From the LFP Mayor: Clarification and apology

LFP Mayor Jeff Johnson

To the citizens of Lake Forest Park,

In my Mayor’s report at the City Council meeting last night, I spoke about heroin addiction problems in a way that compared it to an earlier citizens’ effort requesting the Council to strengthen its compassion, welcoming, diversity and inclusiveness policies.

The two are not connected and I apologize to the citizens and Council for doing so. I am a person with a big heart and want Lake Forest Park to be a city with a big heart. That heart spilled over in an inappropriate way and I hope all will forgive me.

Lake Forest Park was one of the first cities in the nation to sign the Charter for Compassion in 2012 and we are proud of that. I am sure the Council will find a good way to continue to emphasize our compassionate and inclusive nature in the Lake Forest Park way.

The heroin crisis hit very close to my family this week and it leaves me in grief. I cannot do enough giving and volunteer work to stop the destruction myself. It will take individuals, families, public and private health agencies, police, courts, schools, church communities, villages, cities, states, our nation and the world to overcome this opiate epidemic that reaches into every corner.

According to Centers for Disease Control statistics (through 2015), 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose (prescriptions and heroin). From 2000 through 2015, more than a half million died from all drug overdoses. Here in the Seattle area and elsewhere, it has created rampant homelessness, crime, poverty, addiction, and an incredible drain on public and private services.

It has to stop. Please join me in the huge community “lift” to overcome this.

Again, sorry.

Mayor Jeff Johnson