Construction at Everett park at least deterred drug use

I wanted to congratulate the city of Everett on the successful experiment at Harborview Park to address the drug problem at that location. At Harborview Park, construction equipment and piles of dirt and gravel were placed in the parking lot for a few weeks. The cover story was to install handicapped access in the park, in concert with local Rotary volunteers; this is a noble goal by itself. However, what we have seen is a dramatic decrease in the amount of drug-related transiency, drug deals in the parking lot, and drug impaired individuals pulling out (dangerously) onto Mukilteo Boulevard.

This is an ingenious approach. By locating labor-related items near the park, the natural inborn abhorrence of drug addicts to actual labor has led to abandonment of this park as a preferred drug dealing location! Perhaps, now that the work is complete, we could place decoy cardboard laborers around the park, or leave a few shovels in piles of dirt as a continued deterrent.

A new industry might even be developed that manufactures ‘druggie-away’ products to repel potheads from various locales. Just as one wears garlic around the neck to ward away vampires, one could send children to school with protective ‘druggie-away’ fashion gear, to protect them from peers who are baked. Perhaps we’ll see security signs for homes that read, “danger – hard working people inside” or something similar.

Thank you, Everett – keep it up!

Tim Brown

Everett

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Friday, July 11

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

2024 Presidential Election Day Symbolic Elements.
Editorial: Retain Escamilla, Binda on Lynnwood City Council

Escamilla was appointed a year ago. Binda is serving his first term.

The Buzz: What the mainstream media don’t want you to know

They’re not, but we just liked how that looked at the top of the page and thought you’d read it.

Schwab: Yes, your Medicaid’s gone but you can gloat over gators

What Trump is taking from the social safety net, he’s adding to the cruelty against working immigrants.

Congress’ passage of tax cuts bill marked shameful day for GOP

This July 3 was one of the most shameful days in American… Continue reading

Tell senators to keep vaccine aid by rejecting recissions bill

The Senate could vote on a Trump administration-proposed rescissions package before July… Continue reading

Too much risk, noise and annoyance with fireworks

Let’s hear it for all the “kids” who like to endanger life… Continue reading

A Volunteers of America Western Washington crisis counselor talks with somebody on the phone Thursday, July 28, 2022, in at the VOA Behavioral Health Crisis Call Center in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Editorial: Dire results will follow end of LGBTQ+ crisis line

The Trump administration will end funding for a 988 line that serves youths in the LGBTQ+ community.

toon
Editorial: Using discourse to get to common ground

A Building Bridges panel discussion heard from lawmakers and students on disagreeing agreeably.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Friday, June 27, 2025. The sweeping measure Senate Republican leaders hope to push through has many unpopular elements that they despise. But they face a political reckoning on taxes and the scorn of the president if they fail to pass it. (Kent Nishimura/The New York Times)
Editorial: GOP should heed all-caps message on tax policy bill

Trading cuts to Medicaid and more for tax cuts for the wealthy may have consequences for Republicans.

Comment: About that Social Security email sent to retirees

It was uncharacteristically political, inaccurate about the BBB’s benefits and likely to cause mistrust of the SSA.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, July 10

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.