Dozens of businesses, locals call for immediate action on public safety in downtown Seattle

No, the whole purpose of drug laws was to imprison black people. I'm all for reforming people who need it, but let's not forget why those laws were created during the war on drugs.

Many of these people need detox and legitimate mental healthcare, but moreover, the drug companies need to stop fucking prescribing opiates. Until the city is willing to pay for those services or fight the systemic healthcare problems in this country, the answer cannot be to waste money on half measures likes sweeps, over policing, and needless imprisonment when healthcare/mental healthcare/detox/housing is what is actually desperately needed.

Not doing anything is the worst thing that can happen, and that's what Seattle has chosen thus far.

/r/SeattleWA Thread Parent Link - mynorthwest.com