Thread by @ShellenbergerMD

In face of rising drug deaths and violence, and the failure of local & state elected officials to act, a new California coalition of parents of victims, recovering addicts & neighborhood activists is asking the sheriff of Los Angeles to take wider action

californiapeacecoalition.org/news/coalition…

California Peace Coalition is a movement of families and concerned citizens fighting to end the drug death crisis, protect our children, and save our cities through a practical and proven agenda

We will formally launch Noon, Monday, Aug 16 in Sacramento

californiapeacecoalition.org

We have come together because our leaders have failed at state, federal, and county levels

One of the few people to act is @LACoSheriff Alex Villanueva

And so we are asking him to widen his actions to cover the whole of LA and to work with other sheriffs and policymakers

Excerpts from the letter:

"The failure of both the state of California and the city of Los Angeles to deal with this increasingly dangerous and deadly situation required that you take action. We are grateful that you did so thoughtfully."

"Unfortunately, the problem of open air drug dealing and use has spread and worsened across the state. It requires immediate and dramatic action at both county and state levels. We have formed a coalition to respond to the crisis of rising drug deaths and drug encampments."

"We propose a change that will solve the problem, in contrast to the half-measures that have been repeatedly tried and failed. We propose the centralization of mental health and addiction services at the state level through a new agency, Cal-Psych, given the failure of counties;

"...temporary shelter for all who need it, and the requirement that it be used; the enforcement of laws against public camping, defecation, and drug use; and the restoration of mandatory addiction and psychiatric treatment as an alternative to jail and prison."

"We believe there is a middle path between mass homelessness and mass incarceration. We need county sheriffs from across the state to coordinate law enforcement efforts, given the highly transient nature of California’s addicted homeless population, and criminal gang involvement

"We need county governments to step up in their leadership. And we need to see California’s governor @GavinNewsom directly involved in creating real solutions, including a coordinated state-wide response."

"But we cannot wait for others to act and must ourselves take responsibility. If political leaders at the state, county, and city levels continue failing to protect public safety, then you must act, and you will have our support. Homicides are rising across California.

"Drug addiction and drug dealing are rising fast, with nationwide drug deaths growing from 71,000 to 93,000 between 2019 and 2020. And the crimes associated with addiction, including shoplifting and other forms of theft and burglary, are rising too.

"It is unacceptable that people are being assaulted and murdered outside their homes, as occurred with one of our founding members yesterday morning. It is unacceptable that cities are enabling hard drug use, crime, and violence.

"And it is unacceptable that parents across California are finding their children dead from fentanyl poisoning.

We recognize that this is a complex challenge that will require good will and good intentions on all sides.

"We take the responsibility of developing policies and institutions to deal with rising drug deaths and spreading drug encampments very seriously."

californiapeacecoalition.org/who-we-are

"Our website explains our agenda and describes the way cities across the United States, and in Europe, have closed open drug scenes and homeless encampments: with an intelligent and compassionate mixture of carrots and sticks, law enforcement and services

californiapeacecoalition.org/agenda

Coalition events up-coming:

- Venice Beach Skid Row Fact-Finding this Friday July 30

- Coalition launch in Sacramento, noon August 16

- Amsterdam and Lisbon Fact-Finding trip Sept 12 - 19

For more info & to get involved, please DM me or contact us

californiapeacecoalition.org/contact

For more information on the problem

https://twitter.com/ShellenbergerMD/status/1419876198016974849?s=20