[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6234690,"mediaKeyId","3410798-09161dfd9fe3e840bf115f0b6b341ad2","parentId",3410798,"title","Local resident invites commissioners to powwow, urges land‑acknowledgement action","audioSeconds",87,"startMs",260000,"endMs",347000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3410798-09161dfd9fe3e840bf115f0b6b341ad2&start=260&end=347","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3410798-09161dfd9fe3e840bf115f0b6b341ad2/thumbnail_260000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6234690/Spokane-County/Washington/Local-resident-invites-commissioners-to-powwow-urges-landacknowledgement-action","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234690-500624ddb7be29732b60a82cf4bc4e46/orig.mp4?Expires=1773659441&Signature=XaJqeo-OMQDFuSahOWUcydRzOYzloyRWls~WSA5pb-mflbVysLWXR-HtvravaRb6v2EWXbtucDQBUMWK~V8UEWcp2nVjLamfYtna8xTclcaQfyPYCaMG8Kgbbr7JbBKWSNn8GrNY2~7JSzC3h9RYxTBxTL98W49zT0eJsHYFRCDQlchb3ev7c6L6yB9alt8Q7DbnWlyEGm4gM9aH~ja1U7QGzInCl7MkOFprYKoYmOzK0iHeqZKCauCus5PJADrNHlHy8WzGEdWy0MC3vGfjFpRnr1joWEcf9wIGkXrnvKPwgPqBPBQbHjX2-itv1HfKWV-SyYz~y-JuxL317SHobg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spokane County, WA","date","2025-05-20T23:22:07.927Z","article","A Spokane resident invited the Board of County Commissioners to attend a powwow at the Spokane Convention Center on May 24–25 and urged the board to engage on adopting a formal land acknowledgement for county events.

Susie Hokanson told the board she recently attended a powwow at a local tribal school and described the event as “humbling and beautiful,” saying roughly three to four hundred people attended. She invited commissioners to the Convention Center powwow on May 24 and 25 and encouraged them to participate.

Hokanson said she has been encouraging the county to adopt a land‑acknowledgement statement but that, when asked recently about progress, she had not been contacted by county staff. “I have been encouraging for a long time to do a land acknowledgement,” she said. “In this past week, two different people have asked me, ‘How is it going?’ And I said, ‘Zero.’ And no one has contacted me or called me.”

Her remarks were part of the meeting’s open public forum. Commissioners did not take formal action or issue a staff directive regarding a land acknowledgement during the meeting, and no county response is recorded in the hearing transcript.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025.05.20 Legislative Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At the county open forum a resident invited commissioners to an upcoming powwow at the Spokane Convention Center and said she has repeatedly asked the county to adopt a land acknowledgement but had not been contacted by staff.","taxTitle","Spokane County, Washington","taxId",2643,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6234696,"Downtown Spokane business owner describes fires, drug activity and increased safety concerns",754,368000,1122000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3410798-09161dfd9fe3e840bf115f0b6b341ad2&start=368&end=1122","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3410798-09161dfd9fe3e840bf115f0b6b341ad2/thumbnail_368000.jpg","/articles/6234696/Spokane-County/Washington/Downtown-Spokane-business-owner-describes-fires-drug-activity-and-increased-safety-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234696-e3226231871e3656bc1b05f5dd473e43/orig.mp4?Expires=1773659441&Signature=GLult02KrU6olFOuaMsOh54MQ0y87HZLjbptzdUoitR0kYe-tTNhoO3uF6dU71O2q0BMYQ-I2WbSdLfE-B7XOdvpESe0Stug2N-RK0W6brJZohhbF96F9FmdhoTpSDZYKk2PYdaYJ1bhr9R6YCrRgNxRFsLvTcAGCH1bwevPMeJqcXOa~1yAGQLwKh92ngkQ7S5oADZccCnM25Bm4KWfHqN2yYZbVjjkTpUon2KPoBKat7ryAqPUMyNZhaHkr20T~pw3DQG9zFm60N2EWN-0lXdEy0Lpe74f2rrBETLodoSmwZpvN~oM2SfWSfi2FqRR4EhWQ58IMS54t-~la3vXUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A downtown Spokane property owner and business operator told county commissioners during the open public forum that chronic homelessness and associated drug activity have made the downtown area unsafe for employees and businesses and could prompt businesses to relocate.

