EVERETT — The City Council renewed a policy Wednesday allowing court orders to ban people accused or convicted of drug crimes from entering certain areas of Everett.
There are 10 zones the council designated as “Stay Out of Drug Areas,” known as SODAs, mostly along major roads and near city parks. A municipal court judge must issue a SODA order against a person for the ban to be enforced.
Everett police use drug arrest and overdose data to help determine the zones. The council approved adding a new area in the northernmost area of Broadway near Everett Community College. Police said there has been an increase in drug-related complaints in that zone recently.
“I think having that SODA zone extended that way would stop some of that from happening,” said Nathan Wallace, a sergeant at the Everett Police Department, at a June 18 council meeting.
The council also removed an area surrounding Wiggums Hollow Park from the ban, as police cited a low number of drug arrests in the area. Over the past two years, only three people were arrested for drug-related offencses there, a police declaration read.
The department recommends removing areas if drug activity falls in the area to make sure those under SODA orders can still access much of the city or connect to transit, said Lacey Offutt, an attorney for the city.
“It’s really the data and the police experience isn’t supporting keeping that area on as it relates to alleviating or eliminating drug trafficking,” she said.
Drug overdoses decreased throughout the city between 2023 and 2024, police data shows.
Everett first approved SODA zones in 2007, limited to an area of West Casino Road in south Everett. The city expanded the reach of the zones in 2017. Everett police are required by law to review the areas every two years.
Some have criticized the measure, worrying it could prevent people from seeking services in certain areas of the city. The city has said the orders leave room for discretion by judges and police, allowing certain individuals banned from the areas to travel there for services or appointments.
The areas where a court can ban people accused or convicted of drug crimes include:
• The 1000 block to the 4100 block of Broadway, and two blocks east and west of this area of Broadway.
• Evergreen Way extending from the 4700 block to the south city limits, and two blocks east and west of this area of Evergreen Way.
• West Casino Road extending from Evergreen Way to Airport Road, and two blocks north and south of this area of West Casino Road.
• The 1000 block to the 3200 block of Hewitt Avenue, and two blocks north and south of this area of Hewitt Avenue.
• The 3100 block to the 3900 block of Smith Avenue, and two blocks east and west of this area of Smith Avenue.
• The 4000 block through 4700 block of Rucker Avenue, and two blocks east and west of this area of Rucker Avenue.
• Everett Avenue to 23rd Street on the south and north, and Broadway to Hoyt on the east and west, including Clark Park and the Everett High School campus.
• Everett Mall Way from Evergreen Way to State Route 526, and two blocks north and south of Everett Mall Way.
• Senator Henry M. Jackson Park contained within 18th Street to 16th Street on the south and north, and Walnut Street and East Marine View Drive on the east and west, excluding any area within those boundaries that is not a city park.
• The 1000 block of North Broadway to the intersection of Marine View Drive, and two blocks east and west of this area of Broadway, and one block north of Marine View Drive.
Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.
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