Mary Souza’s Newsletter 
Anti Recall people have been slinging personal insults, calling childish names and organizing intimidation against local businesses. They are trying to act big but, in truth, they are incredibly small.
And at last Tuesday’s city council meeting, they even tried to blame the Recall effort for all the personal anger and vitriol. That’s simply not true. This Recall is not personal.
The Recall is about the behavior of Mayor Bloem and Council members Kennedy, Goodlander and McEvers in their capacities as elected officials; the way they have treated the citizens and the decisions these officials have made. It’s about the issues of our town: The public vote they denied us on McEuen, the removal of the ball fields, boat parking and eventually the boat launch, the excessive city salaries and major spending of taxpayer money by our unelected LCDC urban renewal board…all without a vote of the people, of course.
But the Anti Recallers don’t want to address these issues. Instead, they behave like the mayor’s son, Kurt, who drove by Sherman Hardware last weekend and heckled a former co-worker who was helping with the Recall. Kurt yelled that the Recall guy was “a loser” and that he “had no friends” and “your own family doesn’t even like you”. He also wrote a similar message in an angry personal email to a different Recall helper because of a Letter to the Editor supporting the movement.
Are they stuck in elementary school? There are serious problems to discuss, people. Can’t we talk like grown ups?
But the Anti Recallers don’t want to talk about the city’s plan to use $14.7 million for Phase 1 of the renovation plan to make a park into a park, most of which is money borrowed from a bank against future tax revenues, while our town is littered with empty houses and businesses in foreclosure; while unemployment remains a serious problem and folks on fixed incomes are struggling and worried.
They don’t want to talk about high city salaries and unbelievable benefits; that 19 people in the City of CdA make over $100,000 per year while the only other Idaho cities near our size, Twin Falls and Caldwell, have only 1 and 0 positions, respectively, that make $100,000 or more. (updated info). And they certainly don’t want you to ask why city employees were given raises in the middle of the recession, when businesses all over town were cutting salaries and benefits just to survive.
The Anti Recallers have to paint this whole grassroots effort as a personal attack against Sandi, Mike, Deanna and Woody. It’s not true but it’s the only way they can keep the spotlight off the decisions these officials have made. Distraction. That’s their plan.
I’m sure they have other plans too. There’s far too much money at stake for this Recall effort to go forward smoothly. They will continue to throw roadblocks in our way, trying to stop the locomotive of public opinion which is now barreling down the tracks.
Climb on board with us, people, and together we can overcome their obvious efforts to avoid the voters and sidestep the real issues. We are advancing beyond the 4000 signatures mark, (we need 4,311) but we must have at least 6,000 to send a strong message.
Will you be part of the solution? Will you join the thousands and thousands of your fellow independent, liberal, conservative, libertarian and unaffiliated citizens who are joining shoulder to shoulder in this effort? More than 200 new people have registered to vote just so they can sign the petitions. Please join us! And bring your friends. Together we can be part of Coeur d’Alene’s long history of people standing up for McEuen, Tubbs and citizens’ rights.
**************
The RECALL CdA office is located in the Sunset Mall, just across Hwy 95 from Fred Meyer. www.recallcda.com 704-1596, and look for our signing locations scattered around town as well. Please honk and give a thumbs up to our great volunteers!
**************
Mary Souza is a 24 year resident of CdA, local small business owner and former P&Z Commissioner. Her opinions are her own. To sign up for the free weekly newsletter, or access a free archive of past columns, visit www.marysouzacda.com Comments can be sent to marysouzacda@gmail.com. Please visit the local issues web site www.OpenCdA.com for more discussion.
“Anti Recall people have been slinging personal insults, calling childish names and organizing intimidation against local businesses. They are trying to act big but, in truth, they are incredibly small.”
Oh good heck, Mary. All you have to do is cruise back through the comments on this site, HBO, and especially the CDA Press to find hundreds of unkind, untrue, accusatory, inflammatory, and insulting things the Recall crowd and associates have posted about the city council and their supporters, not only recently, but going back years. Surely, you can’t be so blind as to not have seen them. Your side is hardly innocent of these sorts of things, and to feign so is incredibly naive if not outright disingenuous of you. Even the “intimidating” (not really, they are more ridiculous than anything) postcards that anti-recall business owners received this week are black and white proof of that.(Yes, I know you claim not to know who is doing that, but it matters not, as they are clearly someone in support of the recall).
Once again, you all are apparently only able to see things through your one-way panes of glass, but I might suggest to recall folks that they trade them in for mirrors.
Comment by Patrick Jacobs — May 17, 2012 @ 10:04 pm
If Dan English had run an accurate municipal election in 2009, none of this would be occuring.
Comment by doubleseetripleeye — May 17, 2012 @ 10:47 pm
“If Dan English had run an accurate municipal election in 2009, none of this would be occuring.
Comment by doubleseetripleeye — May 17, 2012 @ 10:47 pm”
AMEN!
