Teamwork, experience vital

At the Sept. 5 Spokane Homelessness Coalition with candidates Ben, Nadine, Breean and Cindy, I took away one realization. We need a mayor and city council president with experience to work together. I like to support qualified female candidates, but the only two I trust to improve homelessness are Ben Stuckart and Breean Beggs.

I’ve immersed myself in these issues for the past year at Monday Camp Hope meetings with homeless individuals and attendance at nearly all City Council meetings, and I’ve had several eye opening experiences. Amazing understanding about homelessness has been demonstrated from council members.

The problem, time and time again, has been lack of support from the mayor to carry out their ideas. The mayor single-handedly mandated removal of two planters downtown last month (to the tune of $40,000 taxpayer dollars) because a few needles were found in them. Wonder what the price of a sharps container would have been?

I’ve witnessed the chaos during and after the temporary winter warming centers opened when House of Charity closed their doors to an overrun population and any solutions council proposed were shot down by the mayor. Mayor Condon has created an atmosphere of chaos and fear which does nothing to help those without homes, and I could see this continuing with Nadine.

For this election, teamwork and experience are imperative. Progress has been made with housing, social services and addiction issues and will continue with Ben and Breean. I’m just a volunteer in the middle of the current mess.

Barb Brock

Cheney