Follow up on my testimony on Monday's (11/13) City Council Meeting

Why not try real solutions?

The SCAR Blog

Building community with accountability and equity.

It’s time for Spokane law enforcement to be held accountable.

The SCAR & Smart Justice Spokane Joint Policy Retreat July 2021

July 8th 2021, the SCAR Platform for Change and Smart Justice Spokane coalitions held a Joint Policy Retreat. During that retreat we collectively agreed upon six policy priorities for the…

Spokane’s City Charter is Clear: The police Ombudsman Should Have the Authority to Conduct Independent Investigations.

Spokane’s City Charter is clear: The police ombudsman should have the authority to conduct independent investigations. Yet, nearly 13 years after the Office of the Police Ombudsman was created, the…

The Spokane City Council is pushing for better reporting on homelessness numbers and more “low-barrier” shelters. Mayor Nadine Woodward opposes this plan.

The Spokane City Council is pushing for better reporting on homelessness numbers and more "low-barrier" shelters. Mayor Nadine Woodward opposes this plan, saying people who don't go to shelters simply…

Spokane Regional Law and Justice Council: What it was and why you should care

The Spokane Police Department is an integral part of Spokane’s flawed criminal justice system.

The Spokane Police Department is killing a lot of people, 17 of our community members in the past 8 years, and the SPD is killing more people than police departments…

Ordinance 1590 Is Not Enough

At APIC Spokane's Advisory Committee meeting on Nov. 18 concerns were raised about the current language for Ordinance 1590, the housing levy that Spokane City Council is scheduled to vote…

Statement on Protester Arrest

We must carefully evaluate the people to whom we entrust a license to use violence and deadly force. If they fall short, we must replace them. The safety of our…

Bad Boys – Bad Boys (Whatcha Gonna Do When They Won’t Leave Spokane?)

Sheriff Ozzie has COPS film crews in Spokane again despite public outcry. There is a reason these shows have been pulled from the air nationwide, why are we still allowing…

Cowardice Can’t Trump Change

At the August 24th event “A Culture of Health & Equity: Safe Schools without CRO’s A Community Forum” co-sponsored by SCAR and Every Student Count Alliance (ESCA), a “Zoom bomber”…

No Change? No Money!

Next Monday (8/31), the Spokane City Council will vote on an emergency budget request of $114,200 from the Spokane Police Department to spend on unmarked vehicles, night vision hardware, and…

We Call Bullshit on LAMAR

Did you catch the recent Spokesman Article? —> “Lamar Advertising removes anti-mask billboards, declines to display 3 of 4 ads from anti-racism group”Let’s cut through the narrative a bit. LAMAR…

Spokane Public Schools Passed the Resolution for Racial Equity!

We did it! Spokane Public Schools passed this resolution to work on anti-racism in Spokane Public Schools. The 500 plus emails, over 200 people in our virtual meeting, the 28…

Tell Spokane City Council: No Independent Investigations – No Police Guild Contract

In the wake of nationwide unrest due to the murder of George Floyd, Spokane’s Mayor Nadine Woodward released a draft police contract that would reduce independent oversight of the police.

The New Jail Proposal and the Unintended Consequences of COVID-19

There are very few positive consequences of CIVID-19. But with the implementation of social-distancing, the Spokane County Jail population has shrunk by approximately 400 people, these type numbers have not…

SCAR’s Statement on George Floyd

We are mourning. We mourn first with the family of George Floyd, who not only lost a father and friend, but who have endured the inescapable public images of his…

No New Jail—Talking Points

There is broad agreement, both locally and nationally, that several aspects of the criminal justice system are dysfunctional. Spending millions of dollars on a new and bigger jail invests in…

Spokesman Review: Guest Opinion: In baby murder conviction, a measure of justice

Lady Justice. There she stands. She wears a blindfold because she sees no color. She holds a scale that implies that there is an equal opportunity of justice for all.On…