(The Center Square) – Spokane followed in the footsteps of other Washington cities Monday night when its city council approved an ordinance requiring landlords to give tenants at least 120 days’ notice before increasing rent. The vote follows Seattle, Tacoma and other cities across the state that have taken that step on behalf of cost-burdened renters. Washington law preempts municipalities from rent control, only requiring landlords to give a 60-day notice before raising rent. The
(The Center Square) – Four female police officers have filed a $5 million tort claim against the Seattle Police Department, alleging sex discrimination, sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. Officers Kame Spencer, Judinna Gulpan, Valerie Carson and Lauren Truscott filed a claim of damages against the city on Friday, alleging the perpetrators of the “grooming” and harassment are Chief Adrian Diaz, Lt. John O’Neil and SPD’s human resource manager, Rebecca McKechnie. The claim cites
(The Center Square) – In what seems like a race for the levies, Spokane City Council voted to postpone the proposed $225 million parks levy until February, opting instead to advance the public safety levy to the August ballot. This is the second time the council has voted to postpone the parks levy since its proposal. The levy would have cost taxpayers 29 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. Spokane’s Parks & Recreation department
(The Center Square) – Voters in 13 legislative districts have been moved into new districts for 2024, following an unsuccessful request for a stay in the case of Palmer v. Hobbs. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan denied the request in a ruling on April 2. The case is now back in the 9th District Circuit Court of Appeals. Last month, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik adopted a new Washington state legislative map to
