{"id":2501633,"date":"2025-10-21T19:35:02","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T23:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/critics-call-out-spokane-mayor-over-homelessness\/"},"modified":"2025-10-21T19:39:28","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T23:39:28","slug":"critics-call-out-spokane-mayor-over-homelessness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/critics-call-out-spokane-mayor-over-homelessness\/","title":{"rendered":"Critics call out Spokane mayor over homelessness"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/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%2Fcritics-call-out-spokane-mayor-over-homelessness%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=2501633&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>Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown recently addressed the City Council in a 30-minute speech reflecting on her nearly two years in office, focusing on efforts to manage the city&#8217;s challenges, including ongoing budget shortfalls and homelessness. Despite balancing a $25 million deficit in her first year, the city faces a new $13 million shortfall heading into 2026, partly attributed by Brown to uncertainty around federal policies. To <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-johnson-gets-reinforcements-with-swearing-in-of-florida-republicans-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Mike Johnson gets reinforcements with swearing-in of Florida Republicans - Washington Examiner\">address fiscal issues<\/a>, residents approved a tax increase, though about 30 to 50 public safety jobs remain at risk.<\/p>\n<p>Brown highlighted the city&#8217;s shift from operating the large Trent homeless shelter, which was costly, to a scattered-site shelter model with smaller facilities housing about 30 individuals each. While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-teachers-union-prez-tells-members-dont-reveal-you-got-vaccine-if-it-means-you-return-to-school\/\" title=\"Chicago Teachers Union Prez Tells Members: Don\u2019t Reveal You Got Vaccine If It Means You Return To School\">recent surveys show<\/a> a decrease in unsheltered homelessness, critics argue this may be misleading due to tracking difficulties following the shelter closures. Some residents and business groups criticized brown for worsening the downtown homelessness crisis, ineffective enforcement of camping bans, and expanding her cabinet amid budget problems. concerns also include strained relations with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/downtown-milwaukee-curfew-imposed-bucks-cancel-game-seven-watch-party-due-to-string-of-shootings-friday\/\" title=\"Downtown Milwaukee Curfew Imposed, Bucks Cancel Game Seven Watch Party Due To String Of Shootings Friday\">public safety partners<\/a> and claims that homelessness problems are merely shifting locations rather than improving.  <\/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\">Critics call out Spokane mayor over homelessness after 30-minute speech<\/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\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2379044\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square)&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;After nearly two years in office, Mayor Lisa Brown reflected on the state of the city on Monday during an address to the Spokane City Council, drawing criticism from residents present.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The 30-minute speech highlighted the administration&rsquo;s efforts over the past year amid ongoing budget gaps. Despite balancing a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_8460421e-b735-11ef-bb54-73182a4f14e3.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$25 million<\/a>&nbsp;deficit in her first year in office, Brown faces another&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_22c01108-56d5-4f75-b8cd-64a83d47e4a7.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$13 million<\/a>&nbsp;shortfall heading into 2026, which she attributes to uncertainty with President Donald Trump&rsquo;s policies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3858840\/maine-senate-graham-platner-nazi-tattoo\/\">Maine Senate hopeful Platner denies he&#8217;s &#8216;secret Nazi&#8217; after SS skull tattoo revealed<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3858811\/bernie-sanders-stands-embattled-maine-senate-graham-platner\/\">Bernie Sanders stands by embattled Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3858751\/eric-trump-warns-andrew-cuomo-chances-doomed-unless-curtis-sliwa-drops-out-nyc-mayoral-race\/\">Eric Trump warns Cuomo&rsquo;s chances doomed unless Sliwa drops out of New York race<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>However, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >sales tax growth began plateauing long<\/a> before Trump won the 2024 election. Voters allowed Brown to raise taxes last November after she said the shortfall could result in job losses across public safety. Last week, she sent an email noting that about 30 to 50 employees&rsquo; jobs are currently at risk.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Closing the deficit, estimated right now at $13 million, will be challenging, but I believe we can do it while minimizing impacts to both the services our residents rely on and the staff who deliver those services,&rdquo; Brown said on Monday. &ldquo;We will address our budget while keeping community safety at the forefront.