video by @fox13seattle
Seattle has become the only city in Washington State where public hard drug use will not be criminalized, following the Seattle City Council's narrow 5-4 decision to reject a new state law from being incorporated into the city's municipal code. This controversial decision has drawn criticism from both the King County Prosecutor's Office and the City Attorney's Office, who urged council members to adopt the law.
As a result of this rejection, Seattle City Attorney Ann Davidson will be unable to prosecute public drug use cases in the same manner as other cities in Washington. The city council chambers witnessed a mixed response from the community members, with some supporting the council's decision and others expressing their disapproval.
Those city council members who voted against the bill argued that prosecution does not effectively reduce drug use and disproportionately affects communities of color. The final vote was met with cheers from supporters of the decision. Council member Andrew Lewis, representing downtown Seattle – an area heavily impacted by drug use and overdoses – was visibly shaken during the session but ultimately chose to vote against the measure.
King County Prosecutor Lisa Manny urged the city council members to adopt the ordinance, emphasizing that the war on drugs requires a collaborative effort and the city attorney needs the authority to take action within city limits. However, she also admitted that her office is currently ill-equipped with the necessary funding and staff to handle an influx of misdemeanor cases.
Governor Jay Inslee, who recently signed House Bill 55-36 during a special session, has not yet commented on Seattle's decision to reject the new state law. This development has left residents and business owners in the city with mixed feelings as they continue to confront the ongoing issue of drug use and addiction within their community.
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