Jordan McClements is a painter and writer from Dover, whose art depicts the overdose/unsheltered crisis. His works are on display at the Dover Art League and at Studio B Milford.
You, American politicians, are disappointing and shameless. President Donald Trump is going to get to our state before our Democratic and Republican politicians even have time to solve our overdose/unsheltered crisis.
You don’t believe me?
My uncle, my cousin and I overdosed in our state. American politicians don’t fight for the addicted and homeless now. The only reason our American government would put up a fight is to get the ongoing cash cow from the opioid settlement. American politicians are under investigation for stealing from the opioid settlement and the plan to solve the overdose crisis. They have done both. I know this because Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen confirmed it during a meeting Aug. 28.
Per the Delaware Prescription Opioid Settlement Tracker, $13,599,364 of the $61,649,200 settlement has already been spent. And $13,599,364 is already in play among 70 groups in Delaware. We have over $13 million in play by the opioid settlement being wasted.
Guess what, reader?
They’re going to keep giving and giving to those groups.
Who comprises these groups?
Good question. Because I know, as someone who has lost a cousin and is now taking care of an uncle who overdosed, what it’s like firsthand to watch people steal money from a working group that is helping the addicted and the homeless in America. Those people are all over this nation. We see it every day. We see the work they are doing in the community, but there is no work in the community.
If there is, why are there people strung out and overdosing on the sides of highways?
If you were in the community, we would have community. The $13 million was distributed among 70 groups that don’t have the stigma of homelessness, addiction, overdose and poverty, while we are watching our friends, families, counties, cities and loved ones crumble, and as we look in the mirror at our complacency’s decay. But that mirror isn’t the one we avoid in the bathroom. No. That mirror is one that causes us to tense up, when we aren’t or don’t know how to help that person in our lives, and we aren’t on the road to our definition of unity, America.
American politicians, you’re not going to get reelected if you don’t solve this issue. It’s easy. You already stole the plan from the Unsheltered Working Group, and now, you and all your teams are fighting over the rest of the remaining funds of the opioid settlement. But you’re not interested in that. You know that President Trump is going to bring troops to our city like in Portland, Oregon, and in Chicago. You’re going to cower down to the Trump administration concerning immigrants, and you’re going to cower down to the Trump administration in terms of the addicted and the homeless population. You’re going to let lethal enforcement, unchecked, enter your state to worsen our overdose/unsheltered crisis because it’s easy for you, American politicians. You have no stake in solving the overdose and unsheltered crisis besides the money you make off your gallivanting pageantry, along with the plans you stole and the money you stole. But you’ll get away with that.
How do I know?
Republicans, you’re going to go with President Trump regardless of Delaware’s interests. Republicans are not alone; they are only different in name from Democrats. You’ve been talking about your boxing match with President Trump, and now, President Trump will claim every excuse to make an example of you because you all are not leaders.
What do I mean?
You don’t fight for your people.
You are cowards.
You have no plans to change the overdose/unsheltered crisis. Now that you’ve been caught stealing the plans and the funds to solve the overdose crisis, all of you American politicians and groups that are stealing from the homeless and the addicted should pause. You are the reason for this overdose/unsheltered crisis. You prey on the sick and vulnerable because you think it’s easy. But now that you’ve been caught, our governor wants to suggest changing zoning laws.
American politicians, act like your kids can and will overdose.
We’re all vulnerable.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