And if bloem would have done HER job……
and if SIUYA gridley would have done HIS job…….
and if yursa would have done HIS job……
wasden, hosack, previous city council, etc. the list goes on and on.
But yes, I agree doubleseetripleeye, it ALL could have been curbed had this one person done his job as sworn by the oath of his office.
Comment by concerned citizen — May 18, 2012 @ 6:22 am
OTV/Patrick is back slinging his version of nasty/nice. Just to remind everyone what he really thinks:
Of course, a simple examination of the “double” life of OTV/Patty boy reveals, well, nothing of substance, nothing that makes his opinion of weight but he does want the “respect” of his “peers” in the alternate reality of a pseudonymous (sort of) existence on that other blog, so he “bravely” ventures over here and uses strong language (‘heck’ said he, bravely!) and then scurries back over there to plaudits and cheers. Sort of pathetic, but then, well, the antis often are.
Comment by Pariah — May 18, 2012 @ 6:32 am
Oh yeah and isn’t OTV part of the failed former clerk’s family? Not that it isn’t a fabulous family to be part of, right Patty boy?
Comment by Pariah — May 18, 2012 @ 6:32 am
The name calling and “incredibly small”mindedness from the Anti Recall people is taking place in real life, not just on the blogs where people often shoot arrows from behind fake names.
Why do some people drive by a Recall signing station and yell out words like “haters” or “slime” or obscenities starting with the letter “f…”? They won’t stop to engage in conversation or discuss the issues, they just hurl insults and drive away.
A few days ago, a young woman driving by yelled out “Why don’t you get a job instead of just sitting around?” Her comment is especially ridiculous because she was talking to three small business owners who work very hard and provide jobs to a large number of local people. They were giving some of their precious time off to the Recall because they believe deeply in citizens rights.
Comment by mary — May 18, 2012 @ 7:21 am
Okay Patrick, first, heroes is the correct spelling. My previous post was a typo, still, point to you. So much for mea culpa.
Yes, there are childish people on both sides. They and only they, are responsible for their actions. However, the anti group have reached new lows in behavior. The petty sign incident, the phone calls to Sherman Hardware, admittedly promoted by an adult who should know better. It goes on and on. What happened at Sherman Hardware was quintessential Bloem behavior. On the lighter side, wouldn’t one think that Bloems adult children would have better sense! Yelling juvenile comments at workers???? Threatening business owners, stamping their little feet and removing their patronage. Can you not admit that those who should know better, apparently do not.
And last…certainly not least, removing all the childish behavior from the equation, this recall is about the rights of the citizen tax payer. And no matter how much Bloem and Co. try to divert attention from the truth, they alone are responsible for this recall effort.
And yes, most assuredly I support the recall.
Comment by rochereau — May 18, 2012 @ 8:04 am
You can call ME juvenile names and pick on me like a 5th grader all you want, Pariah. I honestly don’t give a rip, because your words have the same value to me as scum at the bottom of a sewer cesspool. In other words, not only are they meaningless, but repellant. But your attempt to drag my family through the dirt is an all-time scumbag low and certainly reflects much more on you and your desperately ill mind than it does on my family, who I am extraordinarily proud of. You may post under a pseudonym, but your identity is no secret to most here (or on the other other blogs), and I feel sorry for those associates of yours who have to put up with the behavior you exhibit. By ignoring you, OpenCDA is clearly condoning your petty mockery and just plain meanness, which says a lot about them as well. Good luck, folks. I’m sure we’ll meet again someday.
Comment by Patrick Jacobs — May 18, 2012 @ 8:48 am
Hey, if you don’t think your family is fabulous, oh well. As for your odd ideas, opinions and beliefs, well, they are yours. You own them. Just like your words.
Comment by Pariah — May 18, 2012 @ 9:12 am
You claim, ‘Anti Recall people have been slinging personal insults, calling childish names and organizing intimidation against local businesses.’ I could believe this statement if the word ‘Anti’ was removed from the beginning. As Patrick said, ‘all you have to do is cruise back through the comments on this site, HBO, and especially the CDA Press to find hundreds of unkind, untrue, accusatory, inflammatory, and insulting things the Recall crowd and associates have posted about the city council and their supporters…’ These commenters use the same alias on this website as they do on The Press site so you can go and have a look for yourself.
Also, I watched the most recent Council meeting online and I only heard heckling from the recall group when Jennifer Drake was addressing the council. So when you say, ”Can’t we talk like grown ups?”, you might want to address your own group first. It was saddening to hear a group of our city elders acting childish heckling a young mother supporting a positive future for her family. Not very classy.
Comment by meesterbox — May 18, 2012 @ 11:19 am
I must agree with Patrick on this one. Insulting posters family members is totally unacceptable. Wrong is wrong no matter does it. No matter your stance on the recall, stick to the facts.
