New to town, no problem: you can score drugs in no time says mayor candidate Dean Evers

As more shocking photos emerge of drug use in public toilets in the CBD, Mayoral candidate Dean Evers has shared his thoughts on the problem. He says newcomers to town can score in thirty minutes.

As more shocking photos emerge of drug use in public toilets in the CBD, Hope for the Homeless founder and Mayoral candidate Dean Evers has shared his thoughts on the problem.

As more shocking photos emerge of drug use in public toilets in the CBD, Hope for the Homeless founder and Mayoral candidate Dean Evers has shared his thoughts on the problem.

Mr Evers has worked in the social services sector in Coffs Harbour since 1999. Back then he was with the Department of Community Services (DOCS) but now heads the local charity Hope for the Homeless.

“What we hear from people coming into town, is if they need to score, they can score drugs within 30 minutes, it’s that readily available,” Mr Evers said.

“It’s always baffled me that drugs are so readily available to people with no previous involvement in town.”

He has the “utmost respect” for police but says if it’s that easy for newcomers, why can’t officers do more about it.

Local businesswoman Nikki Williams has “had a gutful” of the drug problem in town and recently shared some shocking images of discarded needles and other drug paraphernalia in public toilets.

In recent days she has shared even more photos to emphasise it is not an isolated incident.

Nikki Williams and her mother who owns Nik and She in the city centre which was broken into recently.

She is calling on candidates in the upcoming Council elections in September to make the issue a priority.

Mr Evers says the first thing he would do if elected Mayor would be to bring all the relevant authorities to the table to see what is already being done about the problem.

“It’s a complex issue and there are a lot of questions I can’t answer but I would start by getting the right people together to say we have a serious problem here; then do some research on what other Councils with similar situations are doing and then formulate some policies from there.”

Coffs Harbour business operator Nikki Williams shared these disturbing photos of discarded needles in a public toilet in the CBD.

Coffs Harbour City Council has undertaken a number of initiatives in an attempt to revitalise the area including redevelopment of the City Square with night-time lighting and new paved areas.

“It looks pretty but it doesn’t help businesses along there. Personally I liked it with more eateries in the centre with more places to sit,” Mr Evers said.

“It’s a bit of a ghost town now - I don’t feel it’s made an improvement. What we need is to open it up on Saturday afternoon and Sunday mornings.”

Council has also moved to assure the community that it has fulfilled its commitment to install CCTV cameras in various crime hot spots including the Coffs CBD.

READERS REACT

When the Coffs Coast Advocate shared Nikki Williams’ photos and experiences of having items stolen and both staff and clients harassed, this is what readers said:

Allen Willis - Offer them more support, drop in centres, homeless shelters, work support programs. Many of these people are longing for connection, especially community connection but feel abandoned or alone which fuels their drug use.

The opposite of addiction, is human connection. While it’s easy to call them junkies and look down on them or the other ways, maybe we should be looking at ways we as a community can help solve the problem.

Coffs Harbour business operator Nikki Williams has shared disturbing photos of discarded needles and other drug paraphernalia in public toilets in the CBD.

They are just someone‘s kid screaming out for help in a way that lowers their internal pain and conflicts.

Shiani Scotford - We are all human. I 100 per cent agree with you Allen Willis. And the sad thing is, most people suffer some form of addiction if it isn’t alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs, illegal drugs, food, shopping, self harm, excessive exercise, gambling.....some people’s struggles/addiction are just put on show more than others because they have immediate impacts ...not just long term and can’t be hidden so easily. We need to stop this stigma and offer some real genuine support. Social connection.

Stephen Regan - I avoid Woolworths in town these days. I drive across town to the plaza just to get bread and milk.