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Assembly members urge action on rising village drug problem; discuss emergency declaration and Selawik meeting
Summary
Assembly members raised urgent concerns about powerful drugs circulating in villages, proposed declaring emergencies in affected communities, and asked legal staff to prepare a resolution for consideration; members also proposed wellness workshops and an Assembly meeting in Selawik.
Assembly members at the Oct. 30 special meeting repeatedly returned to what several called an urgent drug problem in borough villages.
Member Lincoln Carr urged the assembly to “declare emergency in the villages that have drugs” and said the borough should involve Maniilaq, NANA and the school district. Vice President Sampson proposed a series of wellness workshops run by the four major organizations and asked Legal Department staff if a resolution or statement could be prepared for the City and Tribe of Selawik. President Nathan Hadley suggested holding an Assembly meeting in Selawik to allow residents to participate directly.
Multiple members stressed urgency. Member Craig McConnell said the community recognizes the issue and supported holding meetings in affected villages; Member Raven Sheldon summarized a recent community meeting about the problem and noted that governments are coordinating and plan to meet again Friday.
No formal emergency declaration or binding action was recorded in the transcript during the special meeting; members directed staff and legal counsel to draft language and to explore community meetings, task-force or emergency-response options.
Why it matters: members described drugs as a growing public-safety threat in several villages and proposed intergovernmental coordination, community wellness workshops and potential emergency declarations to speed resources and response.
What’s next: Vice President Sampson asked Legal Mead to prepare a resolution or statement for consideration at the next available meeting; members also discussed scheduling a full Assembly meeting in Selawik and additional outreach.
