ECCC smell test

The Sept. 21 article “East Central Community Center contract review sparks controversy” missed a few details that, as a participant in the process, I saw first-hand.

First, the city ignored recommendations from two review committees, both of which recommended ECCO operate the center. The first was the contract review committee in November, and the other was the original proposal review committee in the spring.

The city threw out the 6-3 vote from the first proposal review committee ostensibly because James Wilburn (a longtime MLK center supporter and donor) was biased toward ECCO. Even without his vote, ECCO was still the clear winner.

Finally, in contrast to the first review committee, the second committee didn’t include a single person of color or a center client. It was closed to the public, took no public comments, was pushed through in a fraction of the time of the first review and didn’t take into account any feedback from neighborhood members.

In sum, on the third attempt to achieve a desired outcome, the city put together an all-white, well-heeled group of mostly outsiders that rushed a decision with no input from Spokane’s most diverse, and one of its poorest, communities.

Does this pass the smell test to you?

Eric Robison, ECCO board member

Spokane