{"id":2338439,"date":"2024-09-08T14:55:55","date_gmt":"2024-09-08T18:55:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/council-president-on-homelessness-we-are-spokane-we-do-things-differently-here-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-08T15:01:34","modified_gmt":"2024-09-08T19:01:34","slug":"council-president-on-homelessness-we-are-spokane-we-do-things-differently-here-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/council-president-on-homelessness-we-are-spokane-we-do-things-differently-here-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Council president on homelessness: \u2018We are Spokane; we do things differently here\u2019 &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcouncil-president-on-homelessness-we-are-spokane-we-do-things-differently-here-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2338439&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gov-newsom-lifts-calif-lockdown-orders-amid-mounting-backlash\/\" title=\"Gov. Newsom lifts Calif. lockdown orders amid mounting backlash\">press conference held<\/a> by Spokane officials, led by Council President Betsy Wilkerson, regarding the city&#8217;s approach to homelessness and upcoming roundtable discussions aimed at\u200d addressing community \u200cconcerns and misconceptions. The discussions come after criticism from local businesses regarding an ordinance aimed at protecting\u2062 homeless individuals by making &#8220;housing status&#8221; a protected class. Critics argue\u200c this policy may lead to further issues rather than solving the homelessness crisis.<\/p>\n<p>Community members are frustrated \u200cwith vandalism and the negative impact on businesses, calling for stricter enforcement of illegal camping\u2064 laws. \u200bWilkerson\u200c emphasized\u2064 that while they are not addressing \u2063Proposition 1, \u200cwhich involves illegal \u200ccamping enforcement, they seek input on current policies intended to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/food-stamps-december-snap-payments-worth-1751-to-wrap-up-for-new-mexico-residents-in-eight-days\/\" title=\"New Mexico residents to receive ,751 in SNAP payments by December end\">support vulnerable populations<\/a>. Some council members advocate for stronger\u2062 law \u200benforcement measures, suggesting that the ongoing homelessness issues could drive businesses out \u200dof \u2063Spokane, echoing\u200d concerns of the city becoming like larger cities known for their homelessness\u2063 crises. Wilkerson\u2062 reaffirmed \u200dthat Spokane has its\u200d own\u200d unique identity and approaches to these challenges.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Council president on homelessness: &lsquo;We are Spokane; we do things differently here&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1755239\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; With a roundtable discussion slated for next week, several Spokane officials hosted a Thursday press conference to give more insight into the city council&rsquo;s deferred homelessness ordinances.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Council President Betsy Wilkerson said the upcoming meeting(s) are intended &ldquo;to dispel some of the misinformation and miscommunication that is circulating in our community.&rdquo; However, the city&rsquo;s press release said the meetings are &ldquo;to gather input on our current policies and create suggestions for enhancing them.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The roundtable discussion(s) will follow months of criticism from the business community and others over the city&rsquo;s handling of its homelessness crisis.<\/p>\n<p>Many business owners, developers and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/airbnb-to-ban-landlords-who-evicted-tenants-during-coronavirus-from-listing-properties\/\" title=\"AirBnB To Ban Landlords Who Evicted Tenants During Coronavirus From Listing Properties\">real estate professionals<\/a> have called into question an ordinance that would make &ldquo;housing status&rdquo; a protected class. While the policy is intended to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/landscaper-kills-homeless-mom-sleeping-in-ca-park-running-her-over-with-lawn-mower\/\" title=\"Homeless mother sleeping in CA park tragically killed by landscaper operating lawn mower.\">protect homeless individuals<\/a> from discrimination, some say its unintended consequences will only perpetuate the crisis and safeguard vagrants from prosecution.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, the community is fed up with properties being vandalized and livelihoods destroyed. They want to see the city enforce its illegal camping provisions and other laws to the full extent, a bleak reality given staffing and budget constraints within the Spokane Police Department.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Prop 1 is Prop 1; we&rsquo;re not discussing that,&rdquo; Wilkerson said, regarding an illegal camping provision that many called on the city to enforce, &ldquo;but the ordinances that are on the books in Spokane, that address the people that were trying to serve, we want your input.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The business community and some of the council, such as Councilmembers Michael Cathcart and Jonathan Bingle, have pushed for more enforcement; they&rsquo;ve even proposed ordinances and resolutions that would strengthen Proposition 1, only to be sidelined by the progressive majority.<\/p>\n<p>Many believe that the state of homelessness and public safety in Spokane is pushing business to Idaho and turning the city into another Seattle.