SPOKANE, Wash. — A ballot initiative to ban camping within 1,000 feet of many public areas, including schools, childcare facilities and parks, passed with overwhelming support Tuesday evening.
As of the first drop of ballots, which accounted for more than half of all ballots, Proposition 1 received 33,597 yes votes to just 10,976 against.
Clean and Safe Spokane, the organization that campaigned in support of the initiative, celebrated the outcome.
“The voters of Spokane sent a resounding message tonight – they want areas where children play and learn to be safe” said John Estey, Executive Director for Clean and Safe Spokane. “Despite efforts from the radical left to disenfranchise thousands of Spokane voters, the people of Spokane would not be silenced.”Many who opposed the proposition, including Ben Stuckart and Julie Garcia of Jewel’s Helping Hands, argued it could undermine efforts already underway to address homelessness in Spokane.Opponents also suggested it could be illegal and unenforceable, going so far as to sue to remove it from the ballot.
