Dear Spokane Community,
5 AM and the Power of Urgency: A Lesson from Former Mayor Jim West’s Cabinet
This morning at 5 AM, we gathered outside David’s Pizza for another walk—this time joined by Jeff Humphrey, one of Spokane’s great in-depth reporters, capturing video for a story with The Center Square.
Before heading out, we took a moment to enjoy coffee and some wonderful breakfast pizza (thank you, Mark Starr/David’s Pizza!) and to reflect on a timely story from 2004, when Jim West took office as Spokane’s mayor.
West’s first Cabinet meeting, on January 2, 2004, began at 8:00 AM sharp, with a $1.00 fine for every minute late. One by one, he directed his 13 division directors to describe the most important things they were working on. West took no notes—he just listened. The next morning was the same, but this time, he also wanted progress updates.
Day Three: Following comments from the Parks Director, West quietly said:
“You said the same thing Monday… Maybe we don’t need a Parks Director.”
You can imagine what followed.
Knowing I was also about to begin repeating myself, I left that meeting and immediately called my team together—finance, budget, treasury, accounting. Beginning that day, I needed a list of all the compelling projects we were working on, along with clear progress metrics, in my hands by 3:00 PM. That day and every day after. And, of course, that’s exactly what all the division directors did across the City’s 50+ departments.
We also knew we couldn’t do this alone. Within a short period of time, City departments began reaching out, and the silos tumbled. Partnerships formed across the board as we pulled in county officials, business leaders, and other community partners. Important new projects quickly came online, and existing projects that might have dragged on for years began leaping forward. It was a period of amazing productivity and impact. And we actually enjoyed it—it’s fun to be on a winning team!
That period of accomplishments for our community left a legacy that outlasted West’s mayorship, despite the controversies that ended his tenure.
So that was this morning’s story of urgency—and one of the reasons behind these 5 AM walks.
Back then, West made it clear: If we didn’t deliver, we wouldn’t be employed. Urgency! Collaboration and partnership followed.
Today, the stakes are much higher—with people dying on our streets and our economy and jobs continuing to suffer—but the recipe for success remains the same.
A Final Reflection on Walking Through Riverfront Park Before Sunrise
If you haven’t walked through Riverfront Park before sunrise lately, you’re missing something special.
It’s a powerful reminder of everything we love about Spokane. The park is more beautiful than ever before, and the development surrounding it is a testament to growth and progress—including The Podium, ONE Spokane Stadium, and the Centennial Hotel. And, of course, our river serves as a constant reminder of why Spokane exists and why we are all here.
The architects of our park system (and many others across the country) perhaps said it best back in 1908:
“The falls are a tremendous feature of the [Spokane] landscape, and one which is rarer in a large city than river, lake, bay, or mountain.”
— The 1908 Olmsted Report on Spokane’s Park System
See you at 5 AM!