The Kootenai County Reagan Republicans have written a strong letter to Mayor Sandi Bloem, citing her “astonishing abuse of the powers” of her office.  The letter, which is a response to this morning’s headlines, goes on to say:

Your statements in the Coeur d’Alene Press today and the intimidating words and actions of city employees demonstrate a caviler disdain for citizens’ rights of free expression and a willingness to use the legal power of the city to suppress political dissent.

You can read the whole letter here by clicking “more”… (more…)

From the Spokane gossip blog, today at about 6:00pm, Mike Kennedy is quoted as saying:

“I did knock on Jim’s campaign office to see if he would talk to me about the allegation of federal fraud that his campaign is distributing. He didn’t return two phone calls and an email, and though his car was there no one answered the door.”Councilman Mike Kennedy.

This would seem almost believable, unless one knows the facts.  Then it’s obvious Mr. Kennedy is trying to cover his uncontrolled behavior.  Here’s the actual course of events:  (more…)

Bill posted this over the weekend, but then there were issues with the images.  So, here we go again.  The great cartoon, shown below, was created by one of our readers, a retired artist, Adrian Jund.  Thanks so much for sharing your energy and talent, Adrian!

Click on “more” to see the full cartoon about sweeping city hall clean :  (more…)

“It’s too soon”,  LCDC Exec. Director Tony Berns says in this morning’s front page response to the BOMBSHELL from Post Falls yesterday, posted below.  Post Falls urban renewal agency gave back $2.2 Million in excess property tax increment money to the city, county school district and more.

But our LCDC says No.  They can’t give back, even though their districts are older, bigger and richer.  They want to collect as much extra money as they can so THEY can decide what to do with it.  After all, you and I are just dumb taxpayers, we don’t know how to spend our money for the good of their friends….oops, I mean for the good of the community!

In a “My Turn” column in the CdA Press this morning, Scott Reed attempts to explain urban renewal as a wonderful advantage to the city.  Apparently, according to Scott, there are no downsides to this fabulous mechanism.

I would give you a link to his article, but it’s not on the Press web site.  I will warn you that his column is very long and heavily laden with numbers and bewildering obfuscation.

Here are some of the ideas Mr. Reed is twisting improperly:  (more…)

Our readers are off on an important topic:  The tax impact of LCDC urban renewal on ALL property owners in Kootenai County.  “Citizen” states that the additional tax burden to county residents is hidden in the tax bills, so it is harder not to “feed the beast”.  There are many great responses to this comment, which I have copied from the other thread and pasted here, below.

But on the subject of LCDC and how its tax impact can be explained or hidden by our officials, I must tell you about my meeting with Exec. Director Tony Berns, over a year ago.  My question for Tony was exactly about the tax burden from urban renewal on city residents and all those in the county as well.  Tony speaks in long sentences and confusing thought patterns.  If you asked him if the sky is blue, he’d have a 15 minute response that would make you wonder what planet you were living on.    (more…)

It’s not easy to be a candidate for public office.  It takes a lot of energy and motivation to attend the events held by a whole list of groups in town that want to hear from those running.

All candidates, both challengers and incumbents, should attend ALL of the events.  Remember they are running to represent ALL the people of the community, not just those who vote for them.

City Councilman Mike Kennedy did NOT attend last night’s candidate forum at the CdA Senior Center.  (more…)

November 3rd

Dan Gookin for City Council, running against incumbent Deanna Goodlander.  Dan’s web site = http://www.dangookin.com

Jim Brannon for City Council, running aginst incumbent Mike Kennedy.  Jim’s web site = http://www.jimbrannon.com

Steve Adams for City Council, running against incumbent Woody McEvers.  Steve’s web site = http://www.steveadamscda.com

Joe Kunka for Mayor… can’t find a web site for him, but I hear he did very well at the forum last night, presented by the Kootenai County Republicans.  In fact, I heard that ALL the challengers were great; that they were well-informed, well-spoken and passionate about representing the taxpayers!

Comments?

Getting closer to our modern era, here are a few more questions about racial equality efforts in our country’s history:

1.  Which was the party of the Klu Klux Clan?

2.  Which current US Senator was a high ranking member of the Klu Klux Clan and filibustered against the Civil Rights Act of 1964?  What is his party affiliation?

3.  What is the party of the Governor of South Carolina, later a US Senator, who put the Confederate flag to fly over the state capitol?

4.  Which party had the greatest percentage of votes to pass the Civil Rights Acts of the 1960s?

It’s important for us in Northern Idaho to know this history and understand how the unfair use of the term “racism” can be destructive.

With the “race card” being played all over the political scene these days, those of us in northern Idaho often get caught up in the controversy, whether we want to or not.  I thought a history lesson might be good for us all.  An alert reader gave me this information:

1. Which political party was founded as the anti-slavery party?

2. What party passed the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution granting black people freedom, citizenship and the right to vote?

3. What party passed the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1875, prohibiting racial discrimination in public accomodations?

4.  What was the party of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Booker T. Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?

This is the first section of the “quiz”.