K2 = East Harlem’s Epidemic
By Ashley Kalstek
Everybody is talking about the looming gentrification of Harlem, but some parts of the community have never been so bad. Looking like a scene from The Walking Dead, 125th and Lex has been named “K2 boulevard.”
“First it was the methadone clinic and everyone nodding all over 125th street, but at least they came and left,” says Harlem resident, Gregory Cagle. “With this K2 being so cheap, they seem to have made 125th street the go to place to buy, smoke and hangout. It looks really sketchy all day long.”
K2 is a mix of poisonous chemicals and herbs marketed as a poo pourri of sorts, and marked “not for human consumption” to save face. Names of the drug change frequently as well, ranging from Spice to AK47. Many other synthetic drugs are making their way into the market by using this marketing strategy and marking the substances not for humans. This goes for online and in-person sales.
After two large K2 raids in July, the NYPD and community leaders have vowed to get this poison of the streets and out of retailers. The NYPD has stated that the drug is illegal to sell, but not illegal to smoke. Just this year, fifteen deaths related to synthetic marijuana substances
occurred across the country. “K2 is a hell of a drug #dontdodrugs,” said Tameka Ellis, St. Barnabas Hospital worker said.
Costing as little as a dollar per dose, K2 finds itself most popular amongst the homeless community. A bus from a Randall’s Island shelter stops on K2 boulevard bringing large crowds of homeless people to the area, at once.
Melissa Mark-Viverito, City Council speaker whose office is located in East Harlem, is introducing a law that will ban any substance marketed as “synthetic marijuana.” “The City Council has led the charge to get K2 off the shelves and away from our most vulnerable citizens,” said MarkViverito. “This has been an issue of great personal importance to me, with Lexington Avenue and 125th Street in East Harlem being very seriously impacted by the drug. And today we have a legislative package to combat the spread of K2.”
Residents compare the effects of K2 to crack and heroin. Addicts are sprawled across from the MetroNorth 125th station on Park Avenue to the 4/5/6 subway line on Lexington. Commuters and residents are often scared to bring their children to the area or even worried for their own well-being. Many people on K2 act crazy and violent. “I said it before…K2 is not a game…It’s turning into the new crack…” said Facebook user Ebony Ross.
After months of complaints by commuters, residents and even spotlights on the issue by big media outlets, such as The Daily News and New York Times, the NYPD, under De Blasio’s orders, finally sent out patrollers. Trying to rid K2 boulevard of the homeless telling many to “move along,” There was silence for a few days, but residents said all they did was relocate them. “Residents complained about the situation a lot, they did move them from the retail and commercial areas. Now, they hang out into the residential areas south and north of 125th Street,” says Cagle.
“It’s like they put a Band-Aid on the it and not really solved the situation,” says Cagle. “With the rents being as high as they are in this area, I might as well move downtown. I am sure no one in midtown will allow what’s happening.”
On October 1, City Council passed, by unanimous vote, three new bills to combat East Harlem’s epidemic. Councilman Ruben Wills introduced the lead bill on the anti-K2 package across New York City. This legislation prohibits the “manufacture, sale, offer for sale, display for sale, knowing distribution for sale, or possession with intent to sell” of synthetic drugs.
The bill is waiting to be signed off by Mayor Bill de Blasio, which is expected due to his continued support against K2.
“K2 is a poison and selling it will be no longer be tolerated in New York City,” said de Blasio.
