Collar City Pride’s Statement re: RensCo “Drug Dealer Database”
On January 25th, Rensselaer County legislators unanimously passed legislation that will implement a “drug dealer” database in Rensselaer County. This database will be publicly accessible and will list the names and addresses of individuals who are convicted of drug sale-related crimes. An individual would be listed on this database for 10 years, and would also be required to pay a $50 fee each year they are listed on the database. Individuals, 16 and up, who have been convicted of drug sale-related crimes will be required to register with and be listed on the database.
Collar City Pride is highly disappointed in this local legislation, including seeing Rensselaer County’s funding and resources being focused on creating more barriers to recovery, instead of providing additional services and accessibility to services for individuals struggling with substance use or those who sell substances as a means to afford their day to day responsibilities. Rensselaer County legislators state they have implemented this database as a way to combat the opioid crisis much of the country is facing, with Rensselaer County included. It is hard to believe that implementing a database that will likely lead to higher rates of incarceration and recidivism, the targeting of marginalized communities such as the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ community, as well as possible danger to those listed on the database, is the best and most effective way to approach combating the epidemic facing our community.
The potential negative consequences of Rensselaer County’s legislation are highlighted in the following comments made by legislator Patire, who spearheaded this misinformed initiative, to the WAMC news:
“...oh, this person that I see hanging around the street corner, around the corner from our school, he's been known to sell drugs, or that person has been known to sell drugs,' OK, and then keep your eye on them. And my idea is, if you see them sell, grab your cell, call the authorities, tell them, 'This person who's a known drug dealer is out here, and I just see them selling drugs. He's out here in the corner doing this and doing that.' And my objective is, you have to make it more difficult for these people to thrive. We have to help the people in our community, and protect their children, by making sure these people are put away. They're bad people and they should be in jail. And they're not going to jail. These drug dealers are being released…"
This statement sums up the level of targeting and profiling that is being provoked and subsequently endorsed by the Rensselaer County legislature, and it is a terrifying perspective. Collar City Pride hopes that, as this legislation moves to the state for approval, the database can either be halted or, at the very least, made private, as these steps would help protect the individuals in Rensselaer County. There is no way forward through this epidemic without proper funding and resources to provide not only treatment but also the wraparound services needed by individuals who struggle with substance use. Collar City Pride believes that tackling our County’s housing crisis and lack of affordable housing, providing further funding for harm reduction services and substance use treatment, providing equitably accessible options to food as many parts of Troy a food desert, and helping to create employment that offers a livable wage are better ways to use our resources and funding in Rensselaer County.