Mark (Matt) Kartcher said he owns a building at Stevens and First and an engineering firm there and serves on the board of homeless‑service providers. He described multiple incidents this week, including fires started by people sleeping in an alcove and “22 people” visible on the street at one time. “A third of them seemed functional, a third seemed obviously transient, and a third were in a state in a zombie state,” Kartcher said. He said employees of nearby firms will not walk short distances alone in daylight because of safety concerns.

Kartcher also described observing apparent drug sales from a black sedan with license plate EKD080. He said an employee called police after witnessing transactions and provided name, phone number and employment details; she continued to observe alleged transaction activity and said police vehicles drove by during the episode but the activity continued for about 50 minutes before the vehicle left.

Kartcher told the commissioners the situation in his two decades downtown has grown worse and that Spokane faces a mounting overdose toll; he cited a figure from another speaker that Spokane County may be on track for nearly 500 overdose deaths in the year. He said he has tried to connect with county community‑services staff about the issues but had not fully connected at the time of the meeting.

The comments were part of the meeting’s public forum; there was no formal response recorded from the commissioners beyond a staff follow‑up note that community services had been contacted previously. No formal county action or directive was recorded on the issue during the meeting.

","A downtown building owner told commissioners he is considering moving businesses out of downtown, described fires caused by people sleeping in building alcoves, drug transactions observed from a parked vehicle, and said police response in one incident was slow.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6234699,"Spokane resident urges county to adopt 0.1% sales tax under RCW 82.14.530 to fund housing, cites Miami‑Dade criminal‑mental‑health model",133,70000,203000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3410798-09161dfd9fe3e840bf115f0b6b341ad2&start=70&end=203","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3410798-09161dfd9fe3e840bf115f0b6b341ad2/thumbnail_70000.jpg","/articles/6234699/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-resident-urges-county-to-adopt-01-sales-tax-under-RCW-8214530-to-fund-housing-cites-MiamiDade-criminalmentalhealth-model","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234699-7a493c217efbd00aa7a88f3c67bde34b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773659441&Signature=fzcFqRD-V5xpQK1-Oa2HZUCUP8c4H2MEqU~MGDLSv8wkTgzLlH0hUDu6gpsl91DgYQ2VwyxJ-3~jHlNF0vQBmJofx8O6X22OPKMkHDhonS557JmnD6vMXRyf~Yn44KWm0YRz1BClBGlgip~qRh61IswUOfhqIIl9CkU0vvkq6Vg-Q7CUrl8l6NiIV0~NoRO5pkWHrREEZZAIZxajo0vpg7eezcFY6wWps-cNwNkt3WWLnrZ5evEtsq4uR8pPjfRAOH1OLCZFpoIbQsmuk1Y~OopIGZaqD7zBK3FB6sB-YT7dx-dgHsDBSEM84M4mfhkesbUkBJRCkIAY0Q62MMeKGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Spokane resident urged the Spokane County Board of County Commissioners to enact a one‑tenth‑percent sales and use tax under state law to finance housing construction and related services for people experiencing homelessness, citing a criminal‑mental‑health diversion model used in Miami‑Dade County.

Becky Dickerhoof told the board during the open public forum that attendees of a presentation by Judge Steven Leifman learned there are “25 times as many people with mental illnesses in correctional facilities as there are in all civil state treatment facilities combined.” She described outcomes from the criminal‑mental‑health project in Dade County, saying the program reduced the jail population and saved taxpayers money. “The criminal mental health project Judge Leifman pioneered resulted in the Dade County Jail experiencing a 39% reduction in the average daily census and allowed for the closing of 1 entire jail facility, saving taxpayers $12,000,000 per year,” she said.

Dickerhoof asked the commissioners to enact what she called the “15‑90 tax,” referencing state law she identified as RCW 82.14.530, which she said allows a county legislative authority to impose a sales and use tax not to exceed one‑tenth of 1% and that by statute at least 60% of revenue must be used for housing construction while the remainder may support operations and related services. “This will allow the county to create more homes for the unsheltered,” she said.

She also described program elements she said contributed to successful community reentry in Dade County, including a bridal (sic) intervention team program and a model she identified as SOAR that, she said, “provides a steady income and health care coverage, which enables individuals to access basic needs, including housing, food, medical care, and psychiatric treatment.” Dickerhoof attributed declines in recidivism in Dade County from roughly 75% to about 20% annually to the program’s services.

