Open forum: residents praise navigation center, warn a kratom ban would hurt small businesses and recovery supports
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Summary
During open forum residents praised the navigation center and Prop 1+ outcomes, and Spencer Coffin warned a proposed blanket kratom ban would “obliterate” a family‑run shop that serves people in recovery; Elizabeth Goldsmith offered farewell thanks to an outgoing councilmember.
Open forum brought multiple residents to the podium with praise, policy concerns and gratitude.
Chad Wendell thanked the council for passing Prop 1+ and said early results had reduced private security costs for his nonprofit properties. Larry Andrews returned to the podium to reiterate the need for coordinated advocacy to protect Spokane’s waste‑to‑energy facility.
Spencer Coffin, who identified himself as a Spokane resident and daily kratom user for chronic pain and harm reduction, urged the council not to adopt a blanket ban on kratom within city limits. He described a family‑run kratom shop that has helped people in recovery by offering discounts and assistance to those in withdrawal and argued a ban would “obliterate” their business and remove a recovery‑adjacent community space. “The planned kratom ordinance...does not regulate them. It obliterates them,” Coffin said.
Sunshine Wigan spoke about benefits she has seen from the city’s navigation center and thanked the council for the resource. Elizabeth Goldsmith used her two minutes to thank an outgoing councilmember, praising their service and wishing them well.
Open forum concluded and the council adjourned.