City Departments
Seattle City Council
3/4/2005 3:13:00 PM
Lisa Herbold (206) 684-8803
Elma Borbe (206) 684-8806
COUNCIL CONVENES EXPERTS ON THE WAR ON DRUGS
Do current drug enforcement strategies do more damage than good?
Seattle – The City Council will convene a Brown Bag discussion on Wednesday, March 9 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Seattle Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 600 Fourth Avenue, to discuss strategies on how the City can move toward a more effective and just drug policy.
“We are beginning to question the long term impact of drug enforcement strategies that, in many cases, do more damage than good to our communities” said Councilmember Nick Licata.
“Every year the City of Seattle faces deeper cuts while costs to maintain just the existing level of services increases. We cannot afford to continually lock up people in jail – it just costs too much,” said Councilmember David Della.
“We have to be vigilant and continue the effort to examine and reform our current drug policy – the system disproportionately affects the poor and people of color,“ said D’Adre Cunningham.
Joining Seattle Council members are: Kris Nyrop, a public health official with expertise with serving poor addicts and in tracking drug trends and drug abuse in Seattle-King County; Professor Katherine Beckett, a professional in sociology who can share about impacts to human interaction and society; D’Adre Cunningham, an advocate with knowledge about racially disparate practices in Seattle and criminal courts’ current alternatives offered to addicts; R. Gil Kerlikowske, Chief of Police, Seattle Police Department; Tom A. Carr, City Attorney; Willie Williams, community safety advocate; and Roger Goodman, Director of Drug Policy Project of the King County Bar Association.
-30-