Commissioners did not take action on her request during the meeting; the testimony was part of the open public forum and no vote or staff directive on a county sales tax measure was recorded in the meeting minutes. The statements and statistics above are Dickerhoof’s representations to the board during public comment; the record does not include county staff verification of the figures or a formal proposal tied to the RCW citation.

","At the county’s open public forum, Becky Dickerhoof described a criminal‑mental‑health program pioneered by Judge Steven Leifman and urged commissioners to use RCW 82.14.530 to impose a one‑tenth‑percent sales and use tax to fund housing and services for people experiencing homelessness.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6234704,"Spokane County OKs amendment to Flock Safety franchise to expand license-plate reader cameras",0,1608000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3410798-09161dfd9fe3e840bf115f0b6b341ad2&start=1608&end=1608","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3410798-09161dfd9fe3e840bf115f0b6b341ad2/thumbnail_1608000.jpg","/articles/6234704/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-County-OKs-amendment-to-Flock-Safety-franchise-to-expand-license-plate-reader-cameras","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234704-8940ede060e85b4628f6f105897c3f08/orig.mp4?Expires=1773659441&Signature=EeyFXclVi5thDb7pnw~zYio44NWFIDcJDFsD7jS8C6ro2S0Kb97HFVpWqYyD48H7CL08xwmeuqz03CBthVixtsk31dgmJ8zn0oz20FQKDvs8ATYemhMfhKa3x-NIMpiCcl5znorWmvICGA6X4cV3bu3j4z9Ac3aIdCWAEJkZ0YByk8IrKyCBWa02bbUC~xuw~Tp~N--J~ofs4kToqqKZV~XWc3qHfBCZj6YVpZ2oT08ER9sP-t9d6dsugufA2eg1SIRPZtm8GdGNje02xKNfNxJH7HSk4NSatKycar3h887I-fxItAkE49h1Ic0CizpFPPEnFDrMUZTsj6d9bPxBtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Spokane County commissioners unanimously approved an amendment to a telecommunications franchise that will let the Public Works Department add more Flock Safety license-plate-reader cameras, the board decided Tuesday during a public hearing.

County road engineer Matt Saracore told the commissioners the amendment would authorize additional cameras at locations shown as red dots on a county map and that the proposal was made in coordination with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

The amendment was presented during the board’s public hearing on agenda item 5A. Saracore told the board, “Here to tell you about a amendment to an existing franchise we’re proposing. It’s for Flock Safety. … Essentially, what they are is their license plate readers.” The chair opened the hearing for testimony; no members of the public signed up to speak. After closing public testimony, a commissioner moved to approve the amendment, a second was given, and the motion passed unanimously.

The board recorded the motion as approved with all four commissioners present voting in the affirmative. The meeting record notes that Commissioners Jordan, Waldorf, Kearns and Cuny were present; Commissioner French was absent on county business.

County staff said Justin Elliott from Flock Safety was available for questions but no public questions were offered. The amendment does not appear to set a public comment condition or deployment timeline in the discussion recorded at the hearing; staff described the map locations but did not state the total number of new cameras or provide a timetable for installation during the public presentation.

Because no public testimony was offered at the hearing, commissioners voted to approve the amendment as presented by staff. Implementation details, such as exact camera counts, installation schedule and any data‑use or retention practices tied to the franchise amendment, were not specified in the hearing record and would need to be confirmed in the franchise documents or future staff reports.

The action concludes the public‑hearing step recorded in the board’s May 20 consent-agenda meeting; staff or the sheriff’s office will be the next points of contact for additional implementation or privacy‑policy questions.

","The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved an amendment allowing Public Works to add more Flock Safety license-plate reader cameras after a staff presentation and a public hearing with no public testimony.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Local resident invites commissioners to powwow, urges land‑acknowledgement action

Downtown Spokane business owner describes fires, drug activity and increased safety concerns

Spokane resident urges county to adopt 0.1% sales tax under RCW 82.14.530 to fund housing, cites Miami‑Dade criminal‑mental‑health model

Spokane County OKs amendment to Flock Safety franchise to expand license-plate reader cameras