Could harsh blue lights help keep hard drugs out of the new downtown plaza?

Members of the Downtown Association board cooked up an idea this week that might stop drug abusers from dying in planned public washrooms in the new downtown plaza.

"Starbucks, in major metropolitan areas, have changed their lighting to blue lights," said board member Elizabeth Filice.

"People were OD'ing in the washrooms," Filice said. "So they changed the light so the addicts can't go and shoot up and pass away, because they can't find the veins in the blue light."

"They're not that expensive," she said. "You can change your light for a few dollars and then they can't do it and then they're going to tell the other people don't bother.... and they move onto another washroom."

"They need a vein, and they can't find a vein in those lights."

The idea has spread from Starbucks to other business establishments in major U.S. markets, Filice said.

The blue-lit bathrooms idea was one of many mulled over at a Wednesday-night strategic planning session conducted by Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Rory Ring.

Finding a way to eliminate reader forums on SooToday and other media sites was also mentioned as something that might boost local positivity.

"That's not the publisher's fault," Ring said. "Operator error!"

Some new downtown events planned for 2020:

• Queen of Hearts (Feb. 10-14), a lead-up to Valentine's Day
• National Historic Week (June-ish), introduction of new downtown app
• Cornfest (Sept. 12), hay bales, hoedowns and corn husks
• Save the Clock Tower (Nov. 12). 'Back to the Future' themed fundraiser dance
• Reindeer Run (Nov. 21). Kind of like the Algoma U Colour Blast run, except all participants get jingle-belled