Mary Souza’s Newsletter, March 9, 2010
Who are the customers for our local government? We are. We consume their services and, as taxpayers, we pay for everything they do. So, do you think we’re getting good customer service? Would you put up with arrogance, name-calling or absurdly high prices, if you were dealing with a regular business? (more…)
That massive Urban Renewal legislation in Boise was paid for by Ada County taxpayers to the tune of $30,000. Don’t think that they’re suckers: Kootenai County residents paid to support it. The LCDC’s lobbyist is paid for with city and county tax dollars, and Tony Berns as well as a team from the Post Falls URA were paid to fly down to testify for the massive bill.
Other taxing entities around the state are hurting for money, but Urban Renewal in Idaho is flush with cash and eager to spend it. This situation will only change when you get angry enough to do something about it.
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The Obama administration has yet to identify a nominee to be the US Attorney for the District of Idaho. It is apparently more difficult than originally thought for them to find someone willing to continue to turn a blind eye to the public corruption in Boise, Coeur d’Alene, and Kootenai County. Have no doubt. Such a nominee will be found.
The US Attorney nominee for the Eastern District of Washington was named this week. Michael Ormsby.
There is an article on the Statesman site today, offering an update in the alleged violations of the Caldwell Urban Renewal Agency. One of the comments on the site inspired me to offer this thought:
The poor guy who takes a loaf of bread to feed his kids will get hard time. The rich guy who takes public money through Urban Renewal to pad his development’s bottom line will be praised as a community hero.
In a stunning, arbitrary decision this afternoon, Judge Benjamin Simpson imposed a $40,000 bond on those challenging last November’s local city council election.
His action appeared random because the number was apparently plucked from thin air, as we all watched, without reason or rationale given by the judge. First he asked Mike Kennedy’s attorney, Scott Reed, what dollar amount Scott thought the bond should be to cover his expenses. Mr. Reed hesitated and said it would take some thought… but the judge prodded him again, asking for a dollar figure, to which Scott Reed answered, “$25,000”. (more…)
How unprofessional. A county attorney is using the media to openly ridicule citizen efforts. Not only that, but he is asking that the records from the last election be sealed, so the public cannot view them. And his salary is paid by the very people he insults and obstructs.
Kootenai County attorney John Cafferty was quoted in the Press last week, calling the legal challenge of the last election a “witch hunt”. Excuse me? The challenge is a legitimate legal action, undertaken to review the process and procedures during last November’s election. It is an effort on behalf of the voters of Coeur d’ Alene and all of Kootenai County. Yet this attorney, representing the County, is flinging inflammatory, juvenile names and accusations. (more…)
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Ever since Jim Brannon filed a lawsuit contesting the November 3, 2009, Coeur d’Alene city election, I’ve wondered why the Coeur d’Alene Press and The Spokesman-Review haven’t recognized this story for what it is: Coeur d’Alene’s Watergate. The inescapable conclusion is that neither the local Coeur d’Alene Press nor its supposed regional rival The Spokesman-Review wants Idaho residents and legislators to understand just how easily Idaho’s elections can be manipulated. Neither do they want that story spreading across the nation. Bad for business, don’t ya’ know. (more…)
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