Fasano: New Haven Mass Overdose A Wakeup Call To City

NORTH HAVEN, CT — State Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano (North Haven) criticized city officials for their handling of drug abuse on the New Haven Green after more than 70 overdoses in a single day. The overdoses are believed to be caused by synthetic cannabinoid K2.

The New Haven Green became the epicenter of a public health crisis as emergency responders struggled to keep up with the staggering amount of overdoses.

“What happened in New Haven yesterday was disturbing and heartbreaking," Fasano said. "It speaks to a painful and ugly reality about drug abuse we have to work together to combat. It also speaks to a city that has allowed one of its primary community centers, the New Haven Green, to deteriorate to the point where it is no longer an attraction for families or economic development, but a place of despair."

Related: New Haven Mass Overdoses: 76 Cases, 2 Arrests Made

Fasano went on to say city officials who have ignored drug abuse on the Green outside of yesterday.

"It is my hope that yesterday will be a wakeup call to the mayor’s administration about a problem they can no longer turn a blind eye to," he said.

More from Fasano:

"We need to proactively treat drug addiction with proper social services and provide necessary shelter. We also need a united effort to clean up the Green, to make New Haven a strong city, and we need a criminal investigation into how this drug came to the Green unlike anything New Haven has ever seen before."

“New Haven should be a place of hope. From world-renowned medicine and education opportunities to great businesses, history and community pride, our city has so much to offer. I love New Haven and what happened yesterday not only raises moral questions and is scary to our residents, but it is a deterrent to people coming here and staying here. Mayor Harp’s administration needs to act swiftly and decisively to take control over the problems that have festered on the New Haven Green and surrounding areas to prevent the Elm City from becoming a ghost town.”

Image via Fasano Office