Simi Valley heroin task force meeting set for March 8

A joint meeting of the Simi Valley City Council, Simi Valley Unified School District board and Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District board will be held March 8 to discuss forming a task force to combat heroin use among young people.

As envisioned, the task force will consist of members of the three agencies and the chair of the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The meeting's agenda was set last week by Mayor Bob Huber, school board President Janice Difatta and parks district board Chairwoman Kate O'Brien.

"We recognize that heroin use has significantly increased in Simi Valley recently and unfortunately has become a drug of choice for too many," the three officials said in a joint statement. "We are committed to joining with our community in doing all that we can in achieving the goal of 'not one more.' "

The public is encouraged to attend the March 8 meeting, the location of which has not yet been determined.

Hundreds of residents packed the City Council chambers last week to decry what they said was a deadly wave of heroin use among young people in a town that has been named among the safest cities in the nation.

Contrary to unsubstantiated heroin-related death figures circulating in the community, Simi Valley police Capt. John McGinty said there were six heroin deaths in the city last year, claiming the lives of four people in their 20s and two in their 40s. The last one occurred in October, and police are unaware of any such deaths in the city since then, McGinty said.

Concerned residents plan a march in Simi on Saturday to keep publicizing the issue.