Latest news with #PaulDillon
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Spokane City Council eyes banning crypto kiosks, citing devastating fraud to vulnerable residents
Jun. 2—Spokane may soon outlaw kiosks that allow people to purchase cryptocurrencies without going to well-known digital marketplaces — and according to law enforcement, have become a tool for scammers. The Spokane City Council introduced the ordinance, sponsored by Councilman Paul Dillon and City Council President Betsy Wilkerson, on Monday, after the state Legislature failed to advance additional regulation on the kiosks, increasingly common in grocery and convenience stores, earlier this year. The scam involving gift cards may be better known to most. A scammer posing as an IRS agent, the Secret Service, a tech support agent or even a relative calls a victim who is typically older or unfamiliar with technology and tells them to transfer funds immediately. But rather than going through a bank where there may be some protections, the victim is instructed to go to a grocery store, purchase thousands of dollars of gift cards and give the scammer the codes on the back. At that point, the money is gone for good. The same scam is now increasingly applied to cryptocurrency kiosks, substituting Amazon gift cards for Bitcoin, according to Spokane Police Department Detective Timothy Schwering. "They would give the story that 'We're with the Secret Service, you might be in a money -laundering ring, and we need to make sure your money's safe,'" Schwering said. "They get people alone, maybe they're older, and they get confused and panic." Schwering said he's aware of at least three suicides in Spokane County related to these scams. "You have people who are putting tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands into these machines and wiping out their life savings," he said. And unlike gift cards, Schwering argues that the kiosks have little legitimate use, particularly given the prevalence of digital marketplaces to purchase cryptocurrencies. He's not opposed to cryptocurrencies themselves, praising the technology behind them, but believes the kiosks are particularly prone to fraud and abuse. "People in the industry will say this is a great way for people to use crypto, but if you put money in the crypto kiosks, the fees can be around 20% — Cryptobase on my phone, it's pennies for the same transaction," Schwering said. "It's hard to say people are using these for legitimate business." The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 5,500 complaints of fraud related to cryptocurrency kiosks in 2023 alone, with losses of over $189 million. Most of those complaints involved a caller impersonating tech support, impersonating a government official, or a confidence or romance scheme. A 2023 FBI report claims that cryptocurrency is exploited by criminals because of the difficulty of following the funds after transactions that are also quick and irrevocable. "There were cases I was confident I knew the name and bank account, but he was sitting in mainland China, and there was nothing I could do about it," Schwering said. Spokane wouldn't be the first to ban the kiosks. The city of Stillwater, Minnesota, barred them in April, and several other Minnesota cities are considering similar regulations. As cryptocurrencies become more prevalent, the kiosks can now be found in reputable businesses around Spokane, such as Safeway and Walgreens. "When I first started doing this, there wasn't a ton of these kiosks around town," Schwering said. "There's hundreds now. I get calls on these things daily, people putting thousands and thousands into these things and losing it all." Schwering and Dillon had testified to the state legislature in favor of regulations that would limit daily transactions and fees, but while the legislation got out of committee, it wasn't taken up for a vote before the end of this year's legislative session. The proposal to act appears to have widespread support on the City Council, with Councilman Jonathan Bingle praising it at an April committee meeting for positioning Spokane to be on the "cutting edge" of the issue in Washington state. The ordinance is currently scheduled for a vote at the June 16 council meeting.
