Seattle Cleanup Group Investigated Over Handling of Drug Paraphernalia

We Heart Seattle founder Andrea Suarez is pushing back after Washington's Department of Labor & Industries opened an investigation into her organization over the handling and collection of used needles and other drug paraphernalia from Seattle streets, parks and greenbelts. Suarez calls the investigation government "overreach," arguing that her organization and its volunteers have spent tens of thousands of hours cleaning trash, needles, fentanyl foil and other debris from public spaces. She also questions why her organization is facing scrutiny while public health agencies distribute some of the drug-use supplies that cleanup crews later find discarded. Washington Labor & Industries says organizations using employees to handle used sharps must follow worker-safety requirements, including documented accident-prevention and bloodborne-pathogen programs and appropriate personal protective equipment. Subscribe for more coverage of Seattle, Washington politics, homelessness, public safety and government accountability. #Seattle #WeHeartSeattle #AndreaSuarez #WashingtonState #SeattleNews #DrugCrisis #PublicSafety #GovernmentAccountability #Homelessness #WashingtonPolitics