Spokane Final meetings for the Spokane Redistricting Committee
Read More
Plans for redrawing Spokane County Commissioner Districts are moving forward, and the Independent Redistricting Committee (IRC) has eliminated two of its four proposed maps from consideration.
Read More
The Spokane County Board of Commissioners will soon have five members, rather than three. To accommodate this shift, district lines are being redrawn to divide the county into five sections--a process known as redistricting. The new districts will, ideally, better reflect the area’s shifting population.
Read More
As a Spokane resident who cares about this community and those who live here, I’m grateful for new state laws that limit how and when law enforcement can use violence. When I see a police car in my neighborhood, I’d feel a little better knowing that police are mandated to de-escalate potentially dangerous situations before resorting to force. I might not worry so much about the safety of my neighbors — especially those who are disproportionately targeted by police. I would feel even better if I knew that local law enforcement agencies were embracing these changes. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Read More
Michael Pachovas planned on being a professional football player. He had the size and strength from years of physical labor in his working-class upbringing. But a severe knee injury forced him to change course. Michael instead enrolled at Indiana University as a literature major and eventually joined the Peace Corps, believing the adventure would fulfill his desire to serve his country and "give [him] good material to write about."
Read More
Spokane Redistricting: Maps have been published.
The Spokane County Independent Redistricting Committee (IRC) released its draft redistricting plan on August 24. The plan includes four proposed maps for dividing the county. The Coalition for Creating 5 Fair, Equitable Spokane County Commissioner Districts has proposed a suggested map as well. Check out the maps and see how your community and neighborhood have been effected.
Read More
July 8th 2021, the SCAR Platform for Change and Smart Justice Spokane coalitions held a Joint Policy Retreat. During that retreat we collectively agreed upon six policy priorities for the next year which we've previously shared. Now we want to update you on what SCAR has specifically done to contribute to these goals, and offer the opportunity for our community to evaluate our work and help us course correct if necessary. We want to remain accountable to you.
Read More
Spokane’s City Charter is clear: The police ombudsman should have the authority to conduct independent investigations. Yet, nearly 13 years after the Office of the Police Ombudsman was created, the ombudsman’s powers are severely hampered by parameters dictated by the Spokane Police Department and its officers union, the Spokane Police Guild.
Read MoreThe Spokane City Council is pushing for better reporting on homelessness numbers and more "low-barrier" shelters. Mayor Nadine Woodward opposes this plan, saying people who don't go to shelters simply don't want to.
“People are not shelter resistant, they are resistant to particular situations that don’t meet their mental health needs,” Council President Breean Beggs said. “Our job is to understand it, and we can solve it.”
Read More
The Spokane Police Department is killing a lot of people, 17 of our community members in the past 8 years, and the SPD is killing more people than police departments in cities with populations much larger than ours. These facts are not in dispute.
Read More
At APIC Spokane's Advisory Committee meeting on Nov. 18 concerns were raised about the current language for Ordinance 1590, the housing levy that Spokane City Council is scheduled to vote on tomorrow. We want to share with you these concerns which are reflected in the proposed amendments to the Ordinance that are stated in the attached letter.
Read More
We must carefully evaluate the people to whom we entrust a license to use violence and deadly force. If they fall short, we must replace them. The safety of our community demands nothing less.
Read More
Sheriff Ozzie has COPS film crews in Spokane again despite public outcry. There is a reason these shows have been pulled from the air nationwide, why are we still allowing their presence to remain in our community?
Read More
At the August 24th event “A Culture of Health & Equity: Safe Schools without CRO’s A Community Forum” co-sponsored by SCAR and Every Student Count Alliance (ESCA), a “Zoom bomber” intruded and left hateful messages on the chat. But cowardice can’t trump change.
Read More
Next Monday (8/31), the Spokane City Council will vote on an emergency budget request of $114,200 from the Spokane Police Department to spend on unmarked vehicles, night vision hardware, and x-ray equipment, among other items. We need to see a shift from blank checks for police that don’t keep us safe to a massive investment in a shared vision of community safety that work for everyone. Tell them NO.
Read More
Did you catch the recent Spokesman Article? —> “Lamar Advertising removes anti-mask billboards, declines to display 3 of 4 ads from anti-racism group”
Let’s cut through the narrative a bit. LAMAR is a racist company.
Read More
We did it! Spokane Public Schools passed this resolution to work on anti-racism in Spokane Public Schools. The 500 plus emails, over 200 people in our virtual meeting, the 28 testimonies in support and the tireless community advocates and staff and fellow board members who have worked towards this for years - we did it.
Read More