Erin Hut, Communications Director, 509.625.6740
Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 10:37 a.m.
Mayor Lisa Brown issued the following statement on the Washington Supreme Court’s ruling in the Jewels Helping Hands and Ben Stuckart v. Brian Hansen and City of Spokane case:
“The Washington State Supreme Court’s decision regarding Proposition 1 offers important clarity on the legal boundaries of local initiative powers and reinforces the distinction between legislative and administrative actions.
"The City’s unlawful camping ordinance, which pre-dated Proposition 1, remains in effect and is being enforced as demonstrated by Spokane Police Department data. We know that enforcement alone is not going to solve homelessness.
"We just announced deployment of opioid settlement dollars to create more sobering beds and are working with Spokane County to expand the crisis stabilization facility. We are seeing success through our High Utilizer Initiative and expansion of the Spokane Fire Department’s CARES Team. We are also implementing additional strategies to create more housing supply because lack of affordable housing is an undeniable contributor to homelessness.
"Our legal team is currently reviewing the Court’s opinion in detail, and we will be working together to thoughtfully chart a path forward that reflects the Court’s guidance, as well as the best interests of our community.”
