More Action Opportunities!
Forward this email to at least 3 friends and family who live in Seattle
Call members of the Seattle City Council Public Safety Committee BEFORE Tuesday, September 19.
District 1 Lisa Herbold 206-684-8801
District 2 Tammy Morales 206-684-8802
District 3 Kshama Sawant 206-684-8803
District 4 Alex Pedersen 206-684-8804
District 5 Debora Juarez 206-684-8805
District 6 Dan Strauss 206-684-8806
District 7 Andrew Lewis 206-684-8808
At-large Position 8 Teresa Mosqueda 206-684-8808
At-large Position 9 Sara Nelson 206-684-8809
Sample phone/public comment script (These scripts are provided for your use/inspiration. Writing your own message is always the most effective. If you have a personal story to add in relation to a talking point, that is an effective way of getting the message across.)
You will only have 1-2 minutes for public comment - so pick a one or two of your favorite talking points
I believe no matter your race, gender, or how humble your home, you have a right to make your own choices regarding substance use. We all deserve access to health care for substance use disorder, not incarceration, and your access to healthcare should be on your own terms and not be at the mercy of police, courts, and prosecutors.
This New War on Drugs Ordinance Fails to re-establish community court or a therapeutic drug court. We have not established life-saving overdose prevention centers or health engagement hubs. As a result, Seattle residents have limited to no access to life-saving evidenced-based treatment for substance use disorder. The only thing this ordinance accomplishes is igniting the ineffective, costly, racist, and deadly War on Drugs.
This ordinance leaves discretion up to officers and the city attorney. SPD has a long history of biased policing and the city attorney has a record of biased prosecution.
Incarceration is NOT a treatment for substance use disorder. Incarceration leads to barriers to accessing housing, childcare, healthcare, employment, and in turn destabilizes individuals, making recovery more out of reach.
We are already facing unprecedented levels of fentanyl overdose deaths. People who are arrested and put in jail for short stays are at an exponentially higher risk of overdose upon release. The result of criminalizing possession and public use, failing to scale up evidenced-based solutions, and dismantling diversion, will be an increased death rate of our Seattle residents.
Arrest and incarceration are expensive!! The city is facing another budget shortfall next year. If the City Council passes this legislation, what essential services will be cut?
No matter your race, your gender, or your income, you deserve safety, including your health and well-being while incarcerated. Our jail and court systems are beyond capacity and do not provide treatment for substance use disorder or adequate treatment to meet people’s medical and mental health needs. We are already seeing a record number of deaths in King County Jail. Adding to the King County Jail population will only exacerbate existing problems.
We should not be funding Seattle’s New War on Drugs when we know the war on drugs has been an abysmal failure. Addressing simple possession as a crime and failing to treat substance use disorder has failed to improve public safety, while disproportionately impacting our Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian and other marginalized communities.
85% of Washingtonians believe that substance use disorder should be treated as a public health disorder, not a criminal justice disorder. Washington residents, across the state, are correct. Seattle City Council Members should follow the wisdom of what both its residents and treatment and recovery specialists agree on: Substance use disorder treatment should be left to healthcare providers, not police, courts and prosecutors.
Vote NO on Seattle's New War on Drugs Bill!
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