Seattle, WA
Seattle to consider public drug ordinance after council committee approves proposal
Drug ordinance proposal passes City Council committee
Seattle is a step closer to adopting its own version of the state’s public drug use laws.
SEATTLE – Seattle is a step closer to adopting its own version of the state’s public drug use laws.
On Tuesday, the proposed ordinance passed the Seattle City Council’s Public Safety and Human Services Committee in a 4-1 vote. Soon, the bill will go before the full council for consideration.
Most communities in Washington conformed to new state laws on controlled substances, signed by Governor Jay Inslee in May 2023. The state laws make public drug use and possession a gross misdemeanor, allowing city attorneys to prosecute the drug charges.
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City Attorney Ann Davison proposed a bill for Seattle to conform to state law and update municipal code. However, Seattle City Council rejected the bill during a vote in June.
“Colleagues, I’m sure it comes as no surprise that I wish the city council had simply voted for the conforming legislation that Councilmember Nelson and I crafted with the City Attorney Ann Davison on June 6, more than three months ago,” said Alex Pederson, Seattle City Councilmember serving District 4.
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After council rejected adopting the state’s law, Mayor Bruce Harrell formed a task force to create a new proposal for the city. It still included ideas from the state, and added new intervention and recovery services. The mayor’s proposal also gave guidance to Seattle Police when responding to public drug use.
The mayor’s office presented the bill to council in July. The Public Safety and Human Services committee made several amendments to Harrell’s proposal.
“We’re overdue for getting these provisions into our Seattle municipal code. I believe the amendments adopted by our public safety committee today make this legislation better. I’m especially grateful for the adoption of my amendment to require additional data in reporting, so that policymakers will have the information they need to assess whether the legislation is working or not,” said Pederson.
Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda rejected the latest amended ordinance proposal, saying it still lacked attention to diversion efforts.
“I want people to get access to public health services just as much as the people who testified in support of this legislation say they want. But that is not what this legislation does. And without the funding that is purported to come with this bill, we have no assurances that there will be alternative structures and programs and diversion strategies to prevent people from going to jail. We do not have to pass this legislation,” said citywide councilmember Mosqueda.
Even with the amendments, the proposed ordinance also had members of the public divided.
“There is no budget to support this and there is no plan, no care, compassion or commitment to do anything other than imprison our most vulnerable citizens,” said one woman during the committee meeting’s public comment session.
“Restoring a safe and welcoming environment downtown will bring back residents, workers and visitors, increase the momentum needed to get downtown on a sustained path to recovery,” said one man during the committee meeting’s public comment session.
The proposed ordinance will go to the full city council during the Sept. 26 meeting for further consideration, and a possible vote.