Malliotakis Slams Adams Plan to Expand Heroin Injection Centers in New York City

(STATEN ISLAND/BROOKLYN, NY) - Today Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) slammed New York City Mayor Eric Adams for his plan to "optimize and expand" the number of supervised injection centers across the city. The Mayor's announcement comes as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked a district court judge for a two-month extension to allow the federal government more time to decide the legality of supervised injection sites.  

"It's been a little over one year since the city opened these illegal supervised injection sites and not only has the quality of life in these neighborhoods severely declined, but overdose deaths in our city are continuing to climb to record levels," Malliotakis said. "Residents in East Harlem have said the center, which is placed across from a daycare and down the street from a school, is a 'magnet for drug dealers,' that's only exacerbated violence and crime in their neighborhood. We warned the city about the unintended consequences last year and it's disturbing that Mayor Adams is complicit with this illegal scheme that's only encouraging illegal drug use, leaving residents fearful and placing them in harm's way." 

Last Congress, Malliotakis led the New York Republican delegation in introducing legislation to withhold federal funding from city, state, tribal, or private entities that operate supervised injection centers in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. Washington Heights Corner Project and New York Harm Reduction Educators the groups that merged to form "OnPoint NYC," have both received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the federal government. Malliotakis' legislation, which she intends to reintroduce this Congress, would have prevented these funds from being dispersed. 

Additionally, as a State Legislator, Malliotakis received a commitment from the DOJ to stop New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's original Supervised Injection Center plans given its clear violation of the Controlled Substances Act. As a member of Congress, she has called on the Biden Administration and New York State Attorney General Letitia James to make the same commitment and is renewing those calls given the Mayor's announcement today. 

Malliotakis added: "In 2018, I received a commitment from the DOJ that it would intervene if Mayor de Blasio proceeded with opening these centers and I'm renewing my calls to Attorney General Garland to shut these centers down in light of today's news. If our city officials truly cared about stopping the opioid crisis, they would call on the Biden Administration to secure our southern border where the majority of illicit drugs are coming from, and work to get these individuals struggling with addiction the mental health and rehabilitation they desperately need. The Mayor's plan to expand the number of these destructive facilities is irresponsible and will only further the crime and drug epidemic driving residents out of our city today."