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In a written ruling filed within the
last several days, St. Clair County, Ill. Judge Robert Haida has ruled that
AIDS service organization Bethany Place must halt its needle-sharing program
unless it gets a special use permit from the city of Belleville.
The judge ruled that Bethany Place
must use its property at 821 W. A Street in Belleville in accordance with the
city’s zoning code, and the nonprofit organization is located in a
light-industry district. Haida wrote in his ruling that the zoning designation
where the facility is located does not allow for the dispensation of medical
supplies, which would include needles for intravenous use.
In a lawsuit filed February 6, the
city claimed it would fine the nonprofit organization $250–$1,000 for each day
that it operates the needle-exchange program without the necessary permit.
Bethany Place believes that the city acknowledged operation of the program when
it granted the organization a use variance in 1998 to operate a small community
residence with five beds for AIDS patients and office space.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
