SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane City Council voted Monday night not to create a new homeless camping ordinance.
If passed, the ordinance would have allowed people to camp on city streets for up to seven days before receiving a citation.
The ordinance would have replaced Proposition 1, which Spokane voters approved, but was overturned by the Washington State Supreme Court.
During Monday night’s meeting, those against the ordinance said it would harm downtown businesses.
“We are asking you to protect the heart of our city,” said Emilie Cameron of Downtown Spokane Partnership. “We are asking to set rules so our downtown is protected. This is not just about homelessness, this is about how we protect our public spaces.”
Those in favor of the ordinance said it would move the city one step closer to helping solve the homeless crisis.
“We have a homeless crisis here in Spokane and we should be doing everything to solve it. Continuing to criminalize the homeless is how we got into this crisis in the first place. Respectfully, I ask the council to bring back forth ordinance C36549, relating to the human rights and basic dignity of individuals experiencing homelessness,” said Anwar Peace from Spokane Human Rights Commission.
Ultimately, the ordinance failed 4-3, with Councilmembers Cathcart, Bingle and Navarrete and Council President Wilkerson voting against.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Spokane City Council to vote on camping ordinance replacing Proposition 1
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
