In October 2023, the Burien Metropolis Council decided that displays a agency dedication to ideas of social accountability. We handed a number of measures aimed toward protecting our neighborhood secure, together with permitting legislation enforcement to take away everlasting tent encampments on public grounds. These measures are cheap, legally defensible and well-liked with Burien residents.
Burien is a predominantly working-class suburb of Seattle with a inhabitants of round 50,000. As such, we contract with the King County Sheriff’s Workplace to supply legislation enforcement providers to the town, and the town pays tens of millions of {dollars} annually for it. For months, our common sense coverage that regulates tents to maintain public areas secure was enforced with out incident.
However a number of weeks in the past, the town reached out to Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall to debate our issues with the Sheriff’s Workplace not imposing drug legal guidelines in Burien’s downtown core. As an alternative, the sheriff — appointed by King County Government Dow Constantine — was pressured to direct deputies to not implement our tent-regulation measure.
As an alternative of sitting down with us to debate issues, the county authorities filed a authorized grievance in U.S. District Court docket towards Burien to say they don’t need to should implement the legislation handed by an elected physique of a metropolis. This can be a dereliction of responsibility, a nasty use of taxpayer sources and — above all — a tragic sense of priorities throughout this worsening disaster.
For the reason that sheriff stopped imposing Burien’s ordinance, there have been 4 overdoses and two deaths at encampments in our metropolis. The newest dying, from an overdose, was on Friday, and inside the identical hour, a fireplace began on the identical encampment the place the person died.
Regardless of calling the scenario a “disaster,” regional leaders haven’t acted with any urgency. Worse but, county management has determined to turn into an impediment.
We should always put money into what works: transitional housing and remedy for dependancy and psychological well being. It’s additionally time to surrender what doesn’t work – unrestricted encampments have solely exacerbated the disaster. We are able to’t maintain throwing cash at an issue with out getting optimistic outcomes. Cash isn’t an end result.
Fentanyl overdoses in King County proceed to skyrocket. Tragically, Burien’s main encampment just lately added to that somber rely. As an alternative of lawsuits that waste taxpayer money and time, the county authorities ought to be centered on encouraging people to just accept providers regardless of the place they’re.
Like most communities round Seattle, Burienites come at homelessness empathy first. That’s why Burien’s Metropolis Council has strongly supported efficient packages. Profitable public-private partnerships have led to lots of of everlasting supportive housing items, behavioral well being beds and inexpensive housing items in Burien.
I even have first-hand expertise responding to this disaster, alongside dozens of compassionate people in Burien. My uncle was homeless, and my household helped him get again on his ft. For years I’ve volunteered with Union Gospel Mission’s Outreach, St. Vincent de Paul’s homelessness program, taken dozens of youth teams to Catholic Housing and neighborhood providers packages and donated to causes devoted to eradicating homelessness.
As a Democrat, I consider within the potential for presidency to assist weak populations. That’s precisely why I help accountability. As a result of authorities could make an influence on lives — by remedy, emergency shelter or accountability measures — it’s an ethical failure to double down on failed approaches.
In coming years, I hope Burien, and cities prefer it, will turn into a regional chief in streets-to-workforce packages to supply the occupational help individuals want after drug rehabilitation and housing help.
I perceive that some can be crucial of Burien’s method. However it’s time for native leaders to start out pushing again towards the unhealthy habits of regional management. That features standing up for the enforcement of cheap native approaches.
King County voters have been clear for years. It’s time to prioritize public security over politics and remedy over tents. If King County’s management received’t hear, cities like Burien can be pressured to go it alone.
