom line is no family, neighborhood, community should have to suffer unnecessarily because of someone elses horrible life choices. As for the clinic being allowed in a school zone; it is cleverly disguised as a medical facility. The things they sell to the public under the guise of benefiting the masses never amazes me.
We found who the people are behind Healing Way. They have nothing to do with medical practices at all. Mr. Dennis Kulp even met with two of these people. There is a reason why Healing Way chose this specific location to open business and it has everything to do with frighting the shit out of area residents in hopes they contact a realtor. In fact, they are banking on it. This information will come out and a lot of people who are panicking right now and looking to call up realtors to list their houses will feel like fools. Trust me on this.
[...] Legislators meet with state health department [...]