Spokane's Autumn Buzz: Community Investments, Tough Choices, and a Culinary Celebration

Good morning, this is your Spokane Local Frequency for Thursday, September 18, 2025. Our days are getting a touch shorter, and the cool bite of autumn is just around the corner, but Spokane is as bustling as ever. If you’re plugged into what’s next for our neighborhoods, the big news this week is the Together Spokane tax proposal hitting the November ballot. This package could funnel nearly half a billion dollars into upgrading not just aging elementary schools like Adams and Madison, but also play equipment, sports fields, and lighting in parks across Spokane. Imagine more vibrant third spaces—those are free gathering spots like parks and libraries—especially in northeast Spokane where community advocates say they’re needed most, providing kids and families with safe, shaded places to unwind and connect. Even Spokane City Council member Michael Cathcart, typically cautious about tax hikes, is throwing his support behind it, citing just how many projects and partnerships would land in often-overlooked parts of our city. There are also plans to launch a new trades high school at Spokane Community College, giving students a chance to graduate ready for careers in high-demand fields—a real win for workforce development and youth opportunity.

Speaking of connections, the civic conversation continues as Spokane County faces another year of tight budgeting. At last week’s State of the County, Board Chair Mary Kuney noted some bright spots—our sheriff’s office is finally fully staffed, county parks have seen major upgrades, and new-business growth remains strong. But with fatal drug overdoses on the rise and an estimated $20 million budget shortfall looming, leaders are making tough choices, freezing nonessential hires and calling for seven percent cuts across departments. Residents can join upcoming budget discussions at the commissioners’ hearing room and on Zoom—the first is set for next Tuesday at 2 pm. Meanwhile, in response to ongoing behavioral health and public safety challenges, a new privately led regional task force is taking shape. This group, funded by local business and nonprofit partners, aims to bring together everyone from health care workers to formerly incarcerated individuals to chart a smarter, more effective path forward. Similar strategies elsewhere, like Whatcom County’s recent success, show promise, and Spokane’s hoping to learn and adapt.

But this week isn’t only about work and policy. Before we say goodbye to summer’s warmth, mark your calendars for the city’s first-ever Pacific Northwest Food and Wine Festival, kicking off next weekend, September 26 to 28, across the historic Davenport hotels downtown. This isn’t just any tasting event—think three days of grand tastings, chef-led dinners under the stars, interactive cooking classes, and jazz brunches, all designed to show off the region’s best bites and sips. Tickets are capped to keep things intimate, and some events are already sold out, so if you want in, check soon. It’s just one more reason to stroll downtown, soak up the scene, and support our incredible hospitality and culinary talent.

That’s your slice of Spokane for today—your city, your schools, your next great meal, all coming together as summer winds down. This has been Spokane Local Frequency. We’ll see you tomorrow with more local updates.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning. This is your Spokane local frequency for Thursday,
September eighteenth, twenty twenty five. Our days are getting a
touch shorter and the cool bite of Autumn is just
around the corner. But Spokane is as bustling as ever.
If you're plugged into what's next for our neighborhoods. The
big news this week is the Together Spokane tax proposal
hitting the November ballot. This package could funnel nearly half

(00:23):
a billion dollars into upgrading not just aging elementary schools
like Adams and Madison, but also play equipment, sports fields
and lighting in parks across Spokane. Imagine more vibrant third spaces.
Those are free gathering spots like parks and libraries, especially
in Northeast Spokane, where community advocates say they're needed most

(00:43):
providing kids and families with safe, shaded places to unwind
and connect. Even Spokane City Council Member Michael Cathcart, typically
cautious about tax hikes, is throwing his support behind it,
citing just how many projects and partnerships would land and
often overlooked parts of our There are also plans to
launch a new trades high school at Spokane Community College.

(01:05):
Giving students a chance to graduate ready for careers in
high demand fields, a real win for workforce development and
youth opportunity. Speaking of connections, the civic conversation continues as
Spokane County faces another year of tight budgeting. At last
week's State of the County, board chair Mary Cooney noted
some bright spots. Our Sheriff's office is finally fully staffed.

(01:27):
County parks have seen major upgrades, and new business growth
remains strong. But with fatal drug overdoses on the rise
and an estimated twenty million dollars budget shortfall looming, leaders
are making tough choices, freezing non essential hires and calling
for seven percent cuts across departments. Residents can join upcoming
budget discussions at the Commissioner's hearing room and on zoom.

(01:51):
The first is set for next Tuesday at two pm. Meanwhile,
in response to ongoing behavioral health and public safety challenge,
a new privately led regional task force is taking shape.
This group, funded by local business and nonprofit partners, aims
to bring together everyone from healthcare workers to formally incarcerated

(02:14):
individuals to chart a smarter, more effective path forward. Similar
strategies elsewhere like Watcom County's recent success show promise and
Spokane's hoping to learn and adapt. But this week isn't
only about work and policy. Before we say goodbye to
summer's warmth, mark your calendars for the city's first ever

(02:37):
Pacific Northwest Food and Wine Festival, kicking off next weekend
September twenty sixth to twenty eighth across the historic Davenport
Hotels downtown. This isn't just any tasting event. Think three
days of grand tastings, chef led dinners under the stars,
interactive cooking classes, and jazz prinches, all designed to show

(03:00):
off the region's best bites and SIPs. Tickets are capped
to keep things intimate, and some events are already sold out,
so if you want in check soon. It's just one
more reason to stroll down town. Soak up the scene
and support our incredible hospitality and culinary talent. That's your

(03:20):
slice of Spokane for today, Your city, your schools, your
next great meal, all coming together as summer winds down.
This has been Spokane local frequency. We'll see you tomorrow
with more local updates.