Dear Neighbors,

Sally Bagshaw has proposed that a "safe shoot up" facility be placed in Belltown. This would be a safe place for addicts to come and use heroin and drugs illegally. She also says that feedback from neighbors "will be critical."

Here is what one addict said about Seattle: “They say if you are going to be homeless, do it in Seattle (the couple just moved here from Florida); Seattle provides food, clothing, shelter and they don’t drug test you or anything and my partner just started using heroin cuz it is so easy to get here.”

Some things you need to know about “safe places” for drug addicts to shoot up:

What is a “safe place” for drug addicts to shoot up? A “safe place” is where a drug addict can go with his/her illegal drug, get free clean supplies, and inject themselves under the watchful eye of medical staff in case they overdose. The police are unable to touch them. Then the addict can return to the street in our neighborhood. They spread the word and more come and hang out in the area so they too, can illegally shoot up drugs and be safe and protected.

A number of years ago, Vancouver, BC started a safe house for drug addicts to shoot up in the downtown eastside, tucked away from the neighborhoods of high-end residences.  But there has been much controversy, with bitter battles over the program. What has been reported is that more drug addicts are moving into the area of the “safe places” because they know that if they overdose there will be someone to take care of them and save them from themselves and not punish them for illegally doing drugs. In essence, the people of Vancouver are enabling illegal behavior to continue, in the hope that sometime in the future the addict will decide to give up the habit and get help because help is close by. While there are a small percentage of cases where the addicts seek help and enter rehab, the statistics are sketchy as to the recidivism rate. The provisions of clean needles and supplies free to the addicts also is designed to keep the addict, in spite of their behavior, alive one more day and momentarily free from getting infections such as HIV and Hep C. All that said, the success has been limited and the negative side-effects have been downplayed.


But here is the fallacy in the argument for “safe places:” encouraging drug addicts to shoot up in “safe places” will not stop drug usage or drug overdoses and will not reduce costs for taxpayers.  If the on-site medical personnel provide the first response to overdoses instead of Seattle Fire, someone has to pay for that. So in effect the costs will just be shifted and most likely will even increase, since the goal is to have these “safe places” open 24/7 and there is no obligation on the part of the addict to stop shooting up. In fact, there is NO consequence for the addict; but there is a significant consequence for us the residents of Belltown, who are targeted to be one of two locations for a “safe place.”

Seattle’s official destination marketing organization is concerned that homelessness, drug abuse and aggressive panhandling are hurting Seattle’s image. Yet moving the drug shooting up from the alleys and bathrooms to our neighborhood will just move these very concerns to our doorsteps. There is one business, however, that will profit the most from “safe places” for addicts to shoot up --- the drug dealers.


What are the legal and moral responsibilities of the City and healthcare workers who are involved when a bad outcome results for the addict or when one of our residents is harmed by an addict?

Below are some comments our physician friends shared with me about the Vancouver, BC “safe place” program:
·         When the “safe place” was located near residential areas there was a significant increase in crime and destruction of property, making it clear that location in a residential neighborhood will only create more problems for residents.

·         The Vancouver police are not in favor of “safe places” because of the increase in crime and the philosophy that it encourages illegal drug use, which is a violation of the law.

·         When a “safe place” was located in a neighborhood the increased crime rate extended to a mile radius around the “safe place” with significant interactions with residents.


IT IS TIME FOR THE RESIDENTS (CONDO OWNERS AND APARTMENT DWELLERS) AND BUSINESSES IN BELLTOWN TO COME TOGETHER TO SAY NO TO ALLOWING A “SAFE PLACE” FOR DRUG ADDICTS TO SHOOT UP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD!


Please, make your opinion of this proposal known to the Seattle City Council members.  We have attached email addresses below.or email council@seattle.gov:

Seattle City Council Member email addresses:
Sally Bagshaw:  sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov
Tim Burgess:  tim.burgess@seattle.gov
Lisa Herbold:  lisa.herbold@seattle.gov
Lorena Gonzales:  lorena.gonzales@seattle.gov
Rob Johnson:  rob.johnson@seattle.gov
Debora Juarez:  Debora.juarez@seattle.gov
Mike O’Brien:  mike.obrien@seattle.gov
Bruce Harrell:  bruce.harrell@seattle.gov
Kshama Sawant:  kshama.sawant@seattle.gov