Erik
@eriklowe.bsky.social
Co-Executive Director at SpokaneReimagined.org.
Pinned
Erik
@eriklowe.bsky.social
· May 18
Why do I spend countless hours of my time advocating for better transit?
Because I know what is possible.
Spokane has the potential to be the most livable, vibrant, and innovative city in North America.
Now is the time.
Because I know what is possible.
Spokane has the potential to be the most livable, vibrant, and innovative city in North America.
Now is the time.
One of the most baffling things I’ve had to come to terms with since starting my advocacy journey is how invested local business leaders are in shooting themselves in the foot.
It is essential that our downtown leaders start telling a more positive, exciting, and forward-thinking vision for downtown, instead of focusing so often on what is wrong with it.
Rose is extolling the virtues of downtown, but hates how much of downtown is devoted to "cars and parking." There are huge empty lots "where buildings used to be, where housing and local businesses could grow." Imagine how nice it could be to walk to the waterfalls from your downtown apt, she said.
November 25, 2025 at 6:24 AM
One of the most baffling things I’ve had to come to terms with since starting my advocacy journey is how invested local business leaders are in shooting themselves in the foot.
Wooooo!
Parking tax passed 5-2
November 25, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Wooooo!
Winning is always nice, but winning against such vehement opposition is next level.
I’m going to be riding this high for a while.
I’m going to be riding this high for a while.
Boom: Modest 6-12% commercial parking tax passes 5-2, with Cathcart and Bingle voting no. Takes effect starting April 1.
November 25, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Winning is always nice, but winning against such vehement opposition is next level.
I’m going to be riding this high for a while.
I’m going to be riding this high for a while.
Reposted by Erik
I feel like it’s getting lost that driving downtown is a *CHOICE.*
If you don’t want to pay a modest parking tax, don’t drive downtown! Take the bus! Walk! Bike! Take a scooter!
If you don’t want to pay a modest parking tax, don’t drive downtown! Take the bus! Walk! Bike! Take a scooter!
November 25, 2025 at 3:27 AM
I feel like it’s getting lost that driving downtown is a *CHOICE.*
If you don’t want to pay a modest parking tax, don’t drive downtown! Take the bus! Walk! Bike! Take a scooter!
If you don’t want to pay a modest parking tax, don’t drive downtown! Take the bus! Walk! Bike! Take a scooter!
Reposted by Erik
Hunter DePriest seems to be in favor of the tax because our current tax structure encourage land speculation - people buying plots of land, paying little to no tax on it, and sitting on it while waiting for it to increase in value so they can sell it. Parking lot owners "hold hostage," downtown land
November 25, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Hunter DePriest seems to be in favor of the tax because our current tax structure encourage land speculation - people buying plots of land, paying little to no tax on it, and sitting on it while waiting for it to increase in value so they can sell it. Parking lot owners "hold hostage," downtown land
Reposted by Erik
And they openly admit that they’re just gonna pass it on to consumers anyway!
I’ve noticed that the loudest voices urging City Council to vote no on the Local Option Transportation Tax are wealthy property owners. They warn it will cut into their profit margin even though they make plenty from their flat parking lots already.
Betsy Cowles (yes, that Cowles) Is here to speak on behalf of Riverfront Square and the Cowles Company. She wants them to vote no. It won't be an incentive to develop surface lots, she said, because development cost too much and "the rents don't connect."
November 25, 2025 at 3:03 AM
And they openly admit that they’re just gonna pass it on to consumers anyway!
Reposted by Erik
Lowe also said he thinks comments about the office vacancy rate are disingenuous because most of those vacancies are in three large buildings.
"Sounds like a skill issue on the part of the business owners, none of which are located in WA state."
"Sounds like a skill issue on the part of the business owners, none of which are located in WA state."
November 25, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Lowe also said he thinks comments about the office vacancy rate are disingenuous because most of those vacancies are in three large buildings.
"Sounds like a skill issue on the part of the business owners, none of which are located in WA state."
"Sounds like a skill issue on the part of the business owners, none of which are located in WA state."
Reposted by Erik
I’ve noticed that the loudest voices urging City Council to vote no on the Local Option Transportation Tax are wealthy property owners. They warn it will cut into their profit margin even though they make plenty from their flat parking lots already.
Betsy Cowles (yes, that Cowles) Is here to speak on behalf of Riverfront Square and the Cowles Company. She wants them to vote no. It won't be an incentive to develop surface lots, she said, because development cost too much and "the rents don't connect."