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>She claimed the Spokane Police Department may be able to fill all of its funded positions by May and applauded cuts that helped bridge the last deficit. One of those measures was&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_cfbeb6d2-760d-11ef-b6e3-3768fe010be4.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">closing<\/a>&nbsp;the city&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/phoenix-homeless-encampment-clears-out-after-neighbors-sue-city\/\" title=\"Phoenix homeless camp cleared after neighbors sue city.\">largest homeless shelter<\/a>, which cost taxpayers about $1 million per month to operate, in favor of a new idea.<\/p>\n<p>Brown praised the rollout of her scattered-site shelter&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_dbaaa0f1-e30a-4af7-b400-d63e8f70e38a.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">model<\/a>&nbsp;on Monday. Each facility supports about 30 individuals at a time instead of hundreds. These shelters currently provide about 209 beds, but that still results in a net loss compared to the hundreds of beds eliminated by closing the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_cfbeb6d2-760d-11ef-b6e3-3768fe010be4.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trent<\/a>&nbsp;shelter.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Recent surveying efforts recorded a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_7f60cc67-2ba5-4d26-9161-606f371417a1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">decrease<\/a>&nbsp;in unsheltered homelessness in January. Still, critics argue this is likely because it&rsquo;s hard to track people from the Trent shelter since it closed. Local law used to require the city to replace beds eliminated through shelter closures, but the council repealed that rule when it passed Brown&rsquo;s proposed HOME ordinance, which overhauled the response to homelessness.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I hold Mayor Lisa Brown responsible for much of this mess,&rdquo; Spokanite Will Hulings testified on Monday. &ldquo;Since taking office and shutting down the Trent shelter, downtown Spokane has spiraled out of control.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The council also&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_a39f5c3c-b3c0-40af-9fa6-10c717ab6bf7.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">replaced<\/a>&nbsp;the city&rsquo;s camping ban in June with a proposal from Brown that allows people to avoid citations if they move down the street or accept services. Police Chief Kevin Hall recently said that SPD hadn&rsquo;t cited anyone or issued any referrals, arguing that the ban is&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_52513f22-d3c6-45ed-be6b-d93eb8c39bc8.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">unenforceable<\/a>&nbsp;as written.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Brown said&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_bc6f4378-c46a-46cc-9b36-f03bdc97736a.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">amendments<\/a>&nbsp;are on the way to address the issue. Brad Barnett, president of the Spokane Business Association, called on the mayor to enforce the rule of law during his testimony. The SBA and other groups are fed up with the crisis downtown and emphasize accountability through enforcement.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3815067\/trump-terrorist-organizations-antifa-tren-de-aragua-ms-13-houthis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HERE ARE THE GROUPS TRUMP HAS DESIGNATED AS TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Another resident, Earl Moore, agreed, arguing that the homelessness crisis isn&rsquo;t improving; instead, it is moving around the city and occupying viaducts. She criticized the mayor for expanding her cabinet despite ongoing budget challenges, compounded by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_32f1b651-61f7-4315-84ae-958509b6d75f.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">conflicts<\/a>&nbsp;with regional public safety partners.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Some of you on this council believe that the homelessness in our city [has] improved. You are sorely mistaken,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re creating havoc. My goodness, you have created so much havoc in this city.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/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>Spokane mayor criticized over homelessness in 30-min speech<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3892,"featured_media":2501634,"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\/2023\/12\/ap-18145672864421.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4365,11561,4602,32585],"class_list":["post-2501633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-critics","tag-homelessness","tag-mayor","tag-spokane"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ap-18145672864421.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501633","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\/3892"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2501633"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501633\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2501637,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501633\/revisions\/2501637"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2501634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2501633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2501633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2501633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}