Site of frequent violence & overdoses, the Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP) building on State street has been enclosed with a steel fence. Approval for the defensive measure had been granted by the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission in July.
STAP is a harm reduction organization that offers HIV/AIDS services in the Southern Tier of New York. STAP’s Syringe Exchange Program “provides syringe access and comprehensive risk reduction services to individuals who currently inject substances.” These services include “anonymous syringe exchange.”
Following a fire on the porch, STAP Executive Director John Barry sought permission to modify the historic building that hosts the STAP program. Barry had previously requested the board’s permission to fence the driveway of the property.
“It would be a real tragedy to have any more damage happen to this beautiful old historic building,” Barry said during the July meeting of the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission.
STAP has become a focal point for frequent overdoses, assaults, stabbings, shootings and drug activity. Individuals congregate on the porch all day and night. The morning would frequently find the site strewn with trash, used hypodermic needles, empty alcohol bottles, shopping carts & stripped bikes among other debris.
“There’s been a lot of garbage left in the front yard that has to be picked up by either myself or my staff when we come in the mornings,” Barry said.
The adjacent Tompkins County Human Services building upgraded its security partially in response to the activities emanating from STAP.
In October of last year, an overdose and a stabbing occurred within hours of each other at the STAP building.
“Previously, we placed a fence across the driveway of the property because during the night time hours people were using the back of the property for, well, ‘partying’ I guess is probably the most succinct way to put it,” Barry explained. “That was understandably disturbing to the neighbors, and so at the neighbor’s request….we placed a fence across the driveway.”
Individuals have begun congregating next to the sign for the Tompkins County Human Services Building, and injecting drugs across the street from the STAP building.
Barry had previously told Ithaca Crime that none of the other sites STAP operates in other counties have issues like the Ithaca facility.
The July exchange between John Barry & the Landmarks Preservation Commission can be viewed below.
CORRECTION: A pervious version of this article misspelled STAP Executive Director John Barry’s name.