Seattle's new mayor has been plunged into controversy after allegations emerged that she instructed police not to arrest individuals using illegal drugs on the city's streets, a policy shift openly celebrated by some of the city's addicts.
Addicts Hail 'Cool' Mayor as Police Told to Stand Down
In a startling revelation, homeless drug users in Seattle have praised Mayor Katie Wilson, who was inaugurated this month, for reportedly directing law enforcement to adopt a non-confrontational approach to public narcotics consumption. A 36-year-old man named Brandon told the Daily Mail the mayor was "cool," linking her policies to a period during the Covid pandemic where, he admitted, "We went buck wild!"
This sentiment is reportedly shared by Seattle's progressive City Attorney, Erika Evans. A memo issued by Evans on January 1 outlines that individuals arrested for public drug use must first be referred to the city's 'LEAD' diversion programme, which aims to offer treatment. Charges are only to be considered for circumstances deemed "acute or problematic," and even then, prosecutors must consult again with LEAD officers.
'Suicidal Empathy': Police Union Blasts Policy as Streets Deteriorate
The Seattle Police Officers' Guild (SPOG), representing the city's 1,300 officers, has condemned the approach as an example of "suicidal empathy." They warn that residents' quality of life is already plummeting. This criticism comes as tent encampments have proliferated since Wilson's election victory in November, blighting areas from downtown to Chinatown.
Business owners are in despair. Mary Tran, an employee at a jewellery store in Chinatown, described a dire situation of open drug use, defecation, and camping outside her shop. "We're living in a prison," she said, noting she has stopped calling the police as they rarely intervene. Her store now requires customers to be buzzed through three secured doors.
Life on the Streets: Prostitution, Fentanyl, and a $5 High
The Daily Mail's visit this week found drug users openly consuming substances on street corners and in bus stops. Interviews with homeless individuals revealed a grim cycle funded by crime and prostitution. Vanessa, 45, admitted to selling her body for drugs, while 35-year-old Tanner Denny said he uses Tinder to find clients, charging $20 a time.
Denny, smoking fentanyl in broad daylight, explained the ease of avoiding serious consequences, stating police often release habitual offenders. He highlighted the cheap cost of addiction, with fentanyl pills available for $5, but criticised diversion programmes as ineffective.
Not all on the streets support the lawlessness. Sean Burke, 43, who is in recovery, argued that turning a blind eye is detrimental, especially with children and families present. "It shouldn't just be a blatant look the other way," he asserted.
While Mayor Wilson has denied telling police not to make arrests, her collaboration with City Attorney Evans has made it significantly harder to charge drug users. This policy echoes the failed "harm reduction" experiments of San Francisco and Portland in the early 2020s, which those cities later rescinded after crime and homelessness exploded.
