(The Center Square) – About 75 people attended a rally Monday night outside Spokane City Hall demanding that Mayor Lisa Brown and other elected officials take more significant steps to address downtown crime and quality of life issues.
The “Call to Action” event, framed by Riverfront Park’s famed running statues, featured a half dozen speakers who all condemned Spokane leaders for not enforcing existing ordinances designed to curb loitering, littering and illegal drug use.
Signs, printed with the city of Spokane logo on them, read “You can do better than this. It’s time to enforce Prop 1.” Proposition 1 is the initiative passed by about 75% of Spokane voters last November that bans camping near schools, parks and daycare centers.
“We have a problem with lawlessness because they know there are no consequences,” Phil Altmeyer, CEO of the Union Gospel Mission, said of people violating laws like Spokane’s sit-and-lie ordinance.
The rally serves as another high-profile attempt at encouraging members of the public to contact their elected officials and testify at council meetings about their public safety concerns.
“The other side is showing up, the activists and the service providers, and our side needs to be heard. Crime doesn’t care if you’re a Republican, Democrat or Independent,” warned State Rep. Jenny Graham, R-Spokane. “Whether you vote or don’t vote.”
Councilmembers Michael Cathcart and Jonathan Bingle, who have won praise from rally organizers for their “get tough on crime approach,” attended Monday night’s rally.
Mayor Lisa Brown did not make an appearance but has scheduled a virtual town hall meeting for Nov. 13 to update the results of a month-long special police emphasis program currently underway downtown. Brown may also explain the impact of the Nov. 5 election results, including the outcome of a proposed one-tenth of one percent sales tax increase for the city of Spokane.
