In The News - 6/9/2025
The Spokesman Review
Brown, City Council aim to overhaul homelessness laws
Mayor’s plan bans camping in city but offers services ahead of enforcement action
Two months after the state Supreme Court overturned Spokane’s voter-approved anti-homeless camping law, the Spokane City Council is set to overhaul its suite of homelessness laws in a way supporters argue simplifies and streamlines the law, but that critics call either toothless or too sharp.
The flagship ordinance is Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposed replacement for Proposition 1, which voters approved in 2023 by a roughly 50-point margin to outlaw camping within 1,000 feet of a school, park or playground. Advocates argued the law was meant to protect children, creating a complicated patchwork of enforcement areas that covered most of the city.
On April 17, the state Supreme Court overturned the law on technical grounds, arguing it had exceeded the legal limits for local initiatives, without ruling on the merits of the law itself.
While some immediately pushed for the law to be reinstated verbatim through the City Council, Brown pushed forward a law that would replace Prop 1’s jigsaw enforcement areas with a citywide ban on camping – but with significantly more emphasis on warnings and enrolling people into addiction and behavioral health treatment.
Under Brown’s replacement plan, officers would give anyone illegally camping on public property up to seven days’ notice ahead of any enforcement action. During that time, the city’s homeless outreach team and other service providers would offer services to the camper, and would not write them a ticket if they accept the offer of help. The law also would not be enforceable if the person simply left the area and did not return until after the officer left.
In the limited cases where someone would not meet these or other exemptions, violations would be a misdemeanor referred to a therapeutic court. Prop 1 violations were also a cite-and-release misdemeanor offense.
Given the wide leeway afforded to people illegally camping under the proposal, Brown has already faced criticism as functionally giving people a seven-day camping permit.
“The idea of a seven-day pass on camping, that’s crazy,” Richard Repp, a corporate attorney, said at a recent council meeting. “It’s also insulting to the 73% of voters who passed Prop 1.”
In an interview Friday, Brown called her proposal a “balanced approach” between supportive and punitive measures, saying she believes her critics misunderstand what it would entail.
Downtown, her administration argues most complaints about the homeless could still be immediately addressed by an obstruction law her administration has proposed to replace “pedestrian interference.” In either the current or replacement framework, it is illegal to sit, lay down or place one’s property in a way that block’s the public’s access, such as on a sidewalk. Notably, the obstruction law would not result in a ticket if the person accepts services or leaves when asked by an officer.
KXLY
Downtown businesses urge mayor to alter proposed ordinances meant to address homelessness in Spokane
Spokane City Council is weeks away from voting on city-wide ordinances aimed at addressing homelessness and cleaning up the city, but some downtown businesses say the plans don't go far enough.
In May, the city unveiled the "H.O.M.E Starts Here" plan, which proposes ordinances to amend laws on illegal camping, pedestrian interference, and sit-and-lie regulations.
However, many downtown businesses and organizations argue that the ordinances fail to consider the unique challenges faced by the downtown area.
Emilie Cameron, CEO of the Downtown Spokane Partnership (DSP), said the approach needs to be specific to downtown.
"The idea is recognizing what is different about downtown, recognizing that there is a need for this specific area to be treated in a different way."
Last week, DSP and its partners sent a letter urging the city to amend the ordinances and establish a 'downtown hospitality zone' with stricter rules and penalties for blocking sidewalks, encampments and drug activity, compared to the rest of Spokane.
"We have to now, more than ever, be intentional, be purposeful and make sure that we're creating an environment that can contribute to powering our region forward for many years to come," Cameron said.
A major concern for downtown businesses in the proposed H.O.M.E ordinances is the waiting period for homeless encampment citations. According to the obstruction ordinance that will be voted on, a citation is issued seven days after a notice is posted.
"How do we create expectations so that the sidewalks, public right of ways are free, open and accessible for all to enjoy? Because we've spent a lot of time and investment in creating public sidewalks that are prioritizing pedestrian activity," she said.
In response, Mayor Lisa Brown sent a letter to the Downtown Spokane Partnership stating, "My team is carefully reviewing your requests about a hospitality district and developing some ideas of our own." She also said her team is continuing to put together downtown-focused initiatives that are in line with DSP's goals.
Spokane City Council is set to vote on the 'H.O.M.E. Starts Here' ordinances on June 16.