SPOKANE, Wash. – Residents and business owners in downtown Spokane are weighing in on safety perceptions as crime data presents a mixed picture.
Spokane Police Department statistics show citywide crime has decreased, including in the downtown area. Commercial robbery, assault, and burglaries are noticeably down compared with the same period last year. However, incidents of rape, personal robbery, and arson have increased.
Joshua Hissong, the owner of HDG Architecture on Third and Washington, shared his concerns about the area.
“It was on the upswing and now it’s getting worse every day,” he said.
Hissong noted that changes over the last four years have been significant. “No, it wasn’t a good decision, it was a hopeful decision,” he stated regarding moving his business downtown.
He expressed frustration over vandalism, mentioning a recent incident where a window was smashed for the third time.
“Everyone is getting a little tired because it’s not our job to clean up our city,” he added.
Hissong, though fond of downtown, even choosing to live in the downtown core is considering relocating his business to Liberty Lake for safety reasons.
“It’s not because we don’t love this community, it’s because the safety of my coworkers is more important than anything else,” he emphasized.
Emilie Cameron from the Downtown Spokane Partnership also discussed public perceptions.
She stated, “Downtown Spokane, like so many downtowns across the county, are experiencing true challenges.”
Cameron’s organization is working to ensure a safe and welcoming environment in downtown Spokane, aligning with public concerns about safety.
“Ensuring that the environment is safe clean and welcoming is obviously a foundational element,” she said.
Hissong remains hopeful but acknowledges the urgency of addressing these issues. “The next 12 – 19 months is going to dictate how the next 5 years ends up,” he remarked.
