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Maryjane Van Cleave, Renton’s head of Equity, Housing and Human Services, discusses diversion and drug treatment options available to those who violate the new drug ordinance
After weeks of receiving input from the Renton community, all seven council members voted tonight to pass a new Renton drug ordinance.
The city staff provided a thorough presentation during the Committee of the Whole meeting prior to tonight’s council meeting. The presentation was heartbreaking at times, touching on the fact that Renton tragically lost 47 residents through overdoses last year, and police and firefighters had to save many more from close calls. The new ordinance focuses heavily on encouraging those struggling with addiction to get treatment as an alternative to being charged and sentenced for drug crimes. The council asked numerous questions during the presentation, and the city staff including the Police Chief, the City Attorney, the Chief Administrative Officer, and the Director of Equity, Housing and Human Services answered them all adeptly.
Six members of the community made comments about the new drug law during the Council Meeting public comment period, including me. Four of the commenters encouraged the Council not to pass the law, and two of us encouraged them to do so. Following audience comment, Mayor Pavone announced they had received a large number of emails, calls, and letters on the topic, and I’ve previously been informed that these mostly favored enacting a city drug law.
After all the comment the Council took a vote, and they unanimously passed the Committee of the Whole report which recommended approval of the ordinance. A little later in the meeting they voted on the first reading of the actual ordinance, and unanimously passed that. The final step will be to pass the ordinance at second reading next Monday, and then it will become law.
Leaders in the State Legislature are reporting that they may have developed a compromise drug package at the state level, and if this holds it is possible that the state law and the city ordinance will be completed around the same time. The prevailing view of the council appeared to be that they would go ahead with the city ordinance in case the state law does not get approved.
The Committee of the Whole video can be seen here. The City Council Meeting video can be seen here.
So….. will it be illegal to use drugs openly? Last week I walked to Safeway and passed by Renton High School which was in session. There were no fewer than four different groups of adults within a block of so of the school with blankets over their heads openly using drugs. This can’t continue. People need help, but open neighborhood use of hard drugs is not benefitting anyone.
Totally agree with you !!!!
I’d love to be a fly on the wall on some of those discussions between some of the council members. Phrases like “just this one vote, it’s an election year” and “don’t draw attention to us just yet” we’re probably bandied about.
Do you know it! I’ll point out the two council members have been endorsed by Mrs. Defund The Police. Got to keep hidden till you have a majority.
If there wasn’t a danger of it not being passed next week someone would have put forth a request to do the second reading at last night’s meeting. There is still a chance that this will not pass with the 2nd reading being held at the following meeting. Everyone who commented to the Council both at the meeting and via email or mail needs to follow up with a reminder that this needs to be passed at the 2nd reading. Make sure to clearly state you are a resident of Renton, giving your address will assist in verifying this information. If no one responds but people from outside Renton, some Council members may still feel safe with a large number from outside Renton commenting.
Dave’s right. There was a lot of testimony asking for full-decriminalization last night. Please keep sending emails to council@rentonwa.gov.
Anyone who thinks it’s too harsh to use the law to encourage rehab should watch the presentations given at Committee of the Whole. Overdose deaths in our city and county have been increasing 50-100 percent per year, and our harm-reduction approach has done virtually nothing to slow this calamity. The presentation illustrates the compelling desire by Renton’s first-responders to get those caught in addiction the help they need to save their lives, but the first responders have no legal way to encourage treatment beyond pleading with them and handing them a business card. We then require these same first-responders to attend to the bodies of those very people they longed to help, after they have died needlessly from the tragedy of overdose. The devastating passing of those caught in addiction, many of them young people who should be enjoying the healthiest years of their lives, is traumatic for everyone who loves and cares for them, including the first responders that wanted to help. 47 Renton residents died this way in 2022. Here again is a link to the Committee of the Whole presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCj6HZxeKtM
After watching the YouTube video, it appears that the vote could still go 3-4 against. If you live in or do business in Renton, contact the Renton Council and tell them we need this protection, PASS the 2nd READING of the RENTON DRUG ORDINANCE.
When I say Renton residents, I should also include those that work or do business in Renton.
Thank you, City Council. Election year or not. Finally, a breath of sanity emerging from a governmental body. A small step in the right direction for all involved.
Here is a story about Portland going the decriminalization route:
“Thousands of Portland residents leaving as city grapples with fentanyl crisis”
https://komonews.com/news/local/fentanyl-overdoses-homelessness-crisis-portland-oregon-pacific-northwest-drugs-treatment-suburbs-mayor-ted-wheeler-multnomah-county-measure-110-jail-time-legislature-nonprofit#