Comment by rochereau — May 18, 2012 @ 3:28 pm
Patrick,
May I correct one of your statements above?
I honestly don’t give a rip, because your words have the same value to me as scum at the bottom of a
$10 million dollar piece of property. The highest paid in the history of the state of Idaho sewer treatment plant. Thank you taxpayers via the LCDC.
There, that’s better. 😉
Comment by concerned citizen — May 18, 2012 @ 5:56 pm
“I must agree with Patrick on this one. Insulting posters family members is totally unacceptable.”
While I agree that gratuitous insults to anyone are a bad idea, I am missing any insults to family on this thread. A snarky poke, yes, but actual insults, not so much.
Just my opinion. Just
Comment by justinian — May 19, 2012 @ 8:01 am
Pariah’s comment was harsh, and it is something I would not have chosen to say. The former County Clerk, who is a relative of Patrick’s, did fail to win his last election and the Assist. Sec. of State did say, on the witness stand during the 2009 Election Challenge trial, that the former Clerk “failed in his duty”.
So, is “failed” an insult or a fact? Probably more of a fact in this case but it was slung as an insult. It did not need to be used in discussion of Patrick and it was out of line. The actions of relatives are not the responsibility of other family members.
In the same light, I would not expect the former County Clerk, who is a very pleasant man and has always been polite in written comments and in person, to be responsible for Patrick’s horrid insults on this site.
Comment by mary — May 19, 2012 @ 8:34 am
Well said Mary.
Comment by rochereau — May 19, 2012 @ 9:10 am
Good one cc!!!
Comment by rochereau — May 19, 2012 @ 9:11 am
Mary,
I agree. I also see many families involved in this, on both sides. There is a divide in the City that extends into the generations. There are Two Cities, the “City of the Elite” and the “City of the Forgotten Man”. In the former City, the scions of the “Elite” can rape and rampage and get cover from the police and press. The scions of the forgotten go to jail (as they should) for those same crimes. The divide is real, it is serious and it needs to be addressed. The “Elite” use the “nice” candidates and then loose the Dogs of War against any who oppose their precious “Vision”. It is a sad and frankly frightening place the City by the Lake.
Just my somewhat dark opinion this bright and sunny weekend morn. Just
Comment by justinian — May 19, 2012 @ 9:22 am
The family connection, now it makes sense. The problem with the former clerk “failed in his duty” in 2009 according to the SOS unfortunately just scratches the surface. Come 2010 the former clerk lied under oath (perjury) when asked about accounts that were not controlled by the Treasurer, use of an unapproved County bank, and more. These accounts were well known to the former clerk who participated in their operation resulting in the most horrible accounting I’ve ever seen. In the aftermath of and responding to the Martinson embezzlement come 2011 shortly after the former clerk lost his election the BOCC met on the record to address a total of seven outside accounts not controlled by the BOCC and Treasurer including the use of a bank that was not the Counties and more.
A completely unscrupulous mess that was left then involved the new clerk bringing in his own outside auditor and the State Controller but sadly not to look into any of these accounts that no outside auditor ever audited for years. The problems were much more then just failing election duties. The social unrest here is not isolated to any official when protected by friends in high places and family that blindly supports all that they do. In the above case of the former clerk it is not opinion rather fact.
Comment by Appalled — May 19, 2012 @ 11:34 am
You got it appalled – you got it!
Patty on the other hand, he just dreams about it. Sad people that group.
Comment by Pariah — May 19, 2012 @ 2:19 pm
I had heard the rumors and reports of “bad behavior” towards small businesses and individuals that support the Recall effort and I decided to ask the people right out. First thing I did was go to Sherman Hardware, voiced my support and continued business. I then went to the Breakfast Nook, as I do on a regular basis, and found them to be blown away by the behavior of people towards and against Recall people and the ridiculous situation that took place. The Recall people were outside doing what they were giving permission to do, not bothering anyone. So I have to say, as some one suggested earlier, I got the facts….straight from the horse’s mouth so to speak. And I am somewhat concerned that a Press reporter was bothering people like that in their business….why? that’s something that should of been done outside…not inside their place of business, as their customers are enjoying a meal and are basically trapped. That was poor and unprofessional behavior on the Press’ part.
Obviously there are strong feelings on both sides….I don’t think this kind of behavior benefits anyone’s “side”….but so far I have not heard of bad behavior on the Recall people’s side, only the Decline to Sign side….maybe I’m uninformed…I am curious and open minded though.
I agree with the Recall. I believe our City and County governments are out of control in more ways than one. I understand that they may even actually start plans that are part of the Recall subject matter before the recall can be completed. Why? I do not understand if these things are in question to the degree to cause recall why would they not be “stayed” until this matter is resolved one way or another. In fact I do not understand why any actions by those on the recall list have not been suspended or strictly limited, especially those involving large amounts of money.
Comment by Prometheus — May 19, 2012 @ 3:44 pm