Public safety, homelessness top concerns in new Spokane community survey | News [Video]

SPOKANE, Wash – 93% of registered voters polled in a recent community survey say downtown Spokane can’t fully recover until homelessness and public safety are addressed.

That’s the highlight from a survey called The Pulse, recently conducted by Greater Spokane Incorporated. 

GSI conducted a survey on mobile phones and landlines, asking 600 registered Spokane County voters their views on quality of life.

According to GSI, 63% of those surveyed say Spokane is on the wrong track and 56% have considered moving out of the area. Those surveyed expressed concerns for small businesses and their future in the community.

A majority of those responding to the survey said they felt less safe downtown today than they did two years ago, pointing mainly to homeless encampments and property crime.

Specifically, surveyors said in order to recover, Spokane would need to address the problems downtown through funding mental health and substance use facilities …