W E E K L Y N E W S L E T T E R
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Issue 17 | September 9, 2025
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT...
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Dear Spokane Community,
Imagine if stepping into downtown Spokane came with the same clarity as turning on a film. Movies are rated—G, PG, R, NC-17. Each label tells us what to expect: nudity, violence, drug use, language. We get to decide what we’re ready to see, what we want our kids to be exposed to, and when we’re comfortable engaging.
But Spokane doesn’t come with a rating system. When I walk down the street, I don’t get a heads-up: Strong drug use ahead. Possible violence around the corner. Explicit scenes of human suffering on the next block. I don’t get to choose whether I watch someone overdosing on the sidewalk or hear the shouting of a person in the throes of mental illness.
The difference is consent. In theaters, I decide what ticket to buy. Downtown, I’m forced into the raw, uncut version—an NC-17 world with no option to walk it back to PG. Spokane’s streets have become a film reel we can’t edit, a screening we didn’t sign up for.
The question for us is this: will we let our city play out like a movie gone off the rails, or will we demand a different script—one where safety, dignity, and choice return to the streets we share?
SBA will continue to be your voice for business. That means advocating to the Mayor and City Council for the enforcement of common-sense laws—laws that prohibit the open use of drugs on our streets and prevent people from sleeping on our sidewalks. For those engaged in these activities, the choice should be clear and immediate: enter treatment or go to jail. Faced with this choice, most people choose treatment, and nearly 75% remain in treatment long-term.
The challenges Spokane faces—open drug use and on-street homelessness—are NOT national problems. They are local problems, and they require local solutions. Our elected officials must step up as the leaders Spokane needs and enforce the laws already on the books. Local law enforcement must also have clear direction from the Mayor to arrest individuals openly using drugs, while ensuring that treatment remains a real and accessible alternative. We cannot continue to allow illegal activities that endanger both individuals and the public to go unchecked.
But these issues do not have to define Spokane. We can, and we must, step in as editors of this story—cutting out despair, adding scenes of hope, and insisting on a narrative where our community thrives. The next chapter is not yet written, but it will be, and the pen is in our hands.
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Weekly Call to Action
Register to vote now. Add a reminder to your calendar to return your ballot on time and make sure your voice is heard. Our current policies are not working—it’s time to change our viewing habits.
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Your partner in business,
Brad
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September 23rd, 2025
at The Spokane Convention Center
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This year promises to be our most impactful yet. It’s more than a meal. It’s a moment. A gathering of Spokane’s business leaders, visionaries, and changemakers—coming together to celebrate how far we’ve come, ignite bold ideas, and shape what’s next.
We are honored to welcome David Bieter, former mayor of Boise, as our guest speaker. Known for his dynamic leadership and forward-thinking approach to urban development, Bieter will bring invaluable perspective to our shared challenges and opportunities.
Join us for an evening of connection, inspiration, and momentum. This is where the future of Spokane takes root—around the table, among allies, with purpose.
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Get your tickets or reserve your table today!
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Grab Individual Dinner Tickets or purchase a Table (8)
Ticket Prices
Individual Dinner Tickets $150
Table $1,400 (logo on the event centerpiece, receive visibility on all promotional material and advertising)
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If you have already renewed your Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond or Pinnacle membership for 2025-2026, the SBA Annual Dinner is included. Click here to submit the names and email addresses of your attendees so that we can register your table(s).
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GET INFORMED. GET INVOLVED. BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.
Sprague Union Terrace Community Room
1420 E Sprague Avenue, Spokane, WA 99202
12 PM | 4th Wednesday of Every Month
East Central matters—and so do you. Let’s get to work.
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ESBA Member Meeting September 24th
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Alejandro Barrientos
City Council District 2
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Judge Mary Logan
Municipal Court Pos. 2
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Tuesday, September 30th
Ruby River Inn
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunch & Networking
Doors open at 11:30 AM
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Thursday, October 9th
Ruby River Inn
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunch & Networking
Doors open at 11:30 AM
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SBA THANKS OUR VALUABLE INVESTORS
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If you believe in what we're building and want to see Spokane thrive, don’t keep it to yourself—share this with your neighbors, colleagues, and friends. The more voices we have, the stronger our impact.
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Spokane Business Association gives businesses a united voice, direct access to decision-makers, and a seat at the table where real change happens. Together, we advocate, connect, and grow Spokane’s business community.
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