(The Center Square) – Conservatives on the Spokane City Council hope that the third time’s the charm as they plan to reintroduce a popular camping ban this month that the state’s highest court struck down.
Nearly 75% of voters approved Proposition 1 in 2023 to outlaw camping within 1,000 feet of a school, park or daycare. The law only applied to certain parts of the area at specific times due to a lower court ruling, which had prohibited enforcement unless cities provided enough shelter beds for the homeless.
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned that ruling in June 2024, allowing the Spokane Police Department to finally begin enforcing Prop 1; however, the Washington Supreme Court invalidated that law earlier this year, ruling that the ballot measure ultimately fell outside the scope of the citizen initiative process…