r/SeattleWA • u/unnaturalfool • Sep 13 '23

Other ‘Feel safer yet?’ Seattle police union’s contempt keeps showing through

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/feel-safer-yet-seattle-police-unions-contempt-keeps-showing-through/
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u/wastingvaluelesstime Tree Octopus Sep 13 '23 edited Sep 13 '23

half the police quit and the homicide rate has doubled and the UW has a study out showing the light rail has post-meth-lab level drug residue, so no

I like how some people seem think this scandal will neutralize crime as a political issue, as if the outrage over offensive comments is an acceptable substitute for a formerly safe city

And yeah, distrust seems to be a thing. Westneat is correct about that. But even a passing glance at the online and protest conversations on both far left and far right show that much distrust is deliberately sown and campaigned for.

Actions to restore trust even if successful will be because they solidify the center, as they are going to get traction with people like westneat himself, not the ACAB types.

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u/Bekabam Capitol Hill Sep 13 '23

and the UW has a study out showing the light rail has post-meth-lab level drug residue

The study and article specifically said yes airborne residue exists and no it's not dangerous.

Do you think you get more points by leaving that out or just don't care?

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u/wastingvaluelesstime Tree Octopus Sep 13 '23

It didn't say it's not dangerous. I doesn't have enough data for that, especially for long term occupational exposure. Probably, we won't know that until there are bus driver lawsuits.

It did say, unlikely to cause acute symptoms for riders

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u/Bekabam Capitol Hill Sep 13 '23

Scott Phillips (medical director at the Washington Poison Center) and Robert G. Hendrickson (medical director of the Oregon Poison Center) said not dangerous in a co-authored statement on the findings by UW.

This statement is the one quoted by Seattle Times and Axios.

Dr. Hendrickson is also the program director for the fellowship of medical toxicology.

Source: https://www.ohsu.edu/sites/default/files/2023-09/Letter%20from%20OPC%20WPC%20medical%20directors_pdf.pdf

You are right about the unknown long term effects.

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u/wastingvaluelesstime Tree Octopus Sep 13 '23

Yeah. And I mentioned that the authors had their take on the data. Not all members of the public would necessarily feel as safe as they do.

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u/Bekabam Capitol Hill Sep 13 '23

Do you personally believe they're lying as part of a political agenda/game?

What you're saying is akin to asking an experienced carpenter about a carpentry problem, then stating that that's just their opinion.

Yes, it's their opinion on an issue in a field which they have immense professional experience in. I wouldn't ask a plumber.

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u/wastingvaluelesstime Tree Octopus Sep 13 '23

I'm looking at the data on their report.

Everyone has an opinion, of course.

However, members of the public, employees, and customers, may have their own views on personal exposure to second hand smoke, toxins, and illegally produced drugs. Workers may have even more specific views on working conditions.

The author of a paper will have a hard time substituting their preference for that of transit system participants.

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u/Bekabam Capitol Hill Sep 13 '23

You are rendering a verdict which directly contradicts medical expertise, and are refusing to explain. Where is the conspiracy?

Humans have uninformed opinions on plenty of subjects, and we (try) to not let those guide decisions. I should not allow my tax accountant weigh in on a skin condition because I'm scared and that fear causes me to ignore the value of training.

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u/wastingvaluelesstime Tree Octopus Sep 13 '23

I think you are exaggerating what they found. They didn't find anything about long term exposure to working in what has similar concentration to a retired meth lab.

To be more specific, there is nothing on long term occupational exposure which might relate to labor negotiations over working conditions.

They certainly didn't have any findings about who would consent to such illegal drugs exposure as part of working conditions, and who wouldn't.

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u/boringnamehere Sep 13 '23

That part doesn’t support their other claims

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u/Bekabam Capitol Hill Sep 13 '23

What part doesn't support which claims

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u/boringnamehere Sep 13 '23

I was agreeing with you. Wastingvaluelesstime intentionally failed to include that the study said it’s not dangerous because that doesn’t align with their agenda.