Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishA formerly thriving Pacific northwest city is being left ‘worn down and trashed’ due to persistent open air drug use and homelessness, concerned residents say.Spokane in Washington is known for its stunning natural beauty, which helped it become a boomtown during the Covid pandemic.But under Democrat Mayor Lisa Brown, its downtown area has become virtually a no-go zone according to locals, who have slammed her focus on ‘harm reduction’ policies over criminalization.Brown’s latest attempt to get a grip on the fentanyl crisis engulfing the city is a law which will hand out free narcan to drug users with the purchase of all pipes and foils.The legislation bans the sale of smoking paraphernalia in the downtown area, unless the items are sold with the overdose antidote, naloxone, commonly known as narcan. While officials did make a push to clean up the city ahead of Expo’74, local resident Elizabeth Flett says these efforts have dwindled. ‘There’s still a lot of graffiti on the wall where they put up that anti-graffiti paint… A lot of people passed out sleeping. It’s just really, it’s sad. And the place is worn down and trashed,’ Flett told Nonstop Local.She is concerned about the lasting impact such sights can have on visitors who come to Spokane for sporting and other events such as the NCAA tournament. Spokane, Washington is being left ‘worn down and trashed’ due to persistent open air drug use and homelessness , concerned residents say Under Democrat Mayor Lisa Brown, its downtown area has become virtually a no-go zone according to locals Resident Elizabeth Flett has taken to documenting the trash, homelessness and drug use she says is ruining the city’I’ve watched some of the girls looking out some of the windows at the convention center. While the security, in their little golf cart, was escorting just three of the homeless people,’ Flett said.’But, they made such a big deal out of the way they did it, that everybody was up at the window watching it. It was… really sad. And that’s their memory [when] they come to Spokane.’Spokane like many parts of the US is in the grip of a fentanyl crisis. Last year, 255 people died from an opioid overdose in Spokane County, a 34 percent increase compared to the year before.Residents remain unconvinced that Brown’s soft justice policies are having a positive impact.’I’ve been on the east side of Washington State for fairly short time and Spokane has become a dump,’ Sunny Earles said. ‘It’s embarrassing how city leaders let downtown of formerly a sweet little town go to hell.’The downtown when I first came it was clean and safe now I don’t go there. Last time. I was there a man was masturbating in the park with no clothing on his bottom half in front of children and people walking by. Nobody did anything it was gross.’While violent crime in the downtown district has fallen, residential burglaries soared by 27 percent over the last year according to data from Spokane Police. Spokane, like many cities in America, is dealing with a fentanyl crisis Mayor Lisa Brown has now brought in a law banning the sale of smoking paraphernalia downtown – unless it is sold with narcan Spokane was known for its stunning natural beauty which attracted people during the Covid pandemicSpokane Police Department Chief Kevin Hall said his officers are working round the clock to tackle open air drug use.The force has already made 160 arrests so far this year. However, Chief Hall suggested he is being hamstrung by the current approach to narcotics.’For the vast majority of these cases, that’s strictly drug use. It’s a citation. It will not be accepted at jail. So, we do the best we can with the tools that we have,’ Chief Hall said. Businesses previously told how they have resorted to shutting up shop after being overwhelmed by lawlessness downtown.Two-time James Beard Awards semi-finalist Chad White said that he would be closing his much loved restaurant Zona Blanca Ceviche Bar after it was broken into twice in 24 hours.In October, Democrat Harold Thomas “HT” Higgins, a donor to Lisa Brown’s mayoral campaign, paid for a billboard calling her out for the lack of improvement in the city.’Mayor Brown, what is different? Engagement? Transparency? Are our unhoused friends better off? Are our downtown businesses better off?’Brown dismissed the stunt as the result of Thomas’ personal grievance over not being consulted on plans to tackle homelessness.She told NonStop Local that opioid settlement funds are being used to expand case management and increasing sobering beds.
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