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Listed here are excerpts from the June 13 Instances editorial board interview with Mayor Bruce Harrell on public drug use and possession legal guidelines.
On believing the Seattle Metropolis Council would vote on June 6 to approve an ordinance prohibiting public drug use and possession, counting on Metropolis Council members with reputations that the editorial board termed “not strong” on following by means of with their beforehand said positions: We have been fairly assured it could move. … We have been actually in our workplace strategizing how we cope with the 5-4 vote (the ordinance passes over the objection of activists and others). I requested the query, are the votes strong? The votes have been alleged to be strong. So, that’s OK. I’ll take the hits. That’s simply what occurred. Maybe you’d have me give “not strong” council members political safety. I’ve a complete metropolis to run, by the way in which, OK? So giving “not strong” council members safety on what they need to do anyway — I didn’t join that.
On why extra information on the variety of drug customers is essential: There’s not a baseline understanding of the issue we’re attempting to unravel. … I’m saying that while you and I stroll downtown, which is our financial core, how many individuals are utilizing medication within the open air market? How many individuals are promoting medication? What’s the drug? How will we quantify with information the drug subject, the drug downside we’re attempting to unravel. Now we have anecdotal info. So within the subsequent month, that’s what we’re going to determine.
On who would probably be arrested below new metropolis legal guidelines on public drug use: I don’t suppose individuals needs to be utilizing medication the place individuals have a proper to buy. Bus stops. Now what about this state of affairs? And nobody requested me about this. Somebody is simply in an alley minding their very own enterprise utilizing medication. Two individuals are huddled round tinfoil. Officer sees them. What ought to the officer do then? That’s going to be addressed within the ordinance. I wish to get my officers’ directive on what they need to do, what I’m requiring them to do. As a result of I don’t need my officers to only stroll previous and ignore that particular person. I don’t have the reply but. However I’ll have the reply in a few weeks. … Belief me, this will probably be controversial. This will probably be robust work within the subsequent a number of weeks. However I don’t need them to do nothing.
On getting the town council to once more take up and, this time, move an ordinance on public drug use: I understand how to depend votes. I understand how to safe my votes. Once more, my job is to not whip votes for ‘not strong’ council members. However I’m fairly good at passing laws that may meet wants.
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