1. A Focus on Better Government
In my many years as CFO of the City of Spokane, I never found a lack of money to be the obstacle to achieving big results. In other words, Spokane can accomplish big things without raising costs—a principle more vital than ever as we tackle complex issues like criminal justice, homelessness, mental health, and addiction. As always, regional collaboration, partnerships, and integration are essential for making this happen and those efforts are already underway.
As we move into 2025, SBA will continue to advocate for affordable, innovative, and effective government, and we will soon announce important partnerships and initiatives aimed at addressing our region’s critical public health and safety issues — without increasing the cost to Spokane’s citizens.
Stay tuned!
2. Regional Leadership Meeting on Critical Public Safety Issues
Addressing Spokane’s critical public health and safety issues is the focus of a series of meetings involving regional leaders from Spokane County, City of Spokane, City of Spokane Valley, the DSP, GSI, GSVCC, EHF, SRHD, SBA and other nonprofits, as well as private business leaders.
The meetings have been thoughtfully organized and well attended, with more planned in the coming months. This type of advance planning, collaboration, and leadership is precisely what’s needed in the wake of the November 2023 defeat of Measure 1, which received just 37% voter support – it is an important step to understanding and giving Spokane’s voters the public health and safety solutions they are demanding, and it lays the groundwork for success in 2025!
3. Proposed New Alcohol Impact Area – Another Step in the Right Direction
The City of Spokane took another important step last week to enhance public health and safety downtown. Mayor Lisa Brown has proposed reinstating an Alcohol Impact Area (AIA) to curb the sale of single-serve alcohol containers, addressing a 64% increase in alcohol-related incidents over the past three years.
This initiative complements other recent initiatives like the downtown C.O.R.E. (Community Oriented Response and Enforcement) program, which adds police and fire behavioral presence on the streets, as well as City funded cleanup programs by the Downtown Spokane Partnership (DSP) and the Reclaim Project.
Reclaiming downtown Spokane is a journey – not a quick fix. While these measures are important steps forward, we must maintain a strong sense of urgency, working together to implement integrated solutions that balance public safety, accountability, and compassion for our most vulnerable populations.