Misleading Safe-Use Site Phone Poll Hits Redmond: City Officials

REDMOND, WA - Redmond residents have been getting calls from a pollster claiming that a safe-use site is coming to the city, but city officials are cautioning that the poll's claims are false. King County intends to open a safe-use site for drug users somewhere in King County to prevent overdose deaths. But the county has not decided where that site will go; cities like Renton and Bellevue have created regulations to block safe-use sites but Redmond has not.

It's unclear who's behind the poll circulating in Redmond, but a political group called Safe King County is trying to ban safe-use sites. The group's ballot initiate, I-27, would allow King County voters to ban such sites county-wide. A group called Protect Public Health has emerged in opposition, and is suing to stop Safe King County's ballot initiative. One of the main backers of Safe King County is Joshua Freed, a developer and Bothell councilman.

Redmond city officials are asking any residents contacted by the pollster to document as much about the call as possible. If the call is associated with a specific campaign or candidate, you may report it to the state Public Disclosure Commission, which deals with campaign advertisements. Polls not sponsored by a campaign or candidate fall outside the purview of the PDC.

Here's the full statement from Redmond spokeswoman Lisa Mahr:

It has been brought to the City's attention that our residents have recently been solicited via a telephone poll regarding a safe injection site in Redmond. This poll includes false statements. The City is not considering allowing a safe injection site in Redmond, as the poll alleges. Please be aware the poll is not sponsored by the City of Redmond. We appreciate residents alerting the City to this matter and relaying the information to us.

If you, or someone you know, does receive a call, you can report your concerns to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC). You can find their contact information and report online at https://www.pdc.wa.gov/. The PDC has advised residents to document the call to the best of their ability and to listen for the sponsoring organization of the poll if that information is provided. They noted the sponsoring organization might not be provided until the end of the poll.

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