AGENDA
ITEM
12 BRIE CITY OF CALEXICO
CALEXICO
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: March 1, 2023
Mayor and City Council
APPROVED BY: Esperanza Colio Warren, City Manager Enry CleMen PREPARED BY: Mayor Moreno and Mayor Pro Tem Ureña
SUBJECT: Approval of Letter Requesting the Support of the Imperial County Board of Supervisors to Further Enhance Awareness Among our Communities Through Quick Action that Supports the Declaration of Illicit Fentanyl as a Public Health Crisis
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Recommendation:
Approval of letter requesting the support of the Imperial County Board of Supervisors to further enhance awareness among our communities through quick action that supports the declaration of illicit fentanyl as a public health crisis.
Background:
Mayor Moreno and Mayor Pro Tem Ureña have requested the Council's consideration of a letter of support from the Imperial County Board of Supervisors towards the declaration of illicit fentanyl as a public health crisis.
Discussion & Analysis:
Fentanyl poses a serious threat to America. During the past 12-month period ending in February 2022, more than 75,000 Americans have died from overdose of synthetic opioids, mainly fentanyl. With statistics this staggering, we cannot forget each number represents a human life, and thousands of families and loved ones struggling with incomprehensible loss.
Fentanyl is the number one killer of adults for the ages of 18-45.
AGENDA
As Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, we seek the entire council's ITEM involvement in the fight to end the national opioid crisis. Together, we can fight to battle this crisis. The national opioid crisis is not and has not been a static occurrence. Instead, the opioid epidemic in our 12 communities has evolved over time from prescription opioids to heroin to synthetic opioids, namely fentanyl.
At present, fentanyl is exacerbating the death toll in our country, increasing and Brawley reported the highest age-related overdose death rates in the county.
Despite the thousands of pounds of fentanyl and other narcotics seized along our border, deadly drugs continue to pour through and poison our neighborhoods, leaving our local police force to address the criminal aspect of this crisis.
Fiscal Impact:
None.
Coordinated With:
None.
Attachments):
1. Letter of Support
CA
City of Calexico
608 HEBER AVENUE CALEXICO, CA 92231 • (760) 768-2110
CALIFORN
COUNTY.
March 1, 2023
Imperial County Board of Supervisors
940 W. Main Street, Suite 209
El Centro, CA 92243-2839
Dear Board of Supervisors:
We are deeply troubled by the threat fentanyl poses to America. The seriousness of that threat is intormed by the tact that in the 12-month period ending in Feb. 2022, more than 75,000 Americans died from overdose of synthetic opioids, mainly fentanyl.
With statistics this staggering, we cannot forget each number represents a human life, and thousands of families and loved ones struggling with incomprehensible loss.
Fentanyl is the number one killer of adults 18-45.
As city council of our respective city, we are deeply involved in the fight to end the national opioid crisis. Collectively, we are fighting together to battle this crisis. We well know that the national opioid crisis is not and has not been a static occurrence.
Instead, the opioid epidemic in our communities has evolved over time from prescription opioids to heroin to synthetic opioids, namely fentanyl.
At present, fentanyl is exacerbating the death toll in our country, increasing exponentially for the last several years. Although the fentanyl drug crisis has touched all parts of the Imperial County, mostly impacted zip codes located in the north end region. For example, according to the California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard (2023), the cities of Westmorland, Niland, and Brawley reported the highest age- related overdose death rates in the county.
Despite the thousands of pounds of fentanyl and other narcotics seized along our border, deadly drugs continue to pour through and poison our neighborhoods, leaving our local police force to address the criminal aspect of this crisis.
The purpose of this letter is to request the Board of Supervisors further enhance awareness among our communities through quick action that supports the declaration of illicit fentanyl as a public health crisis.
Imperial County Board of Supervisors
Given fentanyl's lethality, low cost and abundant availability, that the Board of Supervisors propose solutions to prevent the deaths of Imperial County citizens. Also propose solutions that help abate or at least slow the crisis's trajectory while also protecting our citizens from
Additionally, treating this solely as a narcotics control problem has failed to curb the proliferation of increasing quantities of fentanyl in our streets, we must not sit idly by until another person dies from this poison. We cannot wait for tragedy to strike when proactive steps can be taken now to preserve citizen lives. We urge you take immediate and decisive action and declare fentanyl a public health crisis.
Sincerely,
CITY OF CALEXICO
Javier Moreno
Mayor