Properly Subversive/Sherman R. Frederick
Drug abuse is complicated. I’ll be the first to stipulate that. So, take a look at this strange idea called “Right to Recovery.”
It comes from Matt Dorsey, the newest San Francisco supervisor. It works like this:
- To confront the fentanyl crisis in his district, he wants to create “drug enforcement priority zones” around recovery facilities.
- Within the zones, SFChron reporting tells us, police would be asked to immediately confiscate drugs and paraphernalia from users — regardless of whether they’re cited — and immediately arrest anyone selling illegal drugs.
- This special enforcement, Dorsey reasons, makes it easier for those in recovery to stay in recovery.
Mr. Dorsey is in recovery himself. I’m sure he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to the difficulty of trying to walk the line with a bunch of druggies crawling the streets of his neighborhood.
But, ye gods and little fishes, creating special enforcement zones around recovery facilities for the sole purpose of making those in recovery feel more comfortable seems like such a Rube Goldberg approach to the issue at hand.
Dorsey says “We have to be sensitive and protective of those who are making that brave step and ask ourselves: What are we doing to support them?”
OK. Fine. But why nibble the edges? The City and the entire Bay Area is awash in illegal drug use and the social ills that come with it..
Dorsey’s plan acknowledges that drug abuse is bad and recovery is good. So, why limit that principle to the street corners near recovery facilities in his district?
Make every street in the city a special enforcement district for drugs. How about that? Instead of giving the police screwy instructions for selective enforcement, turn them loose. If they see a person using drugs, take the drugs and arrest them. Pretend every street corner in San Francisco is one giant recovery facility.
That’s the E-ticket.
COVID MILESTONE This seems like a milestone to me: As of last week, 75% of eligible Californians are now fully vaccinated against COVID. Of course, this is nothing compared to overachieving Marin County, which is over 95%. (You knew I had to mention that.) |
WHAT I’M WATCHING
I streamed the new C.S. Lewis movie “The Most Reluctant Convert” last week and found it most satisfying. Be warned, I am big C.S. Lewis fan, so take that into account for this recommendation. The movie follows Lewis as he journeys from atheist to Christianity. Well done.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
This scary warning comes from Novato fire Chief Bill Tyler:
“There are more than 12,500 parcels with approximately 14,000 buildings located in the wildland urban interface area. That means that over half of all parcels and buildings in Novato are at risk to wildfire during the wildfire season.”
Whoa. Stay vigilant, Marin.
RED FLAG
We’re going to hear a lot about the value of Red Flag laws. If you’d like to dig deeper, may I recommend the study by the Violence Prevention Research Program at UCDavis. (Google it. You’ll find it.)
The “red flag” law allows law enforcement, family and household members, some co-workers, employers and teachers to work with a judge to temporarily remove access to firearms and ammunition from people at significant risk of self-harm or harming others.
SOLEIL HO
Congrats to SFChron food critic Soleil Ho. She was awarded the James Beard Foundation Craig Claiborne Distinguished Restaurant Review Award.
DUI MUG SHOT
After an unexplained delay, the mugshot of Paul Pelosi, husband of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, was released. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence on May 28. Mugshots of arrests are routinely released. Why the delay in the release of Mr. Pelosi’s mug has become grist for the political mill.
I’ll only say that Mr. Pelosi’s mug shot looks pretty together for an 82-year-old guy involved in a car crash, driving drunk in the middle of the night.
ONE MORE THING
– Always knock on the fridge door before opening, just in case there is a salad dressing.
– If you think Vegans are easily offended, tell a meat eater you made chicken wings out of cauliflower.
– Nobody is more full of false hope than a mom who places items at the stairs for her family members to carry up.
Thanks for reading this week. Until next week, avoid soreheads, laugh a little and always question authority.
(“Properly Subversive” is commentary written by Sherman R. Frederick for the Novato Advance, San Rafael News-Pointer, Mill Valley Herald, Ross Valley Reporter, Twin City Times and the Sausalito Marin Scope. Frederick is a long-time journalist and co-founder of Battle Born Media, a news organization dedicated to the preservation of community newspapers. You can reach him by email at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)
Groy says
You’re mentally ill, boomer. And low IQ.