Greater Spokane Incorporated and Downtown Spokane Partnership have filed a brief with the Washington state Supreme Court in support of upholding a voter-approved ban on camping in public places and preserving the local initiative process. 

The amicus brief, prepared by Olympia, Washington-based attorney Jackson Maynard, is in advance of oral arguments that are scheduled to be heard by the state Supreme Court next month. 

The case involves a lawsuit brought forth by homeless advocacy group Jewels Helping Hands and former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart that attempted to remove Proposition One from last November's general-election ballot. The proposition called for banning camping within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, playgrounds, and licensed day care centers. 

Jewels and Stuckart had attempted to stop the Proposition One from appearing on the ballot, arguing in part that the proposition wasn't a proper use of the initiative process. The Superior Court of Spokane County found the measure to be legitimate, and he camping ban passed with 75% voter approval, the appellants appealed the measure to the state Court of Appeals, which sided with Superior Court. 

Now, the state Supreme Court will hear the measure after being petitioned to do so. 

In their brief, GSI and the DSP argue that it's important not only to uphold the camping ban, but to preserve the initiative process, stating, "The initiative process undergirds a core and fundamental right of the people to legislate and exercise their sovereignty."