Following the July 31 announcement that Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell proposed legislation to align with the state’s Blake fix, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Rachel Smith issued the following statement:
“We appreciate Mayor Bruce Harrell’s thoughtful approach to addressing the crisis and deep harm caused by fentanyl and other illegal drugs in our community through proposing new legislation to align Seattle with other governments regarding drug use and possession and with innovative and proven solutions to treat addiction. After the chaotic attempt in June, let’s hope the discussion during round two is grounded in a shared vision to help those in need and enforcement of our laws. There are a lot of promising efforts underway in Seattle to get people the help they need and keep people safe: standing up a third-response force, recruiting and hiring officers, and implementing the Mayor’s Executive Order on fentanyl. They all need to get done urgently, starting with the city council voting to approve the Blake fix – now is the time for action.”
About The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
The Seattle Metropolitan (Seattle Metro) Chamber of Commerce is a regional business advocacy organization that helps our 2,500 members thrive in an equitable and inclusive regional economy. Founded in 1882 by local business leaders, the Chamber today is an independent organization representing a regional workforce of approximately 750,000. For more information, visit www.seattlechamber.com.