MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. — On Sunday, August 4, Medical Lake Mayor Terri Cooper shut down the rumors that the Pine Lodge Corrections Center, a former women's prison, would be bought by the City of Spokane and turned into a homeless shelter.
"I just want to assure you that plan is off the table," said Cooper at a press conference on Sunday.
Cooper says an initial discussion to combat the rising homeless population was started by Spokane City Councilman Jonathan Bingle, who proposed the plan to Cooper.
Cooper says she turned the proposition down.
The rumor stems from a miscommunication, with Medical Lake representatives under the impression that the City of Spokane was still seeking to move forward with the plan.
"We didn't know about it. No one had contacted our city," said Cooper. "No one had told us that this was a real viable thing."
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown posted a statement to social media addressing the rumor as well, claiming that Cooper was misinformed and clarifying that the City of Spokane is not looking to open any additional shelters.
Brown did not attend the press conference on Sunday.
Spokane County District 10 Water Commissioner Steven McCrey says the press conference did not allow for an opportunity for any City of Spokane representatives to address the matter.
"As far as I know, there was nobody invited from the City of Spokane to participate in the event," said McCrey.
Medical Lake community members rallied outside Medical Lake City Hall to hear from representatives who expressed that the City of Spokane should solve its lack of shelter space in its own jurisdiction.
"Personally, I believe the best way to deal with the homeless population is to deal with it in place," said McCrey.
Erin Hut, who works as a spokesperson for the office of Mayor Brown, says that Brown was not invited to the press conference and has not heard from Cooper.
Hut says the mayor's office anticipates a discussion on the matter.
Cooper did not respond to initial requests for comment.