Looks like this summer storm will be over us most of the day.  Good time to go to the Property Rights in Kootenai County workshop, presented by the County, today at 5:45 pm in the Community Room in the CdA Library.  Here’s the article on this subject that was in the Press last week.  Any thoughts on this or other topics?

Update:  The presentation is by the County, as I’ve just corrected above, but Brent Regan will be there to ask questions and share his views.

I am stunned to read what John Austin wrote on the Spokesman’s  gossip blog about our friend Marv Lekstrom who died last Sunday evening.  Here’s John’s comment, in full:

JohnA on June 12 at 7:16 p.m.

“I felt really sad when I saw Marv Lekstrum died. Until I saw that he signed Mike’s recall petition. Now I just feel sad. The only thing I can figure out is that Lakes Highway District, on which he was an elected official, loses money each year LCDC is in existence and he thought to his dying day that recalling these folks would end that diversion of cash. In any event I am saddened by the fact that he died but equally saddened by the fact that one of his last functions was to sign a recall petition.

It brings up an interesting point. What happens if the signer has passed on? I’m guessing it is a valid signature. Kind of like when the levy for the Post Falls High School passed by one vote and it was later determined that an elderly lady had voted absentee in favor of the levy and then died before it could be counted. I always thought a room at the school should have been named for this lady but I’m probably just a little morbid about such things. 🙂

RIP Marv, even if you were a little misguided at the end.”

The tastelessness of John’s comment is incredible.  Marv just died.  He hasn’t even been buried yet and John is insulting Marv’s political decisions and wondering if Marv’s signature on the Recall petition is valid now that he’s dead.  OMG!  I am stunned at the lack of basic human respect.

Here’s a news flash to you, John Austin, and to all the other gossip hounds associated with the Spokesman blog:  Marv Lekstrum didn’t just decide to sign the Recall petitions in some “misguided” move at the end of his life.  Marv was part of our organizing committee, starting way back in February!  (more…)

Dear Recall CdA Supporters and Volunteers,

We are delivering the more than 1600 pages of Recall Petitions to CdA City Hall tomorrow morning.  Please help us celebrate our hard work and effort by joining us for a Rally as the petitions are carried in.  It will be much like the Rally we had when we filed the Recall last April 4th, a very long two months ago. (Let’s hope it doesn’t snow tomorrow like it did back then!)

We will meet in front of City Hall, in the upper parking lot at 8:30 am.  We will have some signs but you can bring your own if you want.

Let’s congratulate each other on the teamwork and dedication of more than 100 volunteers during this process.  This has truly been a community effort.  My thanks to each and every one of you!

We need to have 4,311 valid signatures at the end of “Phase One” of this Recall, in order to get it on the ballot.  We will be delivering well over 5,311 signatures tomorrow, which will then be examined and certified by the County Elections Dept.  We do not know how everything will turn out, but we’ve all done our best.

Please bring everyone you know who wants to participate:  kids, friends, neighbors, etc.

See you tomorrow morning,

Mary

Just thought you might like some gritty stories from the Recall Front.  We’ve been out in force all over town.  It is fun to stand on the sidewalk, smile, wave and hold signs saying “Recall CdA, Sign Here” , “Only 6 days left, Sign Today!”  We get lots of thumbs up, lots of honks and smiles and many “I’ve already signed!”  The positive energy coming back from people is palpable and it’s about 80% of the feedback.  All the volunteers I’ve asked know exactly what I’m talking about.  It’s almost addictive because you feel so connected with the true pulse of the community.

So, that part is fun.  The not-so-fun part is the weird negative vibe from the few Anti-recall folks.  They are angry.  Some just give a thumbs down, which isn’t too bad, but others take it to an outrageous level.  They flip their middle finger.  Really?  Just because you don’t agree with our point of view, you think we should be violated?

Here’s the worst story of all:  Two of our volunteers were flipped off by a whole family:  Both parents and 3 small children…all at once as they drove by.  Great parenting from the Anti-recall group.  (more…)

Yesterday I had the pleasure of hiking Tubbs Hill with Jennifer Johnson, the President of the Tubbs Hill Foundation (THF).  She wrote a wonderful My Turn column that was published in yesterday’s Press.  You can read it here.

Jennifer had me hiking trails on the backside of Tubbs that I have never seen before, and she was like a walking history of the Hill.  She showed me the steep slope of the north side and explained why a trail there would be so destructive.  According to Jennifer, the plans for a north side trail and a new City Hall trail head are not acceptable to THF.

On the east side of Tubbs, Jennifer showed me how the wheelchair accessible trail will be leveled up without much problem.  She pointed out the end of that section of the trail, culminating in a beautiful viewpoint over the lake, and she also showed me why the wheelchair trail cannot go any further without massive changes.  The city’s term “pilot project” for the wheelchair accessible trail is  something THF disagrees with because it implies there will be more.

We met so many nice people on the Hill during our walk!  People from all over our area and as far away as Edmonton.  Everyone was enjoying the trails in their natural state. Just the way I like them too.

What are your thoughts about Tubbs?  The Tubbs Hill Foundation?  The city’s plans?

On this eve of the Easter holiday, please allow me a short, personal plea: Let’s rise above the muck and propaganda promoted by the blogs and the Anti-recall alliance.  They are attacking everyone who wants to have a vote.  They are especially targeting me, I’m told, though I honestly am not reading any of it…I’m too busy helping to get the Recall up and running.  Their personal attacks show an increasing level of fear on their parts; they are not addressing any of the issues.

Anyone can go to my free archive web site, www.marysouzacda.com, find the “search” field at the top and type in any subject or name and it will bring up any and all columns or newsletters I have ever written on the topics.  Read for yourselves if I have ever stooped to personal attacks.  I have not.  My critical observations are only in the context of a public official’s behavior in their job.

If you can prove me wrong, or find any mean statements or lies, please email me at marysouzacda@gmail.com and I will be happy to respond.

Meanwhile I will not pay attention to the blogs or the banter.  We have work to do!  I will be focusing on gathering the signatures to put the names of Mayor Sandi Bloem, Council members Mike Kennedy, Deanna Goodlander and Woody McEvers on the ballot in November so that ALL the voters of CdA can have a voice in whether to keep them or remove them from their positions.  It will be our public vote.

Happy Easter to you and may we all be inspired to rise above the fray and keep our eye on the prize.  –Mary

It’s Our Town Too

Mary Souza’s Newsletter

Wednesday morning we woke to awful weather and by 9:30, when we got down to City Hall, the snow was falling fast and the wind was whipping.  It was cold!  I didn’t expect many folks would brave the elements, but I was wrong.  There was already a crowd when I arrived and they kept coming.  Signs, smiles and determined spirits.  A sense of camaraderie and the courage to take a stand for the right to vote.  Just over 100 people turned out and stayed for an hour.  I was so impressed!

The Press article the next day was demeaning.  They called it a “dud”.  They underplayed the turnout and said “about 75”, even though the Press reporter told me at the rally that he counted 100.  They twisted the info and tried to make the Recall group look disorganized.  But we will not be dismayed.  We will move forward and keep our eyes on the prize, which is our VOTE.  (more…)