Paul Dillon casts a dark cloud over Hoopfest. Claims that city events are Trump targets.
June 26, 2025 - Spokane, WA - This past Monday, defending his proposal to prohibit local, state and federal government law enforcement from accessing public events, Spokane Council Member Paul Dillon stated (emphasis added),
"When you think about like Tacos and Tequila and you know, Bloomsday and Hoopfest so ... people feel safe going to a lot of community events because that's something we've heard very loud and clear from the immigrant and refugee communities that they don't feel safe," said Dillon.
Paul Dillon’s comments have cast a dark cloud over hallmark Spokane events.
Center Square reports, “ Spokane considers banning ICE agents from parks despite board opposition”
"We're specifically doing this ordinance for federal agents," Navarrete said. "As we've seen, they have been going to places without warrants, which is unlawful."
According to emails obtained by The Center Square, the Parks Board doesn’t support Navarrete’s policy or taking on an enforcement role. President Jennifer Ogden expressed sympathy for immigrants in the area but noted that proposing an ordinance the board objects to could violate the city charter.
Especially concerning, and racially tone deaf - Spokane Council Member Dillon’s assertion that the “Tacos and Tequila” event would be targeted by ICE and other law enforcement is especially offensive.
Neither law enforcement at the local or state level, nor ICE, nor President Trump have targeted the “Tacos and Tequila” event in Spokane.
Who is attempting to instigate mass hysteria? … Spokane Council Member Paul Dillon.
Watch and listen to Paul Dillon’s statement below. Why would Paul Dillon compromise Spokane events? Especially Tacos Y Tequila?
Click on image above for video or click here.
Spokane Citizens Can Speak Up!
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On Monday, June 30, 2025 the Spokane City Council will hold an EMERGENCY HEARING on ordinance C36700. The “emergency”? Who knows.
Titled “Safe and Welcome in Spokane”, expanding protections against warrantless searches from immigration enforcement in designated nonpublic areas, amending section 12.05.005 and declaring an emergency. (As amended on June 16, 2025) (Council Sponsors: Council MembersNavarrete and Klitzke) Council Members Dillon and/or Navarrete.
Who determines what is “warrantless?”
What are “nonpublic areas?”
Again, what is the “emergency?”
Spokane’s Parks Board pushed back. Read today’s KREM2 reporting by Cristian Garza, including,
“After pushback from the Park Board and other city council members, the ordinance was amended and now only allows "right of way" areas to be designated as non-public during approved private events.
“Navarrete says the ordinance would allow the council to designate permitted private events held on a public right-of-way as non-public, meaning ICE would need to go through extra steps to come into the event and make an arrest.
Councilwoman Navarrete sent KREM 2 a statement about the amended ordinance:
"We weren’t going to be able to control whether the park board would take advantage of the tool we were creating for them. This option gives council and the administration the ability to use its authority to protect permitted private events."
The amended legislation proposed can be reviewed here.
Below, see Brandi Kruse add her advice on Spokane’s Progressive Trifecta’s ridiculous ordinance.