SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane City Council will vote on two proposed ordinances this Monday. The ordinances would limit the sale of drug paraphernalia and alcohol in the downtown area.
Many downtown businesses impacted by these ordinances told 4 News Now they were not aware of the proposed changes. Most of them said they had no plans of complying with the ordinance unless it is legally required, which the city does not have the power to do.
The first ordinance would create an Alcohol Impact Area, enabling a ban on the sale of alcohol containers like tall boys or plastic bottle shots after midnight.
The second ordinance would establish a Community Health Impact Area, which would ban the sale of drug paraphernalia like gas pipes and foil unless the vendor provides Narcan free of charge.
During the first reading of the ordinance this week, several community members spoke about how this could address the change needed in the area.
“I applaud the attention the city is giving the community impact ordinance trying to address the addiction problem in the downtown core,” said one woman. “I don’t like making businesses pay additional fees, but I understand the logic that if you sell paraphernalia, you should also supply medication.”
Both of these ordinances would be considered voluntary. The city would test them for six months and present its findings to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board.
This is not the first time Spokane has considered a proposal like this. An Alcohol Impact Area was first adopted for the downtown area in 2010, lasting six years.
Restrictions were also in place for the East Central area until 2022.
Since those restrictions were lifted, downtown Spokane saw a 64% increase in alcohol-related incidents over the last three years.
But not all feel these restrictions are the answer.
“People are still going to be buying whiskey,” said one man during Monday’s City Council meeting. “I don’t know how you are going to stop that. They are going to carry flasks, they are going to get drunk.”
Spokane Police Department, who spoke in favor of these ordinances, says “re-establishing an Alcohol Impact Area is an important step towards addressing the root cause of crime within downtown Spokane.”
If the city council approves these ordinances on Monday, any business in the downtown area can participate.
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