November 25, 2025 at 3:02 AM
I’ve noticed that the loudest voices urging City Council to vote no on the Local Option Transportation Tax are wealthy property owners. They warn it will cut into their profit margin even though they make plenty from their flat parking lots already.
Reposted by Erik
It is essential that our downtown leaders start telling a more positive, exciting, and forward-thinking vision for downtown, instead of focusing so often on what is wrong with it.
Rose is extolling the virtues of downtown, but hates how much of downtown is devoted to "cars and parking." There are huge empty lots "where buildings used to be, where housing and local businesses could grow." Imagine how nice it could be to walk to the waterfalls from your downtown apt, she said.
November 25, 2025 at 2:56 AM
It is essential that our downtown leaders start telling a more positive, exciting, and forward-thinking vision for downtown, instead of focusing so often on what is wrong with it.
Reposted by Erik
If you can make it, please come to tonight's Spokane City Council meeting at 6 PM at 808 W. Spokane Falls Boulevard.
My comments for tonight's city council meeting regarding the proposed commercial parking tax.
It will be interesting to see if the council is able to pass this measure despite the overwhelming amount of pushback from Spokane's parking lot operators and reactionary business community.
It will be interesting to see if the council is able to pass this measure despite the overwhelming amount of pushback from Spokane's parking lot operators and reactionary business community.
November 25, 2025 at 12:04 AM
If you can make it, please come to tonight's Spokane City Council meeting at 6 PM at 808 W. Spokane Falls Boulevard.
My comments for tonight's city council meeting regarding the proposed commercial parking tax.
It will be interesting to see if the council is able to pass this measure despite the overwhelming amount of pushback from Spokane's parking lot operators and reactionary business community.
It will be interesting to see if the council is able to pass this measure despite the overwhelming amount of pushback from Spokane's parking lot operators and reactionary business community.
November 25, 2025 at 12:02 AM
My comments for tonight's city council meeting regarding the proposed commercial parking tax.
It will be interesting to see if the council is able to pass this measure despite the overwhelming amount of pushback from Spokane's parking lot operators and reactionary business community.
It will be interesting to see if the council is able to pass this measure despite the overwhelming amount of pushback from Spokane's parking lot operators and reactionary business community.
Reposted by Erik
Spokane’s streetcar system, circa 1923.
November 24, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Spokane’s streetcar system, circa 1923.
Reposted by Erik
Cars are a policy failure.
November 21, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Cars are a policy failure.
Reposted by Erik
More than 25% of downtown is parking, so City Council is proposing a commercial parking tax to help internalize the associated externalities—things like poor walkability and antisocial behavior.
They vote next week. Please send them a quick note here urging their support!
They vote next week. Please send them a quick note here urging their support!
Support a modest tax on commercial parking tax
As reported in RANGE, Spokane City Council is considering a commercial parking tax at its meeting on Monday, November 17. Structured as a 6-12% fee to park at a commercial lot, the measure would help ...
actionnetwork.org
November 21, 2025 at 12:40 AM
More than 25% of downtown is parking, so City Council is proposing a commercial parking tax to help internalize the associated externalities—things like poor walkability and antisocial behavior.
They vote next week. Please send them a quick note here urging their support!
They vote next week. Please send them a quick note here urging their support!
Reposted by Erik
"Iowa City eliminated bus fares in August 2023 with a goal of lowering emissions from cars and encouraging people to take public transit...
Ridership has surpassed prepandemic levels by 18 percent. Bus drivers say they’re navigating less congested streets."
Ridership has surpassed prepandemic levels by 18 percent. Bus drivers say they’re navigating less congested streets."
Iowa City Made Its Buses Free. Traffic Cleared, and So Did the Air.
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:46 PM
"Iowa City eliminated bus fares in August 2023 with a goal of lowering emissions from cars and encouraging people to take public transit...
Ridership has surpassed prepandemic levels by 18 percent. Bus drivers say they’re navigating less congested streets."
Ridership has surpassed prepandemic levels by 18 percent. Bus drivers say they’re navigating less congested streets."
Reposted by Erik
Free buses in Iowa City in the NYT! I was there a couple weeks ago and was surprised at how packed and how frequent the buses were for a city that size
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/c...
November 20, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Free buses in Iowa City in the NYT! I was there a couple weeks ago and was surprised at how packed and how frequent the buses were for a city that size
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/c...
