Image above – South entrance- Port Townsend Ship Canal
In the news:
Kitsap Sun Dec 22, 2024
Health district: Opioid overdoses continue to decline in Kitsap County
“Suspected overdoses have climbed annually in Kitsap since 2019, as have fatalities. Both hit record-highs in 2023. There were 476 reported overdoses last year, up 73% from 2022. There was also 65 fatalities – up from 57 in 2022. Health officials attribute that drastic increase to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin that is a common adulterant in illegal drugs.”
Clallam County Mentioned Below
“Kitsap County and its partners have invested heavily in programs to abate the opioid crisis. That includes installing 34 naloxone distribution boxes across Kitsap, Clallam and Jefferson County. Over the past two years the newspaper-style boxes have provided over 5,500 free naloxone kits. These kits, sold under the brand name Narcan, can reverse an opioid overdose.”
The Oak Bay Starfish Take:
I am not a social worker or a politician. I do not work for the mainstream media. My questions and attitudes here will not fit the norm.
Americans were told they faced a life and death situation after 911. If certain actions were not taken, terrorists could come to America to disrupt our way of life and attempt another 911.
If all this was a life and death situation that required sending the troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, wouldn’t it be important to ask a few public policy questions about what was going on?
Love to see newspeople get past the press release style of news reporting and go out to ask some questions.
Are newspeople forbidden to ask questions related to Port Angeles (Clallam County) Homeland Security funding and performance?
In the news:
By Paula Hunt Olympic Peninsula News Group July 10, 2024
Transit approves Narcan at center
“The Clallam Transit board approved the Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services placing a Narcan dispenser at Gateway Transit Center in Port Angeles.”
“Clallam County has one of the highest per capita rates of drug overdoses in the state, and the big shift from heroin to fentanyl played a part in that, Sims said.”
“We need the Narcan with fentanyl because it is cheap and it’s not carefully manufactured, so what you think is a dose of fentanyl is a lot stronger,” Sims said.
“Transit workers have strenuously objected to the availability of free Narcan at the Gateway Transit Center. Those who spoke Wednesday said it will attract more vandalism, crime and people with substance and mental health disorders to an area that has become more difficult to maintain since the transit system’s no-fare policy went into effect on Jan. 1.”
“While bus drivers and maintenance workers were not unsympathetic to individuals struggling with mental illness and substance abuse, Rick Burton, the union representative for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587, who also is a non-voting member of the board, said Clallam Transit is a transportation agency, not a social service agency.”
Background – Port Angeles CBP
Unlike many cities of its size, Port Angeles maintains a significant Homeland Security/CBP/Border Patrol presence.
Newspeople have a long history of not asking questions in this area.
A new Port Angeles USBP Station opened more than a decade ago. Has the new station been able to prevent cartel drugs from entering the Olympic Peninsula?
Newspeople remain silent.
After a Port Angeles CBP buildup that took place more than a decade ago, is there any follow up made by the press to inform the public on whatever results have been achieved?
If you run a government operation-these are the reporters you want to see on interview day:
2024:
With a significant Homeland Security/CBP/Border Patrol presence at Port Angeles:
“Clallam County has one of the highest per capita rates of drug overdoses in the state…”
From 2019:
KING 5 News:
Over $900,000 in state grants help Clallam County fight opioid crisis
Always A Press Release
Never newspeople asking:
Are most Clallam County drug overdoes related to cartel/street drugs?
Are most Clallam County drug overdoes related to legal product produced by the drug companies that have faced opioid lawsuits in recent years?
Were Clallam County drug overdose death numbers higher before the US Dept. of Homeland Security was established (2002) or are the numbers higher with a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security in place? This giant federal agency now has more than two decades of experience and lessons learned in working to prevent cartel product from entering the US. More overdose deaths now, or before DHS?
When is the last time the Port Angeles Border Patrol made an arrest of any kind?
When is the last time the Port Angeles Border Patrol made an arrest linked in any way to the US/Canada border?
Has massing US Border Patrol agents at the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca played any role in reducing Clallam County drug overdose numbers?
Have opioid lawsuits played any role in improving the situation?
How do cartels react to opioid lawsuits?
Are passports/enhanced/REAL IDs effective in keeping cartel drugs out of the US?
Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.
Fog Them Down With The Antidote
Fog them down with the antidote.
Forward a press release.
Whatever it takes- never investigate or question Port Angeles Homeland Security funding and performance.
A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.
Operation Macho Swagger
When is the last time the Port Angeles Border Patrol made any seizure that kept any amount of fentanyl, heroin or any opioid from entering Clallam County?
Fast boats put agents in close distance with ‘bad guys’ on the watery border
Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs personnel during Operation Macho Swagger– a ride-along to let us know what is being done to keep the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca safe from B.C. incursions.
What role do 1,200-horsepower Border Patrol Interceptor boats play in keeping opioids of any kind away from Port Angeles?
Operation Macho Swagger & Port Angeles Heroin
Related:
More Homeland Security – More Puget Sound Drugs?
Port Angeles Homeland Security & CBP
Port Angeles – Homeland Security/Drug War Scam 2011- 2024
WA Fentanyl Scam – What Got Better?
Port Angeles CBP – Cartel Product and Seattle Overdose Trends
Port Angeles Drug War – Fentanyl
Port Angeles – High Seas Drug Patrols
Sound Publishing And Black Press Media
A Truly Weak Culture In Terms of Newspeople Asking Questions
Over in Island County
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been involved in any arrest or seizure related in any way to the US/Canada border?
Newspeople remain silent.
Whidbey Homeland Security Grant Money- Newspeople Remain Silent
Possibly of interest:
Years ago, I lived in several different small town areas. Places like Kingston, Port Hadlock and north of Penn Cove.
These areas had small, local newspapers and those papers featured active, online comment sections. Paying for a newspaper subscription was OK with me. There were basic rules for commenting, but it did not seem to matter what name people went by. I never cared.
I used to love the comment sections.
Local papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.
Various newspapers in the Puget Sound area have gone with this trend.
Suppressing comments, getting away from asking questions related to public policy and telling us they need more support from subscription and advertising sales.
Got it.