Subscribe now

HB 1590 needed urgently

I am writing you today in support of HB 1590 allowing the local sales and use of tax for affordable housing to be imposed by councilmanic authority.

The COVID-19 pandemic has only made our housing crisis worse. Having worked in social services my entire life, I have seen the need first hand. I currently serve on the board of directors for Transitions, I am aware of the critical need of the population they served, for permanent affordable housing. The reality is, federal and state government grants to build low-income housing have decreased the last 30 years and wait lists for low income housing are years long. We need to build more low income housing and we need to build it now.

The state legislature gave Spokane an option in 2020. Our City Council can pass a housing levy by utilizing HB 1590. I urge them to act now and pass the local housing levy providing thousands of apartments and homes over the next 20 years.

Sister Pat Millen, OSF

Spokane

Letters policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Email
editor@spokesman.com
Fax
(509) 459-3815
Phone
(509) 459-5430

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy