13 Washington Mayors Press Bob Ferguson Over Fentanyl Crisis

Thirteen Washington mayors are pressing Gov. Bob Ferguson to rethink the state's approach to fentanyl, drug addiction and public safety. At a Kent-Meridian High School forum organized by Battlefield Addiction, mayors from communities across the region criticized existing drug policies and called for greater emphasis on treatment, accountability and law enforcement. Kent Mayor Dana Ralph shared the personal story of losing her brother-in-law to addiction and explained why she believes interaction with the criminal justice system can sometimes help people access treatment. Normandy Park Mayor Eric Zimmerman sharply criticized Washington's harm-reduction approach, questioning whether policies intended to reduce drug-related harm are doing enough to help people escape addiction. The event, called “Hey Bob,” was directed at Gov. Ferguson, whose office sent two representatives. Andrea Suarez, founder of We Heart Seattle, told The Center Square she had encouraging conversations with both officials about possible changes in approach. The discussion raises questions about fentanyl enforcement, addiction treatment, harm reduction and the future of Washington's drug policies. Follow The Center Square for Washington state news, fentanyl coverage, public safety and government accountability reporting. Want the next important update by text? Get the Washington state government and policy developments worth your attention sent straight to your phone. Text TCSWA to 206-944-3016 or sign up here: https://joinsubtext.com/c/thecentersquarewa Msg & data rates may apply. #WashingtonState #BobFerguson #FentanylCrisis #DrugPolicy #WashingtonMayors #PublicSafety #AddictionRecovery #KentWA #HarmReduction #DrugEnforcement #WashingtonPolitics #TheCenterSquare #WashingtonInFocus Copy hashtags