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Tensions were running high at city hall Monday with more than two dozen community members begging city council not to endorse three supervised injection sites for drug users in their area.

“Already, the drug dealers, they own the place. It will only get worse. How is that healthy for anyone?” said McCauley resident Geo Fiddler, showing council a photo-montage of used needles and homeless people in the area.

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“It’s bad enough in Chinatown. You add this in, it’s going to make it worse,” said Mei Hung, vice-chairperson of the Chinese Benevolent Association.

The three sites span Chinatown — drug dealers and addicts will constantly move back and forth between them, Hung said, urging council to support only one site so police can keep a better eye out for drug dealers preying on vulnerable people in the area. “Safety is a huge concern for our community.”

Because of the volume of public speakers, council postponed its vote until Tuesday. It’s being asked to send a letter of support to the federal government to secure an exemption to the Criminal Code.