(The Center Square) – Spokane’s City Council deferred voting on an ordinance Monday night that would’ve made housing status a protected class after rumors circulated that the mayor pressured them to do so.
Councilmember Lili Navarrete’s ordinance intended to protect homeless individuals from discrimination when applying for jobs or housing; however, many in the business community questioned whether it could lead to unintended consequences perpetuating homelessness.
While Navarrete denied the potential implications last week, dozens of residents showed up to testify against the ordinance. They spoke on their own experiences with the homeless and noted the ordinance could make it harder to mitigate the crisis with Proposition 1.
While some residents also testified in support, rumors circulated in the weeks leading up to the meeting that Mayor Lisa Brown was pressuring the council to defer the vote. Many alleged that it was out of fear that passing the ordinance would dissuade support for her proposed sales tax.