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Artists and residents press council on arts-commission appointments, downtown safety and homelessness
Summary
Public commenters opposed changes to the arts commission appointment process and urged more nonpartisan selection; open-forum speakers also pressed the council on nighttime safety, visible drug use downtown and community support programs.
An ordinance that would change the Arts Commission appointment process drew opposition from downtown artists at the Spokane City Council meeting, and several open-forum speakers raised concerns about downtown safety and homelessness.
Artist and downtown resident Will Humans told the council he strongly opposes the arts-commission ordinance because it concentrates appointment authority with political leadership. “The problem with this ordinance is the appointment process,” he said, adding that the mayoral nomination and council appointment process risks politicizing the commission and discouraging artists with differing views from participating.
Public comment in open forum focused heavily on downtown safety at night. Will Humans and other residents described visible drug use and enforcement gaps after dark; Humans recounted calling Crime Check about people openly using fentanyl in public and urged more nighttime enforcement and resources. A downtown resident and business owner, Justin Heller, urged transparency on city spending and criticized perceived lack of enforcement and responsiveness.
Other open-forum items included Sarah Rose’s request that Spokane residents vote in the Strongest Towns online competition to highlight Spokane’s walkability and housing work, and Sunshine Wiggins’ description of mentoring work that supports people recovering from substance use disorders.
Speakers asked the council for follow-up on enforcement strategies, clearer communication on where certain investments will be directed, and maintenance of a memorial plaque at Mission Park ahead of a 20th-anniversary commemoration.
