Jail takes too much of our money

I am really frustrated with Snohomish County. More than 70 percent of our county money is spent on public safety. I got a ballot in the mail for new taxes to pay for workers in the new county jail. If I voted yes, an even larger proportion of our county funds would go for public safety. If I voted no, they would take the money from the small amount that goes to other programs.

I sent in my vote two days before the election. There was an overwhelming vote against the new jail tax. So, they say they will take the money from other programs. I don’t mind the small amount of tax they were asking for. But, I am so frustrated to see everything going to jails! At the same time that they are trying to increase the jail population, Everett and Lynnwood are working hard to keep methadone clinics from opening in their cities.

Methadone clinic clients are former drug users who probably used to commit crimes to support their habits. Instead, they are trying to live clean lives and be able to hold a job like everyone else. Why don’t we help them get drug treatment?

King County has jail diversion programs to reduce the population in the county jail. They have a mental health court and a drug court to divert some people to treatment instead of jail. Why aren’t Snohomish County leaders as smart as those in King County? Why don’t we put some effort into preventing crime instead of spending to keep everyone in jail?

Everett