The Inland Echo

By Mike Noder

[Editor's note: Envision Spokane is a set of documents purporting to create a "community bill of rights", simultaneously preventing the normal tide of economic growth while reinvesting the rights of people into non-human objects such as animals, trees and water. The documents, available here, describe a new order for Spokane, in violation of local, state and federal laws, which is sure to be met with numerous legal challenges if enacted. The initiative is the brainchild of the Pennsylvania-based Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, whose lawyer, Thomas Linzey, was in the audience at the meeting. Former county commissioner Kate McCaslin said it "ought to be called the Lawyers' Full and Permanent Employment Act."]

News Update:

At last night’s city council meeting, Al French and Nancy McLaughlin voted against the Envision Spokane initiative, however, the motion passed 5-2. The council also approved sending the initiative to the County Auditor for signature verification, which will lead to placement on the next ballot, unless challenged successfully. The action also called for an emergency ruling from the courts on legality issues. Council members generally expressed hope that the initiative would be rejected on these grounds.

All of the council members roundly criticized the initiative and expressed deep concern about many problems. The concensus seemed to be that they hoped this initiative would fail.

The number of people protesting against Envision Spokane before the council meeting was estimated in the 50-100 range. There were probably more than 100 opponents inside the council chambers. About two dozen supporters showed up for the meeting.

Speakers ran about 60% against and 40% for. The audience, based on the red shirts of the opposition, appeared to be closer to 70% against. 

Opinion:

Councilman Al French seemed to have a strong understanding of the initiative, applicable city law and the Constitution.  He pointed out many areas that were problematic, but the objective of passing rights from the individual to the community was what I found alarming.

From a business and investment point of view, the city sent a terrible message last night. An organization comes to town and seeks to relieve businesses and citizens of their rights. The city council essentially acknowledges this, but does not vigorously defend this theft of rights and liberty which are protected under the U.S. Constitution?

A conclusion was reached by all the council members that this matter was heading for the courts no matter what action they took. The council also cited legal opinions from staff for allowing the initiative to proceed, but for those unfamiliar with Spokane politics, the city has a long history of coming up with whatever ruling it wants. Lawyers in the audience produced several conflicting legal opinions that certainly appeared to have merit.

The abdication by the council on such fundamental matters signals a weak government and elevates investment risk. This is not good for attracting jobs and generating revenue growth that the city needs to grow its tax base.

Looking forward, most city council members vowed to vigorously work to defeat this measure; however, the city is now vulnerable to outside money pouring into the community to overwhelm voters.  One speaker detailed how this is a national operation that is filming and developing marketing material to use in swaying other communities.  I was unable to run down the individuals making these remarks, but they are recorded and available at City Hall.  

Presently, risk has elevated significantly for general business and investment activity inside the City of Spokane.  Property and taxpayer rights are also threatened. Given the declining state of city affairs, the timing is not good for the local economy. Supporters of the initiative will have you believe that giving rights to the planet and environment, while taking them away from the individual will create jobs, affordable housing, affordable healthcare and a host of other benefits at no cost to the city.

Envision Spokane will likely move quickly into a high geared campaign as they have been working on this for 18 months or more. The opposition seems to have mobilized in the last few weeks, and it is not clear how fast they will move or effective they will be. Having all city council members opposed to the initiative is a significant advantage for the opposition but the outcome is far from resolved.

Mike Noder is the head of dENSA, a loosely organized group of concerned citizens from the Spokane region who gather to discuss issues. dENSA’s slogan is “Like MENSA, only thicker.”

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