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Walla Walla residents urge action on downtown chalking and hate speech; council attorney to draft ordinance
Summary
Multiple residents told the Walla Walla City Council on Jan. 8 that recurring chalking and graffiti on downtown sidewalks — including messages residents call hate speech — harms the city's image. Council members said the city attorney is working on an ordinance and that a draft is expected by the council's first meeting in February.
Several Walla Walla residents used the Jan. 8 public-comment period to urge City Council action on repeated chalking and other markings on downtown sidewalks, calling the markings visual blight and, in some cases, hate speech. Council members said the city attorney is drafting an ordinance and expect to present it no later than the council's first meeting in February.
Those who spoke included long-time residents and people who said they regularly remove markings. "I'm here to speak ... in support of some action to be taken with regard to the visual bright blight on the sidewalks of Walla Walla, especially downtown," said Randall Sampson, who identified himself as a Walla Walla resident and former municipal attorney. Sampson urged the council to consider "an ordinance creating a chalk free zone" and a staff program for regularly scheduled cleaning of downtown sidewalks.
David Schmaltz, another resident, told the council the issue has persisted for "many, many, many glaring months" and asked the city attorney and council to propose a solution. Brian Doe, a resident who spoke later in public comment, asked whether any organization is "coordinating a response" and suggested the city, Downtown Walla Walla Foundation or the Chamber of Commerce could lead the work.
Council member Robinson, speaking from the dais, framed the issue through the experience of LGBTQ residents: "As the only openly gay person sitting at the dais ... I do take the hate speech quite seriously. It is quite threatening," Robinson said, and cautioned public commenters to consider how their remarks might be heard by marginalized communities.
Mayor Scrippner and other council members acknowledged the complaints and said the city attorney is preparing an ordinance intended to avoid First Amendment problems. "It'll be no later than the, first meeting of February," the mayor said, referring to the expected timing for the attorney's draft. Council members emphasized they are trying to balance legal risk with community concerns about downtown appearance.
No formal ordinance was proposed or adopted at the Jan. 8 meeting; council members described the matter as under active staff and legal review. The council also discussed the possibility of a future work session on related public-notice practices after a resident asked that the city hold a public meeting before discontinuing mailed utility newsletters.
The discussion included repeated distinctions between private citizens' actions and responsibilities of city staff. Council members said staff and the city attorney are coordinating next steps and will return to the council with draft language and recommendations early in the year.
