W E E K L Y N E W S L E T T E R
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A Message from our President...
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Dear Spokane Community,
When I served as the Logistics Chair for the Midland Chamber of Commerce’s Star-Spangled Salute—a July 4th celebration drawing up to 53,000 people in a city of just 136,000—we didn’t leave anything to chance. We worked year-round, bringing together Chamber staff, city leaders, first responders, and a dedicated army of volunteers. We met monthly, then bi-weekly, then weekly. We didn’t just plan—we prepared, creating detailed incident action plans to protect every attendee.
Why? Because safety and success required alignment. We shared a common goal, a clear roadmap, and the will to execute. And we made it happen.
Spokane, we find ourselves in a very different kind of crisis—but the same truth applies: if we want to succeed, we need to come together around a single, urgent goal.
Our goal must be clear: address the spiraling addiction, untreated mental illness, and chronic homelessness overwhelming our downtown core. Not with half-measures. Not by going it alone. But with a coordinated, all-hands-on-deck emergency response. That means City leaders, County leaders, Councilmembers, State agencies, healthcare providers, outreach workers, and law enforcement—all meeting weekly, if not daily, with one mission: save lives and restore safety.
We are losing an average of ten people every week to overdose in this community. That’s not a statistic. That’s a mass casualty event, unfolding in slow motion. And the worst part? We've started to treat it like it's normal.
It’s not.
During the Apollo 13 crisis, Flight Director Gene Kranz said, "Let’s work the problem. No one is going to die." And they didn’t—because they refused to accept failure.
We must do the same.
Spokane has to work the problem—like lives depend on it. Because they do.
We don’t have to invent the playbook. Portland faced this same storm. They came together, declared an emergency, and launched a unified disaster response. The result? A 40% drop in overdose deaths in just 90 days.
Spokane, it’s time to stop talking about the problem and start solving it.
We have the people.
We have the passion.
We even have the precedent.
What we need now is the will to act.
The time is not later.
The time is now.
We have a solution. Let’s work the problem. Together.
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Your partner in business,
Brad
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Plug Into the Heart of East Central
The East Spokane Business Association (ESBA) isn’t here to tiptoe—we’re here to stand tall for East Central. As a proud focus council of the Spokane Business Association, our mission is simple: protect what’s working, elevate what’s possible, and fight for the future this neighborhood deserves.
If you live here, work here, or just care deeply about the soul of East Central, now’s the time to get involved. Your voice matters. Not a member yet? Join us and see what it’s all about.
📍 Location: Sprague Union Terrace – 1420 E Sprague Ave (back entrance)
🕛 Time: Noon to 1 PM
📅 When: Every 4th Wednesday of the month
Get updates on meeting times and guest speakers here each week. Let’s get to work. East Central needs all of us.
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Don't miss our next ESBA Member Meeting | June 25, 2025
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Thank you to our ESBA Board Members—pictured left to right: LaVerne Biel, Wendy Fishburne, Jake Swartz, Brad Barnett (SBA President), Cyndi Fridye, and Doug Trudeau—who gladly donated their time to Gabriel’s Challenge Adopt-A-Block at Pine and Short.
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Pull up a chair—your voice belongs at the table.
SBA Focus Councils don’t just talk... they make noise!
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Reducing vehicle lanes to make room for bike paths, expanded sidewalks, or transit options may sound appealing in theory, but it comes with significant tradeoffs—especially in communities that depend on car travel and lack sufficient alternative infrastructure.
Learn how this issue may impact you or your business? We want to talk! Please plan to contribute to this impactful conversation with SBA.
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When: Thursday, June 19th | 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM | Doors open at 11:30 AM
Where: Ruby River Inn | 700 N Division | Shoreline A
Registration Required to Attend
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The Spokane Business Association, in collaboration with the City’s Department of Community and Economic Development, has partnered with some of Spokane’s most innovative and forward-thinking businesses to streamline the permitting process and support the city’s construction momentum. From affordable housing developments to luxury high-rises, Spokane’s skyline is rising—and the future is looking up.
Join the Contractors & Developers Focus Council and be part of the conversation driving real change. Whether you’re building affordable housing or commercial high-rises, your voice matters. Help us create smarter policy, faster processes, and a stronger foundation for Spokane’s growth.
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When: Thursday, July 17th | 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM | Doors open at 10:30 AM
Where: Ruby River Inn | 700 N Division | Shoreline A
Registration Required to Attend
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Gabriel's Challenge | Mother's Day through Father's Day
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Gabriel’s Challenge is a grassroots effort born out of Spokane’s urgent fight against the fentanyl crisis. Named in memory of 24-year-old Gabriel Fensler, who lost his life to a fentanyl overdose, the initiative calls on the community to come together in his honor and take action to prevent further tragedy.
Spanning 36 days—from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day—the challenge invites residents to take part in small, intentional acts that foster connection and awareness. Participants are encouraged to “Adopt a Block” by walking their neighborhoods and building relationships with those around them, and to join local mapping sessions aimed at identifying service gaps in Spokane’s addiction and recovery network.
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The heart of Gabriel’s Challenge lies in the belief that when people show up, engage with their neighbors, and work together, they can spark real and lasting change. It’s a movement rooted in love, loss, and the unwavering hope of building a safer, more connected Spokane.
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Curious to learn more? Text “SHOW UP” to 53123 for daily action challenges.
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DSP's Downtown Dialogue | Thursday, June 12, 2025
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Downtown Dialogue: Thien Ho, Sacramento County District Attorney
Join the DSP for a discussion with Attorney Ho to learn more about how Sacramento County is leveraging Prop. 36 to address addiction and theft through a new approach to prosecution and sentencing with treatment-mandated sentencing for repeat offenders.
Emphasizing treatment while simultaneously leveraging new provisions and increased penalties as deterrents, Prop. 36 adds back tools to treat substance use disorders and mental illness to keep people out of jail, alive and off the streets, while making neighborhoods safer.
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Location: FUEL Coworking | 809 W Main Ave, Ste 212
When: June 12th - 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
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Lunch Breaks that Mean Business | Coming Soon!
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New SBA Lunch & Learn Series Coming This Summer!
Hungry for knowledge? Grab your brown bag and join us for a bite-sized brainstorm! Each month, the SBA will serve up fresh topics and expert voices to fuel your mind and spark real conversations.
Bring Your Own Lunch, Leave with Insight 🍎 🧃 🛍️
Details Coming Soon!
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YOUR VOICE. YOUR IMPACT. YOUR MEMBERSHIP.
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Downtown Spokane is at a crossroads. Business owners are confronting the impacts of addiction, homelessness, and public safety challenges every single day. These aren’t abstract policy debates—they’re lived realities. But change doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from stepping in.
The Spokane Business Association exists because a group of business leaders chose to stop accepting the status quo. We walk the streets before sunrise. We talk directly with policymakers. We advocate for solutions rooted in both accountability and compassion. This work is not easy, but it is necessary—and it’s powered by the people who refuse to give up on Spokane.
If you care about building a safer, stronger, more equitable city, then your voice belongs here. Not because we have all the answers, but because together, we’re asking the right questions—and demanding better. This is how change starts. Join us.
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Tell Us What’s on Your Mind—We’re Listening
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We want to hear from you! Your insights, questions, and feedback help shape the direction of our work and ensure we're addressing the issues that matter most to our community. Whether you have an idea, a concern, or just something on your mind—don’t keep it to yourself. Drop us a line and be part of the conversation. Your voice truly makes a difference.
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SBA THANKS OUR VALUABLE SPONSORS
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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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