In Philadelphia, twice as many people died last year from accidental drug overdoses as died from homicide -- and both the homicide rate and overdose rate are unacceptably high, while HIV rates creep back up from historic lows. As scholar and activist Ruth Wilson Gilmore says, "when life is precious, life is precious." With violence and overdoses soaring and little being done to address root causes, how will Philadelphians know their lives are precious?

Community members and experts agree about what prevents drug overdoses, gun violence, and HIV. It's not pouring more money into a troubled police department, or expanding stop and frisk and involuntary incarcerations. Sending more people into Philadelphia's overcrowded jails just leads to more homelessness, deeper poverty, and increased overdose risk. Will you send a letter to City Council urging them to take concrete, loving steps to save lives in Philadelphia, including opening an overdose prevention site in a central, accessible location?

In the long term, what we need is safe housing that Philadelphians on fixed incomes or working jobs like retail and security can actually afford, as well as high-quality accessible health care, mental health care, and treatment for everyone who needs it. Immediately, what we need is to remind all Philadelphians their lives are precious and we will do whatever it takes to keep them safe and alive.

December 1st marks the 35th annual World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day is both a reminder of the human costs of government neglect and abandonment, and the power of people coming together to fight stigma and demand access to ALL proven solutions for saving lives.

In honor of World AIDS Day, will you join us in calling on Philadelphia's City Council to remember that Philadelphians' lives are precious, by re-opening Hahnemann hospital as a full-service location to access overdose prevention services, mental health care, residential treatment, and emergency shelter for all who need it?