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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

Worker Bill of Rights slammed in two mysterious videos

Envision Spokane's Worker Bill of Rights - lauded as both the potential savior and destroyer of Spokane - became the target of two mysterious, anonymous videos this weekend, including one that incorrectly names most Spokane City Council members as supporting the controversial measure.

The first video, called "Spokane Prop 1 Exposes Envision Spokane!" attempts to draw connections for viewers, and shows an excited Thomas Linzey, an environmental attorney who helped bring Envision to life, using the f-word. Though Linzey said it just once, the video plays it over and over again.

The video then shows photographs of a majority of the council members, with their phone numbers. Council President Ben Stuckart and Councilman Mike Fagan are not in this list. Instead, the men make the second list that the video showers praise upon for opposing the measure. With the exception of Stuckart, the video is clearly drawing a partisan line, despite every council member speaking out against the measure, regardless of political leaning.

Of all city government candidates, just two have said they approved of the measure: mayoral candidate, Shar Lichty, and council candidate, Randy Ramos. 

The other video, purportedly from the activist group, Anonymous, warns voters that approving the ballot measure would be a "selfish and deplorable act." The video says to limit corporate power "the honorable way" instead of destroying the local economy, which it says Envision's ballot measure would do.

"Envision Spokane is crossing the line and we are watching their every move," a digitized voice warns.

Both videos have dramatic soundtracks, striking fear into their viewers. Both videos were uploaded to YouTube by someone with the handle Norman Spokane.All of the videos uploaded by this person are against the Worker Bill of Rights.



Nicholas Deshais
Joined The Spokesman-Review in 2013. He is the urban issues reporter, covering transportation, housing, development and other issues affecting the city. He also writes the Getting There transportation column and The Dirt, a roundup of construction projects, new businesses and expansions. He previously covered Spokane City Hall.

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