Mary Souza’s Newsletter   

Tuesday’s school board and hospital board elections are over now, and there is good news to report: The citizens of our community got to vote, and we had solid options from which to choose.  The candidates were all responsible, motivated people who got up off their couches, probably made themselves uncomfortable at times but got out there and offered to represent us as part of our local government. My sincere thanks go to each and every one of them.  

My better news is that the voters in the Silver Valley are very shrewd.  There was a serious effort by a paid consultant to start the first Urban Renewal Agency (like LCDC) in Shoshone County.  It would have been a county-wide urban renewal agency. But even though the issue was hurried, with scant opportunity for public education or deliberation, and even with flowery language and promises from paid salesman and vague language on the ballot, the voters overwhelmingly said “No”.

The salesman was not happy.  He’s from our area and makes money off of promoting urban renewal in rural communities around Idaho.  He’s upset because our Rep. Kathy Sims, CdA City Councilman Dan Gookin and Realtor Sharon Culbreth were invited by a Silver Valley group to come over and talk with them about urban renewal. Lo and behold, once the Shoshone voters heard the other side of the story on the impacts of urban renewal, they realized they were being lead down a primrose path by the fast-talking salesman.  Bravo to the smart Shoshone voters!

BREAKING NEWS: I have just learned that the City’s General Services Committee will consider approval of a “Pedestrian Tunnel under Front Street”, right across from the new Parking Garage.  The meeting will be at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, May 28th in the Library’s Community Room.

Why is this so important?  Because it’s a tunnel from the new Parking Garage, being built with public money, over to the private property at 401 Front Street, owned by Steve Meyer and Charlie Nipp.  The Bank of America is there now, but everyone believes a highrise building is planned for this property. Their tenants/visitors will be able to use our new McEuen Parking Garage and then walk comfortably through the tunnel to their building.

Steve and Charlie will be the major beneficiaries.  It will make their property elite; they will be able to sell their development units for far more money.

Will City Councilman Mike Kennedy, whose regular full time job is for a company owned by Steve Meyer, recuse himself from the vote on the Gen. Services Committee?

It’s long been predicted that the main reason the power players were hellbent on a below ground level Parking Garage in that specific location is for tunnels.  This will probably not be the only tunnel request.  Will they be able to lease sections of the Parking Garage for the exclusive use of their tenants/customers only?  What will be left for the regular citizens who are paying the tab?

So, dear Readers, this news is yet another indicatior that our City’s plans are focused on the elite few, not the whole community. We have work to do.  November cannot come soon enough.

I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend,

Mary

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Mary Souza is a 26 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.