In Spokane, a local city charter initiative is overshadowing local races for city council and school board. Supporters of what they call a Citizen Bill of Rights say passage would end domination of city politics by special interests. Opponents fear it could bankrupt the Lilac City. Spokane Public Radio’s John Vlahovich reports.

The Citizen Bill of Rights the brainchild of a group called Envision Spokane – a coalition of individuals, labor unions, and neighborhood groups .

Its nine provisions, if added to the Spokane city charter, would mandate a locally-based economy, affordable preventive healthcare and housing, affordable and renewable energy, a prevailing wage, and the right to determine the futures of city neighborhood. The proposal also confers the right to exist on local ecosystems. Authority is given to anyone to take go into court to enforce the rights conferred.

Envision Spokane’s Brad Read says Bill of Rights’ passage would reverse a 200-year long imbalance of power.

Read: “Because of the way the Supreme Court especially, but courts in general, have interpreted the Constitution for the last 200 years, private corporations, and therefore state governments who end up siding on their side end up trumping the will of local communities majorities.”

Prop. 4 opponents, however, worry about its potential cost to taxpayers. Envision Spokane arguments that the measure is cost-neutral haven’t convinced people like businessman Dave Hooke.

Hooke: “It’s pretty well known amongst everybody who has studied Envision Spokane that it would result in a large number of lawsuits. Lawsuits need to be paid for.”

In the face of Envision Spokane’s successful signature campaign, Spokane city officials craft their own ballots measures. They’re asking voters if they want to pay more taxes or cut existing services to cover the anticipated expenses to implement Bill of Rights.

Copyright 2009 Spokane Public Radio

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