Initiatives check power

I read with interest the Spokane City Council’s recent debate about the police ombudsman and the potential need to have expanded investigative powers put forward by citizens’ initiative. (Aug. 23, “Council debates oversight rules.”)

It seems that for at least some members of the council, including Bob Apple, the initiative process interferes with the council’s powers, unless it’s for something the council itself wants – such as expanding the ombudsman’s role.

But you can’t have it both ways. The initiative process – which was ratified into our state constitution in 1912 – was established to secure the right of the people to make law without the need for approval from our elected officials.

Proposition 1 on the November ballot in Spokane – known as the Community Bill of Rights – is a perfect example of when “we the people” should be using the initiative process.

For years, neighborhoods have fought corporate developers seeking to put in projects incompatible with the neighborhood. And our City Council has time and again approved re-zoning changes in favor of corporations, over the interests of our neighborhoods.

That’s not going to change unless we, the citizens, change it. And Prop. 1 makes that change.

Patrick Davidson

Spokane