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The quickest way to not be happy is to always compare yourself to someone else,&rdquo; Wilkerson said. &ldquo;We are not Seattle; we are not Boise; we are not Portland; we are not San Francisco; we are Spokane; we do things differently here.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Anwar Peace, chair of the Spokane Human Rights Commission, spoke briefly, followed by Councilmember Lili Navarrete, who proposed the new protected class ordinance. They both briefed the audience on what led to their &ldquo;Homeless Bill of Rights&rdquo; ordinance.<\/p>\n<p>Peace said other areas, including Illinois, Rhode Island and Connecticut, have passed similar laws. It&rsquo;s intended to protect and support the city&rsquo;s &ldquo;homeless neighbors,&rdquo; not criminal activity. He confirmed that the ordinance has been done through the proper legal channels and is lawful.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The business community&rsquo;s approach to this,&rdquo; Peace said, &ldquo;it has been very striking that they are basically saying that our homeless neighbors should be treated as third-class citizens.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The first roundtable discussion will take place on Sept. 10, and more will follow every three weeks after. Wilkerson said they would inform those participating of the ordinances on the books and what those laws do and do not do.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t drink the Kool-aid,&rdquo; Wilkerson said. &ldquo;If it&rsquo;s misinformation, call them out.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1755239\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1755239\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Council President on Homelessness: &#8216;We Are Spokane; We Do Things Differently Here&#8217; (The Center Square) \u2013 Ahead of a roundtable discussion scheduled for next week, several officials from Spokane held a press conference on Thursday to provide clarity regarding the city council&#8217;s postponed homelessness ordinances. Council President Betsy Wilkerson stated that the purpose of the upcoming meetings is \u201cto clear up some of the misinformation and miscommunication circulating in our community.\u201d However, according to the city&#8217;s press release, these meetings aim \u201cto collect feedback on our existing policies and develop suggestions for improvement.\u201d The discussions will take place following months of criticism from business leaders and others concerning how the city has managed its homelessness crisis. Many in the business sector have raised concerns about an ordinance that would classify \u201chousing status\u201d as a protected category. While this policy aims to prevent discrimination against homeless individuals, critics argue it may inadvertently exacerbate the crisis by shielding vagrants from legal action. Meanwhile, residents are frustrated with property damage and threats to their livelihoods, calling for stricter enforcement of illegal camping laws and other regulations\u2014an issue complicated by staffing shortages and budget limitations within the Spokane Police Department. Wilkerson remarked about an illegal camping provision known as Prop 1: \u201cWe\u2019re not discussing that,\u201d but emphasized they want input on existing ordinances meant to assist those in need. Some council members, including Michael Cathcart and Jonathan Bingle, along with members of the business community have advocated for increased enforcement measures; however, their proposals have been overlooked by a progressive majority on the council. There is concern among many that rising homelessness and public safety issues could drive businesses out of Spokane towards Idaho or transform it into another Seattle-like city. Wilkerson asserted: \u201cThe quickest way to unhappiness is constant comparison; we are not Seattle or Boise or Portland or San Francisco\u2014we are Spokane; we do things differently here.\u201d Anwar Peace, chair of the Spokane Human Rights Commission, briefly addressed attendees alongside Councilmember Lili Navarrete who introduced a new ordinance aimed at creating protected class status for homeless individuals. They explained their rationale behind proposing a &#8220;Homeless Bill of Rights,&#8221; noting similar legislation has been enacted in states like Illinois, Rhode Island, and Connecticut\u2014intended to protect homeless individuals rather than criminalize them. Peace criticized local businesses\u2019 stance as treating homeless people like second-class citizens. The first roundtable discussion is set for September 10th with subsequent meetings every three weeks thereafter where participants will be informed about current laws related to homelessness. Wilkerson urged attendees not to believe misleading information: &#8220;If it&#8217;s misinformation, call them out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2338440,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP23087653017545.jpg.optimal.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[40409,11561,37198,32585],"class_list":["post-2338439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-council-president","tag-homelessness","tag-local-government","tag-spokane"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP23087653017545.jpg.optimal.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2338439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2338439"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2338439\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2338440"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2338439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2338439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2338439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}