Fairness Doctrine time.
I’ve been thoroughly bashing the “city” of Spokane for ENCOURAGING crime instead of STOPPING crime. The people passed a referendum with a 73% majority two years ago, attempting to force action. The state’s alleged so-called “court” pulled the usual Manweller trick, invalidating the FIRMLY expressed will of the people. Until now the “city” “council” loved the “court” decision and continued playing the standard legislative games, creating Task Forces and Feasibility Studies designed to prevent action. (If humans and other plants and animals behaved like legislators, we wouldn’t survive. Living things solve problems as quickly as we can.)
Now it appears that PEOPLE WHO COUNT** have talked the “council” into doing just a slight bit about the problem. A new ordinance might at least give the cops clearer authority to do what’s needed.
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This ordinance consolidates existing laws on unauthorized camping into a single, unified policy while addressing the intent of voters who approved Proposition 1 in 2023, which was overturned by the Washington State Supreme Court in April. The amended ordinance ensures everyone has access to public property and rights-of-way by regulating knowing obstruction. It prohibits unauthorized camping while emphasizing engagement by connecting people to evidence-based navigation services and providing law enforcement with a clear and consistent enforcement mechanism.
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Looking at the ordinance itself, it makes several things clear.
1. Camping means more than just sitting or laying around; it means sleeping bags, tents, RVs, cars or other temporary residences.
2. Camping on public property (streets, parks, etc) is prohibited.
3. Campers will be given one week warning, and organizations will attempt to find better shelter.
4. If the camp is still there after one week, police can remove by force.
The one week threat might give the homeless a reason to move into better shelter or rehab. Without the threat there was no motivation.
I don’t see anything about private property, so the people who are running informal camps in their back yards can continue doing it, unless the RVs and cars park on streets. There are two private “RV parks” in this neighborhood.
** In Spokane, PEOPLE WHO COUNT means the Cowles family, plus other big downtown property owners like Walt Worthy.
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Later: The ordinance was passed July 1. Obviously the city isn’t going to make raids on all the homeless camps. There are thousands scattered through the city and surrounding the city. Even if the city wanted to do that, it would be too expensive. But when homeless camps cause specific problems, law enforcement IS involved. Every day the campfires cause brushfires, and the fire department responds. Most of them are on public parkland. Those fires should be triggers to enforce the new law.
Back in 2017 the vacant apartment in this neighborhood was occupied by squatters for a year. Law enforcement did nothing until the squatters started a fire in the garage. After that, the city got involved, removed the squatters, and forced the absent owner to board up the property. We’ll see if something similar happens now.
Polistra's Mill 