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Shawn Vestal

This individual is no longer an employee with The Spokesman-Review.

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News >  Spokane

Federal court ruling adds new twist to enforcement of Spokane’s ‘sit-lie’ ordinance

Robert Martin no longer lives as a homeless man in Boise, as he once did. But Martin, now a North Idaho resident, visits that city several times a year to see his son. And when he does, he doesn’t have a place to sleep. Martin’s experiences, along with those of a handful of other homeless people, are at the heart of last week’s ruling by the federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that it is unconstitutional for a city to prosecute a homeless person for resting on public property when there is no shelter available.
Opinion >  Column

Shawn Vestal: Monroe ‘road-diet’ exceeded expectations

A couple years back, Katy Azar looked at the road construction in downtown Spokane – streets torn up, deadlines blown, costs overrun – and feared for the future of her well-known Greek restaurant. The city was moving toward a major renovation project on North Monroe Street, where her restaurant is located. She and other business owners there feared they couldn’t outlast an extended construction project.
Shawn Vestal
Opinion >  Column

Shawn Vestal: There’s a California connection to Northwest white supremacy

We’re entering a new era in the Northwest’s long, depressing tango with racist extremists, and there’s a lot about this era that’s new – from the methods to the mediums these morons are using to spread their poison. This fresh class of robo-calling, YouTubing white supremacists is different from the last generation, with their compounds and annual rallies and parades. But there’s one piece of it that’s very familiar: A California connection.
Opinion >  Column

Shawn Vestal: McMorris Rodgers’ offensive campaign ads and flyers undermine her call for political civility

Our divided nation needs to heal, Cathy McMorris Rodgers says. We are heartbreakingly riven by political divisions, Cathy McMorris Rodgers says. We can no longer disagree without being disagreeable. We demonize those with differing political views. We must regain a sense of shared purpose and unity for the good of the nation, and each and every one of us must do our part.