Forbes
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Spokane Leads Nation With First Law Banning Address Bias In Hiring
The new ordinance recognizes that job seekers who are unhoused, including those using shelter ... More addresses or P.O. boxes, often face rejection based on perceived instability or stigma. The conversation around fair chance hiring continues to evolve, and the City of Spokane, Washington, has taken a groundbreaking step to push it forward. On April 25, 2025, Mayor Lisa Brown signed into law Ordinance No. C36666, known as the 'Ban the Address' ordinance. This first-of-its-kind law prohibits employers from asking about an applicant's address or housing history until after making a provisional offer of employment. It becomes effective 30 days after the mayor's signature, with a compliance deadline of May 25, 2025. Spokane is now the first city in the nation to treat housing status as a barrier to employment in the same way it has treated criminal history, by limiting when and how employers can consider it. For employers, this signals a major shift in how to approach candidate screening and job applications, especially when operating within the city limits. 'I am proud of the compromise and collaboration that got us to make history tonight in Spokane,' said Council Member Paul Dillon, who sponsored the bill. 'This ordinance represents a major step forward, providing hope, dignity, and opportunity to workers who have faced challenges due to not having a permanent residence.' Spokane is no stranger to fair chance hiring reforms. In 2018, the city enacted a 'ban the box' ordinance that prohibits private employers from inquiring about a candidate's criminal history until after a conditional job offer or interview. The law bars employers from including language like 'no felons' in job postings and limits the use of arrest and conviction records unless they relate directly to the job. The ordinance, codified in Chapter 09.02 of the Spokane Municipal Code, applies to most private employers and carries civil penalties for noncompliance. With 'Ban the Address,' Spokane expands its fair chance approach to include housing status, reinforcing its commitment to equitable access to employment. The new ordinance recognizes that job seekers who are unhoused, including those using shelter addresses or P.O. boxes, often face rejection based on perceived instability or stigma. According to the Spokane Human Rights Commission, individuals have reported being denied jobs simply because they listed an address associated with a shelter or temporary housing. 'This ordinance addresses a specific contributing factor: lack of employment,' said Council Member Lili Navarrete. 'We heard from many constituents who testified that they were denied employment because they lived in their cars or shelters. We listened to their concerns and took action.' By prohibiting address inquiries before a job offer, Spokane aims to ensure that employment decisions rest on skills and experience, not on where someone sleeps at night. The ordinance amends sections of the Spokane Municipal Code (SMC §§ 9.02.010 through 9.02.050 and §§ 9.03.010 and 9.03.020), and its requirements apply to all private employers operating within city limits. Public employers are covered by a parallel provision. Here are the most important takeaways: No address inquiries before a conditional job offer. Employers may not ask for an applicant's address or residence history, whether on a job application, during an interview, or at any point before extending a provisional offer of employment. While the ordinance does not define 'provisional offer,' the term can generally be understood to mean a conditional job offer contingent on other hiring criteria, such as background or drug screening. No disqualification based on housing status. Employers cannot reject applicants simply because they are unhoused, live in shelters, or use P.O. boxes. They may only consider housing status if it directly relates to job duties and doing so complies with state and federal laws. Mailing address fields are still allowed. Employers may ask for a mailing address or preferred method of contact, but not for information that would reveal an applicant's housing status before a job offer. Expanded protections in job advertising and disqualification criteria. The ordinance reiterates that employers cannot advertise jobs using language that excludes applicants with criminal records or those without a fixed address. Disqualifying someone based on housing status before determining they are otherwise qualified violates the law. No private right of action, but enforcement is local. The law does not create a private right of action. Instead, the City of Spokane retains enforcement authority through municipal court and complaints reported by residents. Spokane's new ordinance aligns with a broader state trend toward equitable hiring practices. Washington law already prohibits employers from seeking a candidate's prior wage or salary history and requires most employers to include wage ranges and benefits in job postings. Together with Spokane's existing fair chance hiring ordinance, Ban the Address underscores a growing expectation that employers evaluate qualifications and potential, not personal background or instability. While Spokane may be the first, it likely won't be the last. Other jurisdictions, especially those where homelessness intersects heavily with employment access, may look to Spokane's ordinance as a model. Much like 'ban the box' laws, which began as local experiments and then expanded nationally, 'ban the address' policies could gain momentum. Employers should proactively review their application materials, screening workflows, and recruiter scripts to ensure compliance. Employers should work closely with their ATS and onboarding system providers to ensure that application forms and internal workflows do not prompt address inquiries prematurely. When initiating background checks, employers must ensure