City Council discusses downtown homelessness

RITZVILLE – The City Council meeting, May 17, produced a discussion on downtown homelessness.

At-Large Councilwomen Marsha Smith started the discussion by asking about an individual – identified by Police Chief Dave McCormick as John Tryon—sleeping in front of a closed store front on Main Avenue.

“There is no ordinance against sleeping on Main,” McCormick said.

He went on to say there is an ordinance against sleeping or camping in City Park, but not where this individual is living.

Homelessness is a problem faced by many cities, including Spokane, he said.

“But I am not a City Council member i...