In a landmark unanimous vote just a week before crucial elections, the Spokane City Council has replaced Mayor Lisa Brown’s highly criticized and unenforceable camping ban. This decisive action represents a significant political compromise, aiming to restore order downtown while facing ongoing scrutiny and an ethics investigation related to the previous policy.
The Spokane City Council achieved a rare moment of unity on Monday, October 27, 2025, setting aside deep ideological differences to unanimously approve a new ordinance replacing Mayor Lisa Brown’s contentious camping ban. This pivotal vote, occurring just seven days before an election that could reshape the council’s majority, signals a new direction for the city’s approach to homelessness and public space management.
The move follows months of intense debate and widespread community dissatisfaction with the previous policy. The new ban is designed to give law enforcement officers crucial discretion in enforcement, a key reform advocated by conservative council members, while still emphasizing referrals to essential services.
A City Divided: The Troubled History of Spokane’s Camping Policies
Spokane’s journey to this unanimous vote has been fraught with political tension and public outcry. The issue of camping bans first gained significant public attention in 2023 when nearly 75% of voters approved a stricter measure. However, this voter-backed law was later sidelined.
In June 2025, the council majority passed Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposed camping ban. This version immediately drew sharp criticism, particularly from the business community, which argued it lacked sufficient enforcement power. Businesses lamented that it would allow “habitable offenders” to evade consequences, leading to what they described as a deterioration of downtown conditions.
The conservative minority on the council repeatedly attempted to reinstate the 2023 voter-approved law, but their efforts were consistently rejected by the majority. This changed stance by the council majority has drawn scrutiny, with some, like Spokane resident Justin Haller, describing it as a “shell game” timed strategically before the upcoming election, where several seats are in jeopardy.
The Compromise: Discretion, Referrals, and Enforcement
The newly approved ordinance represents a significant compromise between progressive and conservative factions. It grants police officers the discretion to enforce camping regulations while simultaneously mandating service referrals for those in need. This is a crucial departure from Mayor Brown’s previous version, which Police Chief Kevin Hall confirmed had prevented officers from issuing any citations or referrals for months due to its restrictive language.
The push for these reforms has been a long-standing effort by councilmembers Jonathan Bingle and Michael Cathcart, who had advocated for such changes for over a year. During an agenda review meeting, Bingle pressed City Administrator Alex Scott on the administration’s commitment, asking, “Does the administration plan to enforce this ordinance?” Scott responded unequivocally, “Absolutely,” and reaffirmed that enforcement would be prioritized.
While the new ban retains some elements of Mayor Brown’s initial proposal, it ultimately incorporates many of the key reforms championed by the conservatives. This shift is seen by many as a direct response to the community and business concerns that had mounted since June.
Economic and Social Impact: Downtown Revitalization and Budget Concerns
The urgency for a more enforceable camping policy was underscored by testimonies from the business community. Robin Bernhart, managing partner of Landmark Restaurants, vividly described a downtown where “camping, trash and open drug use exploded” following the passage of the mayor’s original ban. Her testimony highlighted the critical need to support businesses amidst a challenging economic climate.
Spokane is currently grappling with a substantial $13 million budget deficit, a situation exacerbated by plateauing tax revenue, as reported by The Center Square. This financial strain adds another layer of pressure to the city’s efforts to maintain public safety and economic vitality.
Key business organizations, including Emilie Cameron, president of the Downtown Spokane Partnership, and Brad Barnett, president of the Spokane Business Association, voiced their support for the new ordinance. Greater Spokane Incorporated also backed the measure, as did Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington (CCEW), though CCEW prudently noted that the ban alone is not a complete solution, implying the need for continued support and resources for those experiencing homelessness.
Political Tides: Elections, Ethics, and Supermajorities
The timing of this unanimous vote—just days before a crucial election—has not gone unnoticed. Critics like Justin Haller suggest the sudden consensus is a calculated political maneuver to protect vulnerable council seats and prevent the dissolution of the “supermajority.”
Councilmembers Zack Zappone and Jonathan Bingle are both up for reelection next week. Additionally, another seat representing District 2 is contested, currently held by Councilmember Paul Dillon. This seat was previously occupied by Lili Navarrete, who officially resigned at the end of June, shortly after the council majority passed Mayor Brown’s initial camping ban.
Adding another layer of complexity, the Spokane Ethics Commission launched an independent investigation in July into Mayor Brown, former Councilmember Navarrete, and the rest of the council majority. This investigation stems from claims of quid pro quo surrounding the passage of the mayor’s ban in June, as detailed by The Center Square. A report from this investigation is due before the next commission meeting on December 17.
A Legacy of Collaboration? Councilmembers Reflect
Despite the underlying political tensions, council members expressed hope for the new policy’s impact. Councilmember Zack Zappone acknowledged the difficulty of reaching consensus, stating, “I’ve been on council for four years… we have not been able to pass a law like this — and so we’re finally at a place that we can all agree.” He emphasized the next challenge: building the necessary facilities and resources to effectively implement the policy.
Councilmember Jonathan Bingle, reflecting on his nearly four years in government, chose optimism over cynicism. “This policy, in my opinion, does have the ability to be a legacy piece for us as a council,” Bingle remarked on Monday, signaling a desire for the council’s unanimous action to be remembered as a turning point for Spokane.
The unanimous approval of this new camping ban marks a significant chapter in Spokane’s ongoing efforts to balance public order, economic stability, and social welfare. As elections loom and an ethics investigation progresses, the city watches to see if this hard-won compromise will indeed usher in a new era of effective governance and a cleaner, safer downtown.
