Bellingham’s mayor will ask the city council on Monday, March 13 to make drug use a crime in the city.
Mayor Seth Fleetwood’s proposal aims to address perceptions of deteriorating public health and safety, especially in Bellingham’s downtown, due to “open drug use and unwanted behaviors,” a March 8 city news release said.
The release acknowledges that visible social problems persist downtown even after the city and Whatcom County have spent millions of dollars on programs meant to clean up the city and to help people with mental health and substance use disorders.
“We recognize that despite some improvements from our focused efforts downtown, public health and safety concerns continue,” Fleetwood said in the release. “Though there are continued challenges, I remain positive about the future of downtown and am committed to working with our community to continue making improvements and addressing problems.”
Council will hear the mayor’s proposal at a committee meeting that starts at 2:50 p.m. on Monday. Council could vote on the ordinance as early as Monday night. If council approves, the new city code would take effect in mid-April.
Fleetwood’s proposal would make using drugs in public a misdemeanor, similar to drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana in public. A state Supreme Court decision and a recent state law, both handed down in 2021, effectively decriminalized drug possession in Washington.
“The proposed local ordinance provides a vital tool to get people the help they need and hold them accountable for unwanted behaviors,” the release said.
In tandem with the proposed code change, Fleetwood is working with Bellingham Municipal Court to establish a community court that would prioritize rehabilitation over punishment for people with mental health and addiction issues.
“Community courts … provide practical, targeted solutions working to find housing services, education, employment, alcohol and drug rehabilitation, behavioral health services, veterans services and other social connections,” municipal court Judge Debra Lev said in the release.
A previous version of this story misstated the date of the council meeting. The meeting is on March 13. The story was updated to reflect this change at 8:18 p.m. March 9. Cascadia Daily News regrets this error.
