Last week, the Spokane Valley City Council voted 5-2 to update a resolution from 2016 to again declare that Spokane Valley isn't a sanctuary city. The original 2016 resolution declared that Spokane Valley is not a sanctuary city, directed the Spokane Valley Police Department to assist agencies in enforcing U.S. immigration laws when operating within city limits, and directed city employees to require proof of legal residency when appropriate. Mayor Pam Haley told a packed City Council meeting that the update complies with new federal laws and Washington's Keep Washington Working Act, which was passed in 2019 and directs Washington law enforcement not to engage in immigration holds. "This particular resolution allows us to comply with both," Haley said. "It doesn't give a directive to our police to do anything." Council members Ben Wick and Tim Hattenburg voted against the resolution. Hattenburg spoke about his positive experiences working with immigrant laborers in orchards and the racial profiling that his adopted Hispanic son faces. (VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ)
BANNING ANOTHER BOX
When Spokane City Council member Lili Navarrete introduced an ordinance to discourage discrimination against homeless people last year, community members' claws came out. The proposal, dubbed the "Homeless Bill of Rights," received significant backlash from the downtown business community for including things like an unhoused person's right to move freely in public spaces and not be subject to unreasonable searches. The vehement pushback caused City Council to indefinitely defer the proposal and host a series of roundtables. Now, the council will consider a watered-down version. On Monday, April 14, the Spokane City Council will hold the first reading of "Ban the Address," an ordinance that would prevent employers from asking about an applicant's housing status before offering them a job. The proposal is sponsored by Navarrete, as well as Council members Paul Dillon and Michael Cathcart. The council will vote on the ordinance at its final reading, which is slated for April 21. (ELIZA BILLINGHAM)
ELECTION OVERREACH?
Last week, Washington filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's March 25 executive order on elections. The lawsuit argues that the federal government telling states how to run their elections is unconstitutional. The executive order tells states which identification documents are needed to register to vote, which voting equipment can be used and which mail-in votes can be counted. For example, Washington counts every ballot that has been postmarked by Election Day. The order, however, contends that mail-in ballots must be received by Election Day to be counted. "If implemented, the order will disenfranchise untold numbers of voters nationwide, impose substantial new costs on states, and require states to revise their voting systems and equipment, all without any benefit to election security," the lawsuit states. Washington, which filed its lawsuit jointly with Oregon in the Western District of Washington, is one of 19 states that have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration to prevent the federal government from implementing or enforcing this executive order. (COLTON RASANEN)
CORRECTIONS
In the April 3 "This Week's Playlist" feature in Culture, the albums we spotlighted as new releases for April 4 actually all come out on April 11. Apologies for creating early anticipation for new LPs from OK Go, Bon Iver, and The Mars Volta.
Also, in the story, "Water Warriors," we misstated which ballot the aquifer protection measure could be on. If the city of Spokane decides to put the question to voters, it will be on the August primary ballot. ♦
