It’s been two years since WCCO first reported on the dangerous needle littering problem in parts of south Minneapolis.
At that time, Minneapolis firefighters planned to pick up the needles until the city found a better solution. But despite their efforts, the problem is arguably worse, says Assistant Minneapolis Fire Chief Melanie Rucker. “This year it seems like it’s almost double, you know, the amount of needles that we’re picking up, and there has been an uptick in some of the overdoses and drug-related responses that we go to,” Rucker said.
Minneapolis Fire Stations 5 and 7 on Bloomington and Franklin avenues are the busiest, with firefighters picking up hundreds of needles last month alone.
WCCO revisited an alley near 25th and Bloomington avenues, where syringes with needles still attached are everywhere.