SPOKANE, Wash. — Cupid Alexander has resigned as the Director of the Neighborhoods, Housing and Human Services division for the City of Spokane.
Alexander served Spokane for a little more than eight months. He stepped into the role on November 16 of last year. His last day is July 30, 2021.
When asked about his decision to leave Spokane, he said the timing was right for him.
"I can’t announce my next plans publicly quite yet, but I am going to continue leading and planning strategies on behalf of a governance entity with the community around housing investments, economic development and smart growth- in a leadership role," Alexander said.
Alexander added that the decision was all his.
"I worked well with the community and city council, on creative and innovative ideas that were non-transactional and created sustainable frameworks for not just now; but for the future. Spokane [and the metropolitan statistical area] is being led by housing price escalation due to lifestyle choice decisions that have caused an increase in demand. People obviously want to be here. I think many of us look at the issues differently but many want the same goal," Alexander said.
His resignation caught leaders at city hall, including Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward, off guard.
"No, it wasn't something that we had anticipated," City Spokesperson Brian Coddington said, "You know, it's one of those things where you have talented employees at the city and, and they are recruited from time to time. It's something that, you know, is a possibility, but this is not something that we had anticipated."
The shock wasn't limited to Woodward's administration. Alexander works closely with the Spokane City Council, and councilmember Betsy Wilkerson said the council found out the unexpected news last night.
"We were all surprised, and extremely disappointed to hear the news, because he has been a valuable asset to the city," Wilkerson said. "And if you speak to not only [city[ council but to other community members, especially in the business world and the nonprofit world, I believe you would hear the same thing."
Alexander did not want to speak on camera for the story, but did answer some questions via email. He said he will be leaving for a role tackling similar issues in a different city.
Alexander becomes the third leader in the Department of Community, Housing and Human Services to leave in 2021. Coddington said two of those people left for similar positions, while another left to pursue a passion project that became available.
Wilkerson said the turnover seen this year may be due to a lack of both leadership and a clear vision for addressing the city's housing and homelessness issues.
"Maybe a clear lack of vision, what each administration wants to see in the outcomes and purposes, and what that looks like," Wilkerson said. "I will tell you without a vision, the people perish. And that's what it feels like right now, that people are perishing, because we haven't got our act together yet."
Coddington said Alexander's position requires him to deal with a number of community stakeholders, but added that Alexander's relationship with Woodward was good, and he had been tasked with leading the charge on two of her administration's main issues; housing and homelessness.
"They met on a regular basis. Like I said, more so than many other division director on since she's been here, and it's simply because he's got two of the two of the major areas that she's focused on," Coddington said.
When asked if his interactions or any issues with resources played a role in the decision, Alexander said in an email, "Though all of these are considerations, none of these are reasons for my personal decision to discontinue working in Spokane and transition to another journey at the end of next month."
No matter the reason for leaving, Alexander will leave big shoes to fill.
"I think it's just challenging times to recruit good talent to any city, and so it took us a while to find Mr. Alexander," Wilkerson said. "I'm not real optimistic we'll find the right person anytime quickly, but the work will go on."
After everything was said and done, he shared that the community in Spokane was a large draw for him initially.
"The reason I chose to work here is simple; the people. The community is amazing, endearing and neighborly," Alexander said.
Alexander released a statement about his career transition.
"I appreciate the opportunity the city of Spokane has provided. I am happy with the work we did on getting millions of dollars in emergency rental assistance out to families in need, creating a pilot program that will commence this fall with Eastern Washington University on bringing Masters of Social Work students to help connect the homeless to resources, working to hire the cities first Civil rights and housing policy position (underway), crafting the winter hoteling strategy to help the unhoused families have safe sheltering, developing out the framework for the eventual community engagement and implementation of the 1590 taxing resource, and the sequenced upstream investments that CHHS will carry on to align the cities resources with available housing projects. I thank the city council for their support, the various community members who work tirelessly to make this community amazing, and the NHHS staff in 311, Office of Neighborhood Services, and Community Housing and Human Services. It’s been a solid 8 months and I am proud of the work we accomplished together. A city's most valuable infrastructure isn’t its bridges or its roads; it’s the people - and I appreciate the meals and times shared with those here. I wish for the continued success of the city as I move on in my journey”
Coddington said it is too early to estimate a timeline for hiring Alexander's replacement.