MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. — There was a strong show of opposition Sunday at a press conference hosted by Medical Lake Mayor, Terri Cooper, after reports of Pine Lodge Facility, an abandoned correctional facility, possibly being considered as a future shelter for Spokane’s homeless population.
The press conference was attended by Mayor Cooper, Spokane County Sheriff, John Nowels, County Commissioner, Al French, Senator Jeff Holy and State Representatives Mike Volz and Jenny Graham.
The conflict began Saturday when Mayor Cooper voiced her opposition to reports that Pine Lodge was being considered by the City of Spokane to be used as a shelter.
The office of Spokane Mayor, Lisa Brown, told NonStop Local Sunday that she and her cabinet members toured Pine Ridge last week. However, they said they were looking at using the space for a multitude of things, such as using it as a new jail space. Brown’s office said they were not looking at using the space for a homeless shelter.
Her office added the space is ultimately too run down to be used for anything.
Diane Nichols, a Medical Lake resident, attended Sunday’s press conference. She told NonStop Local that the community is still recovering from the Gray Road Fire and that opening a homeless shelter would be adding insult to injury.
“…to be asked to take on Spokane’s homeless community was just astounding to me. We are just trying to rebuild our infrastructure. We have very few services available for the homeless,” Nichols said.
In a press release sent Saturday, Mayor Brown’s office was adamant that Mayor Cooper has irresponsibly portrayed the situation and that there is no plan to use the facility as a homeless shelter.
Her office confirmed with NonStop Local that, as of Sunday, neither Mayor Cooper nor Al French have reached out to Brown’s office.
At Sunday’s press conference, all of the officials said Mayor Brown has never contacted them about the issue or her visit to Pine Ridge.
“When we confront her about the lack of communication on her part, for her to essentially gaslight us and accuse us of failing to communicate, the citizens need to stop accepting that answer from Mayor Brown,” Sheriff Nowels said.
Mayor Cooper told Sunday’s crowd that she reached out to Gov. Jay Inslee’s office about this issue.
She said she was told by his office that the City of Spokane did ask about purchasing Pine Lodge for housing homeless people.
NonStop Local reached out to Mayor Brown’s office about this, and her office said this is not true.
On her X account, Mayor Brown posted that Sunday’s conference was a “campaign event” for Al French and his allies.
She added that there is a regional shortage of jail space, which is why they toured the facility.
