Kohl-Welles statement on state Supreme Court ruling blocking Initiative 27

December 6, 2018

Summary

“Safe injection sites have the potential to change the trajectory of a person’s life. I only wish my young nephew had access to one before he died.”

Story

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, who has supported the recommendation for a pilot Community Health Engagement Locations (CHELs) site, released this statement on today’s ruling by the Washington state Supreme Court blocking Initiative 27, a ban on public funding of safe-injection sites in King County:

“I’m very pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision. Public health policy should not be decided by a people’s initiative.

“Safe injection sites have the potential to change the trajectory of a person’s life. I only wish my young nephew had access to one before he died.

“We have to try something new. Maintaining the status quo is no longer an option. Too many people are dying.”