Spokane business groups file amicus brief with Supreme Court ahead of Prop 1 review

(The Center Square) – As the Washington Supreme Court gears up to review Spokane’s Proposition 1 this fall, local business advocacy groups are standing up to support the voter-approved camping ban.

The Downtown Spokane Partnership and Greater Spokane Inc. filed an amicus brief with the high court on Monday, raising issues with the basis that advocates hope will strike down Proposition 1.

Last November, 75% of voters approved Proposition 1, which expanded the city’s illegal camping ordinance to include anywhere within 1,000 feet of a park, daycare or school; however, law enforcement never fully enforced its provisions due to concerns over the Martin v Boise ruling.

The 9th Circuit Court decision held that cities can’t enforce anti-camping ordinances without enough shelter beds for their homeless populations. That was until the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the lower ruling, allowing cities to implement the camping bans.

Still, some local homeless advocates want the law struck down, but since SCOTUS has already ruled the bans constitutional, the advocates are asking for a review of the initiative process.

“Preserving the vitality of downtown Spokane and the responsible use of public space in our community is a top priority of the DSP and echoed by Spokane voters who overwhelmingly voted to pass Proposition 1 last year,” DSP President & CEO Emilie Cameron wrote in a news release. “The DSP partnered in this brief to protect the power of the local initiative process and confirm that Spokane has a necessary tool to intervene when homelessness impacts the ability to ensure safe access to public spaces for everyone.”

The 20-page brief takes a stand in support of the initiative process on behalf of all the member organizations involved with the DSP and GSI. Last month, City Attorney Mike Piccolo said the review would happen this fall, with a decision likely by sometime in October.

“The local initiative is a cornerstone of our democratic process. GSI can’t allow it to become collateral damage in the fight over Proposition 1,” GSI GEO Alisha Benson wrote in the release. “When I saw arguments being brought to the Court that would weaken this process, I felt GSI had to step in on behalf of our member partners. We will never have a community solution to our neighbors’ homelessness without centering the voice of our community.”