Trending...
- Spokane: SPD Arrest Level III Registered Sex Offender for Failure to Register - 170
- Spokane Police Respond to Midday Shooting on STA Bus
- SPD Detectives Investigating Suspicious Deaths in Northeast Spokane
~ The City of Spokane is taking steps to ensure that its public spaces remain safe and healthy for everyone. Mayor Nadine Woodward, along with councilmembers Jonathan Bingle and Michael Cathcart, have proposed the Safe Open Spaces Act, an ordinance that would make open drug use in public spaces illegal.
The ordinance, which was introduced Monday at the City Council's Finance and Administration Committee, would make use of a controlled substance in public spaces without a prescription a gross misdemeanor. If passed, it could be voted on next month.
"Open drug use in our public spaces while families, visitors, workers, and others who use our public spaces is not acceptable," said Woodward. "We need to re-establish the expectation that our sidewalks are safe and healthy for everyone."
Recent changes to state law based on a state Supreme Court case have made prohibitions on possessing user drug quantities enforceable only after police officers refer the individual to treatment twice. The state legislature is considering a fix to the so-called "Blake decision" that would make drug possession once again arrestable as a first offense, but that legislation still must be approved by the state House and signed by the governor.
More on Washingtoner
Bingle noted that open drug use is encroaching on others in their community against their will and Cathcart highlighted the extreme power of fentanyl which can lead to severe physical disfigurement, amputation, or death even with only small amounts.
Spokane is categorized as a High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the Office of National Drug Control Policy and open drug use is occurring at a greater rate in lower income neighborhoods including downtown. The Spokane Fire Department administers Narcan daily to counteract opioid overdose while the Spokane Police Department responds to about one-third of all overdose calls and also regularly uses Narcan.
Woodward has been part of the Spokane Alliance for Fentanyl Education Task Force and led the passage of a resolution at the U.S. Conference of Mayors seeking federal funding for fentanyl prevention efforts while Bingle and Cathcart have been staunch advocates for protecting open public spaces as drug-free areas for everyone to enjoy.
The proposed ordinance aligns with the Neighborhood Quality of Life and Downtown Neighborhood viability section of the City's Comprehensive Plan which calls for promoting actions designed to increase pedestrian use of streets, especially downtown, thereby creating a healthy street life. If passed it would be enforced citywide making it clear that community safety is their utmost priority and any behavior endangering them or their right to live in a safe community will not be tolerated.
The ordinance, which was introduced Monday at the City Council's Finance and Administration Committee, would make use of a controlled substance in public spaces without a prescription a gross misdemeanor. If passed, it could be voted on next month.
"Open drug use in our public spaces while families, visitors, workers, and others who use our public spaces is not acceptable," said Woodward. "We need to re-establish the expectation that our sidewalks are safe and healthy for everyone."
Recent changes to state law based on a state Supreme Court case have made prohibitions on possessing user drug quantities enforceable only after police officers refer the individual to treatment twice. The state legislature is considering a fix to the so-called "Blake decision" that would make drug possession once again arrestable as a first offense, but that legislation still must be approved by the state House and signed by the governor.
More on Washingtoner
- Tacoma: Statement by Council Member John Hines Celebrating Community Engagement on North Union Avenue Greenway Historic Designation
- Visit Spokane, City of Spokane Partner to Attract Film Production and Drive Economic Development
- Spokane: Public Service Announcement
- Tacoma Police Department Launches Tacoma Public Safety Partnership
- Paula Josephine Sadler Releases "Imagine" on 24th Anniversary of Sobriety
Bingle noted that open drug use is encroaching on others in their community against their will and Cathcart highlighted the extreme power of fentanyl which can lead to severe physical disfigurement, amputation, or death even with only small amounts.
Spokane is categorized as a High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the Office of National Drug Control Policy and open drug use is occurring at a greater rate in lower income neighborhoods including downtown. The Spokane Fire Department administers Narcan daily to counteract opioid overdose while the Spokane Police Department responds to about one-third of all overdose calls and also regularly uses Narcan.
Woodward has been part of the Spokane Alliance for Fentanyl Education Task Force and led the passage of a resolution at the U.S. Conference of Mayors seeking federal funding for fentanyl prevention efforts while Bingle and Cathcart have been staunch advocates for protecting open public spaces as drug-free areas for everyone to enjoy.
The proposed ordinance aligns with the Neighborhood Quality of Life and Downtown Neighborhood viability section of the City's Comprehensive Plan which calls for promoting actions designed to increase pedestrian use of streets, especially downtown, thereby creating a healthy street life. If passed it would be enforced citywide making it clear that community safety is their utmost priority and any behavior endangering them or their right to live in a safe community will not be tolerated.
0 Comments
Latest on Washingtoner
- Buy Retatrutide Research Peptide: Why Reta Is Getting So Much Attention
- Stage 2 Burn Ban Order in Effect Across Tacoma
- San Diego Attorney Anthony Z. Vargas Narrows Practice to Employment Law, Representing Employees Only
- Spokane: Additional PPE Kits Available Tuesday and Thursday
- Solid Earth Introduces RealtyID, a Universal Identity Spine for the Real Estate Industry
- BlazeHive's AI SEO Agent Outranks Human Writers on 500+ Google Top-3 Results in 5 Months, on Autopilot
- Cracking the Immortality Code: A Human / AI Long-Term Collaboration Working to Achieve Immortality
- On the Boards: Proform Builds Announce New Construction in Alki, Seattle
- On the Boards: Proform Builds Announce New Construction in Gig Harbor
- Phinge Exposes Massive AI Security Risks, Claiming Its Patented Hardware-Verified Architecture Is The Only Safeguard Against Surveillance Capitalism
- Phinge & CEO Robert DeMaio Publicly Declare Cash Settlements or Judgments Alone Cannot & Will Not Remedy the Deep Public Harm of Infringing Its IP
- Dana Flanagan Expands the Authority Architect, Bringing a Nontraditional Approach to Executive Authority, Strategic Access and Business Growth
- Phinge's Netverse: Reclaiming the Digital Frontier For Everyone Through CEO Robert DeMaio's Vision of a True App-less, User Data Sovereign World
- DuraFast Label Company Launches Seiko SLP850 2" Thermal Printer with Free Label Promotion
- Scientific Figure Releases Free Layout Template Libraries for Graphical Abstracts and Research Posters
- Permian Museum announces the addition of an Ancient Alien Artifacts photo gallery
- VISION 2050 Award for Historic Tideflats Subarea Plan Presented by Puget Sound Regional Council at Tacoma City Council Meeting
- The Golden Jazz Fest Shuttle Returns for 2026
- City of Tacoma to Activate New Automated Enforcement Cameras Beginning September 14
- KeysCaribbean Resorts Offer Savings On Vacations Through Aug. 31, Preview Exceptional Select Fall Rates of Less Than $200/Night