My comments for today's Spokane Transit Authority Board of Directors meeting:
November 20, 2025 at 4:24 PM
My comments for today's Spokane Transit Authority Board of Directors meeting:
Reposted by Erik
You gotta pay more for houses with walkability because we don't build nearly enough of them...
Walkability shouldn't be a "perk"
It should be the default
Walkability shouldn't be a "perk"
It should be the default
November 19, 2025 at 10:55 PM
You gotta pay more for houses with walkability because we don't build nearly enough of them...
Walkability shouldn't be a "perk"
It should be the default
Walkability shouldn't be a "perk"
It should be the default
Reposted by Erik
While Spokane can’t yet levy a Land Value Tax due to state law, the city is trying to levy a sort of hyper-specific LVT on just the commercial parking facilities.
Lots in our urban core are leeches on our municipal budget, paying pennies in property taxes compared to productive lots.
Lots in our urban core are leeches on our municipal budget, paying pennies in property taxes compared to productive lots.
Check out this great video by Urban3 that explores the hidden ways cities subsidize the fiscal black hole that is parking.
One reason for this is that tax assessors frequently undervalue parcels with parking lots, sometimes under $1/sq ft!
youtu.be/BujZfaz6wBo?...
One reason for this is that tax assessors frequently undervalue parcels with parking lots, sometimes under $1/sq ft!
youtu.be/BujZfaz6wBo?...
November 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM
While Spokane can’t yet levy a Land Value Tax due to state law, the city is trying to levy a sort of hyper-specific LVT on just the commercial parking facilities.
Lots in our urban core are leeches on our municipal budget, paying pennies in property taxes compared to productive lots.
Lots in our urban core are leeches on our municipal budget, paying pennies in property taxes compared to productive lots.
Reposted by Erik
It’s fine and good to flag concerns if you’re working to address them. But the balance in too many cities has gotten out of whack.
We see it all the time in Spokane.
DSP should be downtown’s biggest boosters. But too often they’re in the media for the negative things they say about downtown.
We see it all the time in Spokane.
DSP should be downtown’s biggest boosters. But too often they’re in the media for the negative things they say about downtown.
November 19, 2025 at 7:58 PM
It’s fine and good to flag concerns if you’re working to address them. But the balance in too many cities has gotten out of whack.
We see it all the time in Spokane.
DSP should be downtown’s biggest boosters. But too often they’re in the media for the negative things they say about downtown.
We see it all the time in Spokane.
DSP should be downtown’s biggest boosters. But too often they’re in the media for the negative things they say about downtown.
Reposted by Erik
If you’re wondering how the debate is going on the city’s parking tax ordinance, it’s this
November 19, 2025 at 3:51 PM
If you’re wondering how the debate is going on the city’s parking tax ordinance, it’s this
It sure is neat to see the impact @spokanereimagined.org has had on the public discourse over the last two years.
November 18, 2025 at 7:24 PM
It sure is neat to see the impact @spokanereimagined.org has had on the public discourse over the last two years.
Reposted by Erik
@nondriver.bsky.social, Ilona Lohrey (GSBA), and I asked in the Seattle Times today for: "A parking corral system where, in busy areas around town, shared bikes and scooters must be parked in designated zones located on the street whenever physically possible." www.seattletimes.com/opinion/ok-c...
November 18, 2025 at 5:14 PM
@nondriver.bsky.social, Ilona Lohrey (GSBA), and I asked in the Seattle Times today for: "A parking corral system where, in busy areas around town, shared bikes and scooters must be parked in designated zones located on the street whenever physically possible." www.seattletimes.com/opinion/ok-c...
Reposted by Erik
A place is a self fulfilling prophecy. Urban real estate tycoons used to know this when they sold bold visions of a place to the opposite end of 1000 mile railroad line
Downtown business leaders’ hyperbolic reaction is what might deter customers, not the fact of the parking tax itself. I wrote about this phenomenon, in which these leaders are their own worst enemies, for the @inlander.com here:
November 18, 2025 at 6:01 AM
A place is a self fulfilling prophecy. Urban real estate tycoons used to know this when they sold bold visions of a place to the opposite end of 1000 mile railroad line
Despite the delayed vote, I'm glad to see Spokane's City Council isn't losing its resolve.
www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
'Full speed ahead' on proposed Spokane parking tax as vote nears
It’s still “full speed ahead” for a 12% parking tax in Spokane, Council President Betsy Wilkerson said Monday – though it will take at least another week for a vote and parking lot operators will get ...
www.spokesman.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Despite the delayed vote, I'm glad to see Spokane's City Council isn't losing its resolve.
www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...