Legislator Tom Donnelly recently invited several leaders of Huntington Matters, a community group focused on the betterment of Huntington Station and the surrounding areas, to address the November 15 meeting of the Suffolk County Heroin and Opiate Epidemic Advisory Panel, of which he is a member.
The invitation came after Legislator Donnelly, who sits on the panel as chair of the Legislature’s Public Safety, met with June Hunt-Margolin, Dana Richter and Diane Schaber of Huntington Matters at his District Office in Huntington Station, over shared concerns about the New York State Criminal Justice Reform bill, passed and signed into law earlier this year, and how it will impact those battling addiction and the community in particular when law goes into effect on January 1.
The Suffolk County Heroin and Opiate Epidemic Advisory panel, chaired by Legislator Sarah Anker, was created by Resolution 704-2017, with a goal of “providing ongoing guidance and input to the county in combating the opiate epidemic by taking an interdisciplinary approach focusing on preventative education, enhancement of law enforcement efforts, and aiding in treatment and rehabilitation.”
“I would like to thank June Hunt-Margolin, Dana Richter and Diane Schaber of Huntington Matters for their honest and candid insight in sharing their own stories regarding addiction and why their personal experiences have led to questions of whether those released under the NYS Criminal Justice Reform Law and battling addictions will receive any and all receive necessary treatments,” said Legislator Donnelly. “I share their concerns and will continue to advocate our State officials to provide the resources we will need as we work within this law.”