Cole Welsh, Staff

In response to the worsening drug problem that has taken over Philadelphia’s streets, Councilwoman Quetcy Lozada has begun calling for the Philadelphia Police Department to enforce already existing drug laws more aggressively.

Lozada, elected in a special election in November of 2022 to represent City Council District 7, serves much of Philadelphia’s Hispanic communities. Kensington, which is one of the neighborhoods she represents, is primarily considered to be one of the largest open-air drug markets in the world.

Describing the need for a holistic solution, Lozada is pushing for a policy that would see drug addicts being involuntarily committed to “stabilization centers,” where they would be compelled to choose between receiving long-term treatment or facing criminal charges. As such, she favors a much more robust law enforcement presence around Kensington Avenue that can be coupled with enhanced cleaning by sanitation workers.

This push comes amid a rapid increase in drug use in the city, which saw a record number of fatalities due to opioid overdoses in 2022. At the same time, crime in Kensington, which has been dubbed “ground zero” for Philadelphia’s drug crisis, has skyrocketed under self-described progressive prosecutor Larry Krasner.

However, this is not the first time that Lozada has embodied a “tough on drugs” stance. Shortly after the election victory, Lozada introduced a bill that would ban already controversial safe injection sites from opening up in her district. While she initially had the support of four of her city council colleagues, Lozada eventually won over an additional four members. After the legislative body voted to override Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney’s veto of Lozada’s legislation, her bill effectively banned these sites in approximately 90% of the city.

Her controversial stance, though, has put her at odds with those who favor less punitive approaches to the city’s drug problem, including Mayor Kenney and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who are both fellow Democrats. Kenney, like other progressive Democrats, has voiced support for additional solutions, such as safe injection sites. The plan to open up a safe injection site in South Philadelphia, which Kenney openly endorsed, was scrapped following intense pressure from neighbors, city council members and federal officials. Krasner, in his position as Philadelphia’s chief prosecutor, has vowed not to prosecute those who establish or use these sites.

Despite this, as a new mayor will be sworn into office at the start of next year, it remains to be seen if Lozada can win over the support of her colleagues in City Hall to enact this policy. With a new mayor and city council assuming office, one will have to wait and see if Lozada can form a coalition of Republican, moderate Democrat and less progressive Democrat elected officials to make this policy a reality.