that address information is not collected or submitted to screening partners until after a provisional offer has been extended. It also raises the question of whether broader fair chance hiring frameworks will continue to expand to cover other categories, including credit history and gaps in employment. For now, Spokane has taken a bold step toward reshaping what equitable hiring can look like in practice. As Dillon noted, the ordinance provides 'hope, dignity, and opportunity' to those often excluded. Council Member Navarrete echoed this message, stating, 'I hope this ordinance helps remove one more barrier to achieving a successful life for members of our community.' Employers in Spokane must act quickly to comply with the new ordinance. The law takes effect on May 25, 2025. As the legal landscape shifts, companies would be wise to treat this as more than a local ordinance, it's a signal that regulators are watching how employers treat applicants who are most vulnerable to exclusion. With this ordinance, the Spokane City Council has moved beyond legislative change; it has prompted a broader reconsideration of empathy and equity in employment decisions.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Spokane City Council passes measure protecting LGBTQ+ rights and gender-affirming care
The city of Spokane, Washington has passed an ordinance solidifying protections for LGBTQ+ people and affirming the right to receive gender-affirming care. The Spokane City Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday to pass the ordinance, which updated language in the city's Human Rights code — including by defining gender-affirming care — while mandating that city-provided healthcare cover the treatment. The measure also directed the Spokane Police Department to maintain an LGBTQ+ liaison officer to act as a point of contact. 'I want to thank all the powerful and heartfelt testimony in support of this ordinance that is about supporting safety, freedom, and dignity,' Council Member Paul Dillon, who sponsored the ordinance, said in a statement. 'Spokane is a city where diversity is not just accepted but celebrated, and this ordinance shows our commitment to our city motto that In Spokane, we all belong, especially in a time of targeting and discrimination by the Trump administration and states that seek to ban care.' While Washington already had in place a "shield' or 'refuge' law protecting access to gender-affirming care — HB1469, passed in 2023 — the city ordinance will specifically prohibit the city from collecting or disseminating information about anyone's sex assigned at birth, unless it's related to a criminal investigation. Council Member Jonathan Bingle, who voted against the resolution alongside Council Member Michael Cathcart, protested the ordinance by proposing several amendments, including some which would have banned transgender people from using restrooms or participating on sports teams that align with their gender identity, and prohibited those under 18 from receiving gender-affirming care. The amendments ultimately failed to pass. Donald Trump signed an executive order in January attempting to prohibit gender-affirming care for those under 19, which has since been blocked by a federal judge after the Democratic attorneys general of Washington, Oregon, and Minnesota filed a lawsuit against the administration accusing it of overstepping presidential authority. The American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the World Medical Association, and the World Health Organization all agree that gender-affirming care is evidence-based and medically necessary not just for adults, but minors as well. 'LGBTQIA2S+ people deserve the freedom to make their own health care decisions and deserve to feel safe in our community,' said Council Member Zack Zappone. 'That freedom and safety are under threat across the country. This ordinance ensures the City continues to protect LGBTQIA2S+ people and that they know that in Spokane, we all belong.'
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Spokane City Council approves law mirroring state LGBT+ protections after heated meeting
Apr. 28—After a marathon meeting that occasionally grew fraught, Spokane's City Council has codified a number of protections for the LGBT+ community. While many are enshrined in state law or already in practice, advocates argue they signaled support amid a national firestorm, particularly over trans rights. There was a small taste of that cultural battleground during the Monday city council meeting, with dozens of supporters testifying that their right to exist is increasingly under question and political attack, while a handful of opponents argued that further protections were unnecessary or that gender-affirming treatments are harmful. In all, 67 people signed up to testify, and even with their testimony limited from the normal three minutes to two, the single agenda item dominated almost the entire meeting. The ordinance, sponsored by Council members Paul Dillon, Lili Navarrete and Zack Zappone, covers a lot of ground, including adding anti-discrimination language in city code and preventing city resources from being used to investigate or detain an individual for seeking gender-affirming care. It also protects against the release of information about a person's sex assigned at birth, which largely reflects current state law. The ordinance also would ask the Spokane Police Department to designate officers to act as dedicated liaisons for the LGBT+ community and event organizers to act as points of contact, advocate for community members, and ensure public safety at events such as the annual Pride parade. Finally, it would enshrine in code that the city's insurance policy must provide access to gender-affirming care. The city's current insurance policy for its employees, negotiated under former Mayor Nadine Woodward, provides this coverage. Emotions flared both from the ordinance itself and a series of amendments submitted by Councilman