David's Blog

For several months, Mayor Don Ness, Police Chief Gordon Ramsay, and City Attorney Gunnar Johnson have beseeched the Attorney General to stand with our community in combating the sale of synthetic drugs within our beloved city.  To her credit, Lori Swanson has responded to these appeals by stating, "I am willing to do whatever it takes to protect our citizens from this epidemic." She has subsequently arranged to visit our fair city and to host a public hearing to gain our community's perspective regarding the impact of synthetic drug abuse. The gathering will occur:

Friday, June 7

2:00 p.m.

Sheraton Duluth Hotel

301 E. Superior Street

This is our opportunity to have our voices heard. We will have the undivided attention of an individual who can marshal the State of Minnesota's formidable resources to combat the sale of synthetic drugs. To make this opportunity possible, we must contact John Howe at the attorney general's office at john.howe@ag.state.mn.us or at 800.657.3787. Simply let John Howe know that you wish to share your remarks at the public hearing. Doing so will allow for an orderly sharing of testimonials.

Downtown Duluth has become the front line of our community's fight against the sale of synthetic drugs. It is fitting that the attorney general's public hearing will take place within a few blocks from The Last Place on Earth - an establishment that is recognized as an aggressive distributer of synthetic drugs.

I suspect that Friday, June 7, will be another beautiful, radiant afternoon in our Zenith City. There will be all kinds of compelling and enjoyable things we could do on this Friday afternoon. Yet, our friends and neighbors who serve on Duluth's police force and those who work and live and recreate in our Historic Downtown need our help. Our friends and neighbors who work in our medical centers need our help; users of synthetic drugs often end up in their emergency rooms. Our local elected officials, who are doing all they can to marshal our city's resources in the battle against the sale of synthetic drugs, need our help.

Those on the front lines of this community challenge need us to make our concerns known to the attorney general. If we do so, the attorney general conclude the public hearing with a full appreciation for the intensity of this concern along with a heightened understanding of the need for an immediate resolution to this community problem.