September 27, 2023 TO THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA: For the following reasons, I am returning herewith to your Honorable Body as disapproved, Bill Number 230410, introduced into City Council on May 11, 2023, by Councilmember Lozada. Bill No. 230410 amends Chapter 14-500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Overlay Zoning Districts," to add an overlay district pertaining to "injection sites for narcotics," all under certain terms and conditions. This legislation is aimed at what the bill calls "narcotic injection sites," or medical facilities where individuals may use drugs (theirs, not acquired on location) under the supervision of professional staff trained to prevent fatal overdoses. The Administration refers to these facilities as Overdose Prevention Centers (OPCs) because that is their primary purpose: preventing fatal drug overdoses. Extensive scientific research on OPCs around the world has shown that OPCs save lives, improve a...