Jonathan Bingle and supported by Councilman Michael Cathcart, but rejected by the rest of the city council. Bingle and Cathcart also were the only "no" votes on the ordinance that passed 5-2. Those amendments would have restricted the access of trans people from the bathrooms of their choice, from women's sports and from accessing gender-affirming treatments if they are under the age of 18, among other restrictions. Rebecca Edwards testified that she moved to Spokane from southern Idaho two years ago alongside her trans son and his wife due to increasing hostility, stating her son was refused medical treatment, not for gender-affirming care, but for a life-threatening condition. "More than one doctor told him, I'm not going to help you," Edwards said. But they no longer feel like they escaped that hostility, she added. "With things like ongoing vandalism of inclusive crosswalks, a proposed amended version of this very ordinance that effectively did the exact opposite of its intention, and rising threats from the highest office in our nation, we are feeling the fear and strife we thought we left behind," Edwards said. Caya Berndt and several others argued that ordinances like this help assure queer people that Spokane continues to be a welcoming place to live. "A lot of queer people feel like they have to leave for Seattle, but a lot of us don't want to, because Spokane is our home," Berndt said. The vast majority of those who testified Monday were in support of the ordinance, but there were exceptions who made various arguments in support of Bingle's amendments or in opposition to the ordinance itself. Several argued that Monday's protections granted extraordinary rights for the LGBT+ community, stating it was itself a form of bigotry. "Will you continue to define what sexual practices are favored in Spokane, including those currently illegal in our state?" asked Cynthia Zapotocky, former chairman of the Spokane County GOP and co-president of the 2017 Spokane Lilac Festival. "Bestiality, or sex with animals, incest with close family members, adult sex with minor children? This remains to be seen, and I am concerned." Dr. Alfonso Oliva is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon whose listed specialties include breast augmentation and reconstruction, and announced himself as a member of the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, which lost a U.S. Supreme Court case in 2024 that attempted to challenge the FDA's approval of mifepristone, commonly known as the abortion pill. Oliva argued against the ordinance's provision ensuring that the city's health insurance for its employees include coverage for gender-affirming treatment, arguing that those treatments harm children and adolescents. "In brief, gender-confused youth truly and greatly suffer," Oliva said. "But their suffering can only be relieved by treating the underlying psychological problems. There is overwhelming scientific evidence that puberty blockers and trans sex hormones do not improve the dysphoria, but actually make it worse." Several trans speakers at the meeting argued that the research cited was flawed and pointed to their own experiences, noting the difficulties they experienced earlier in life exacerbated by their gender dysphoria and relieved by gender-affirming treatment. Those who had undergone a gender transition repeatedly called it lifesaving. "I am a gay man who was assigned female at birth," said Colton Gerard. "For 30 years, I suffered the many consequences that come with self-hatred. Today, I stand in front of you seven years sober and in the best health of my life, surrounded by a community that loves me and working toward becoming a commercial electrician." "The basis of my success is simple gender-affirming care and a city that, for the most part, has made me feel safe throughout my whole life," Gerard added. Dr. Pam Kohlmeier, an emergency room physician who ran unsuccessfully for the state Legislature in 2024, voiced support for the ordinance. "I'm very committed to saving lives, largely because I lost one of my own kids who was transgender nonbinary to suicide two years ago," Kohlmeier said. "I will tell you, gender-affirming care saves lives. Privacy of their medical records saves lives. Letting them compete in the sports that fit with their identity saves lives." Others disputed that the protections afforded by Monday's ordinance granted them special rights. "We're not asking for special treatment, like some people here are claiming," said Evee Polanski, operations director for Spokane Community Against Racism. "We're just simply asking to be able to access the same types of care that the rest of you do." A similar argument has been made by lawyers in the case U.S. v. Skrmetti currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, which involves a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming treatments for transgender youth. Lawyers have argued that many of those same treatments are used by cisgender people, both for medical and aesthetic reasons. "I'd like to start by saying that Elon Musk has received gender-affirming care," said Courtney Anderson, the former diversity, equity, access and inclusion program manager for The Arc of Spokane. "If you've seen the two pictures of him side by side, one with a receding hairline, and the other in which he clearly had jaw reconstruction and hairline surgery, that is considered gender-affirming care." Navarrete teared up as she argued that these protections are necessary as the Trump administration continues to target the trans community. "Church-state separation means that Christian nationalists and their lawmaker allies cannot use our country's laws to improve their narrow beliefs on others, or we use misuse religious freedom to deny LGBTQIA2S+ people equal rights," she said. "But that is exactly what is happening now." Bingle invited anyone in the audience to join him for a coffee or lunch, arguing that he had been painted with a broad brush by some testifiers.
