Senatorial candidate Manka Dhingra clarifies safe site comment

Update: Days after the top vote-getter in the senatorial race for Legislative District 45 incorrectly stated that Federal Way would host a safe consumption site for drug users, Manka Dhingra clarified her statement.

She posted a clarification in her Reddit AMA:

I would like to clear up some confusion that was created by my response above. I recently participated in a candidate forum where a similar question came up and a South County location like Federal Way was mentioned. That was on my mind during the AMA as I was trying to respond quickly to your questions.
To the best of my knowledge, Seattle and a possible South County site are under consideration, not Federal Way or any other specific community. As someone who has spent her professional life in public safety, I know it is essential that this issue be given the thoughtful consideration of public health and safety it deserves.

Original story

Manka Dhingra, the leader in the primary election for Legislative District 45, recently told Reddit users that one of two safe consumption sites in King County will be in Federal Way.

Unless she has information that hasn’t been made public or been provided to the county’s communications team, Federal Way has not officially been selected as one of two sites that will give users a safe place to inject drugs. Seattle will, if current plans come to fruition.

James Apa, communications director of Public Health – Seattle & King County, says Federal Way has not been identified as a site.

“… and no safe injection site locations have been established anywhere in King County,” he wrote in an email.

Federal Way City Councilmember Martin Moore responded to Dhingra on Reddit:

Seeing as it’s fashionable to create an account just to post on this thread, I decided to do so myself. but I’m not a plant or a volunteer … And I am NOT pleased with your comment here.
Manka, I want to know immediately where you’re getting the information that Federal Way will play host of a heroin-injection site. No one has approached Federal Way about it, and it’s certainly not a plan that’s going to pass without meeting a lot of resistance.

Contact me.

Moore told KIRO Radio no locations have been discussed and he was surprised by the “ignorant” comment.

“That’s why I wrote to Manka and asked, where did you get this information? She has not responded…”

The senatorial candidate, vying to represent cities such as Kirkland, Redmond, and Sammamish, has not responded to us, either.

The senate seat was formerly filled by Andy Hill, who died last year after a battle with lung cancer.

Safe consumption sites certainly have received resistance. Aside from an effort to ban safe consumption sites in King County, State Sen. Mark Milocia has fought to prevent them in his district. Did I mention that includes Federal Way?

“We must stop the push for decriminalization of drugs,” Milocia previously said. “Standing idly by while addicts abuse illegal drugs is not compassionate, and it does not solve the problem.”

Moore also plans to propose legislation for a ban on consumption sites in Federal Way.

“I plan, in the near future, to introduce a resolution that says we do not support safe injection sites,” he said. “So that when King County does make their decision, they know where Federal Way stands.”

Proponents for safe sites argue that giving addicts a clean environment where they can use drugs will save many from overdoses. They would also be given access to treatment programs.

Those against the sites say they just encourage drug use and are a step toward legalizing heroin, instead of fighting against it.

Dhingra said she believes the consumption sites are a “better alternative to jail.” However, this issue comes down to the public, she wrote.

“We can choose to either incarcerate people or to use public health experts to address the epidemic,” she added.

In her Reddit post, Dhingra promises “there is no possibility” of a consumption site in the 45th District. Some in Federal Way may feel the exact same way, but it doesn’t make it true.

On the surface this doesn’t seem like much of an issue. Dhingra could easily respond — which, again, she hasn’t — and say it’s all a misunderstanding. But the race for state senator in Legislative District 45 is actually an important one.

You see, Dhingra, a Democrat, will be in a heated race against Jinyoung Lee Englund, a Republican, in the general election.

So what?

More than $3 million been pumped into the race for the 45th District, according to The Seattle Times. It could also end up being the most expensive legislative race in state history.

More than that, the winner of the race will be the determining factor in which party controls the Senate. The GOP currently holds a narrow control of the Senate with a one-vote margin of 25-24.

The Democrats hold the state House, as well as the governorship.

If Dhingra wins, it will mean the Democrats recapture control of the Senate.

There is clearly a lot riding on this race. The question now is: How far will candidates be willing to go to win?

According to the Times, both Dhingra and Englund have raised more than $300,000 each from just King and Snohomish counties. Money is clearly — and not surprisingly — a factor.

Let’s just hope whatever party takes control of the Senate after the general election in November, hasn’t done so by falsifying information.

Listen to KIRO Radio’s Tom and Curley discuss the issue here.

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