Recent national news highlighted our Vice President, Joe Biden, holding a meeting on transparency.  The obvious problem was that it was CLOSED to the media!  Is that the type of government we deserve? One that only pretends to be open and responsive? Certainly not.
But we are getting the same type of mixed message from our local community college board at NIC.  Board chairperson, Christie Wood put her name to a recent letter in the Press, defending the board against complaints that the college is not responsive to public comments, suggestions and concerns; that input from officials and citizens falls on deaf ears.  NIC’s response letter claims these charges are not true; that the college listens and cares.    (more…)

Mary Souza’s Newsletter,  December 4, 2009

The legal challenge to the recent Coeur d’Alene city elections could end up helping all voters in Idaho.  The silver lining in this stormy tussle is that the election laws of our state will be examined in fine detail by lawyers, judges, media and the public.

And some close scrutiny is probably long overdue.

Did you know that to get a hunting or fishing license here, you must prove that you’ve lived here for SIX MONTHS?  If you don’t have a driver’s license, you have to prove your residency by showing TWO of the following:

–rent receipts or mortgage statements for the previous six months
–home utility bills for the previous 6 months
–a notarized statement from an employer on business letterhead
–proof of voter registration dated 6 months prior
(Info from Idaho Fish and Game web site)   (more…)

Mary Souza’s Newsletter, Nov. 21, 2009

Why do some local people rail against the arrogance, over-spending and irresponsible behavior of the Obama administration, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, but then turn around to support the same kinds of behaviors here at home?

We have local officials who treat the public with disdain. We lack sustainable job creation. Our taxes are rising to pay for socialistic urban renewal subsidies to big developers. And both CdA and NIC are pushing through large spending decisions using back door methods to avoid the voters.

Sound familiar?  The wise old saying that “all politics is local” seems to be true.  Almost everything we’re fighting against on the national level is present here in our own town. So why do some local folks, who seem angry enough to march in the streets against the Obama administration, defend similar actions by local government?  (more…)

CdA Councilman Ron Edinger

Mary Souza’s Newsletter :

Never before has a local area election been so close, I’m told.  Only 5 votes separated incumbent CdA city councilman Mike Kennedy from challenger Jim Brannon.  Just 29 votes determined the outcome in favor of incumbent Deanna Goodlander rather than challenger Dan Gookin.  And even in normal elections, the 361 vote margin for incumbent Woody McEvers over challenger Steve Adams would be considered quite snug.  (more…)

The City’s Pulse Newsletter, by Mary Souza

Intimidation and retribution are alive and well in Coeur d’Alene.  Behind the pretty curtains, our community has some serious troubles that need to be swept clean.

And these problems may be bigger, deeper and dirtier than any of us have realized to date because the retaliation from the powers-that-be is much more intense than expected.  (more…)

The City’s Pulse Newsletter

By Mary Souza, Sept 13, 2009

Dear Newsletter Readers,

Our warm summer weather has returned for awhile, thank goodness, but the local political scene is heating up even higher as we move toward the November city elections.  My column appeared in last Friday’s CdA Press and, not surprisingly, it has caused a strong flashback from City Hall.  (You can read a copy of my column below)

In response to my column, City Administrator, Wendy Gabriel, put a post up on the city’s “blog” site.  This is a funny name for the site because the word “blog” infers that the readers can actually give feedback and participate in a discussion, but there is no such possibility on the city’s site.  All the reader can do is accept whatever the city writes.  It must be easier that way, but don’t call it a “blog” and then brag about “increasing communication” with the citizens!   (more…)

By Mary Souza

Here’s my column that appeared in last Friday’s CdA Press:

It never ceases to amaze me how entertaining city council meetings can be.  Many folks assume they are boring or tedious, and that’s what I expect too, when I get up the gumption to attend. Yet, surprisingly, there’s often something that comes out of nowhere to make the meeting sing.

I attended last week’s council meeting to watch the budget decision, but was blown away by what I learned during comments made by the public.   (more…)

The City’s Pulse Newsletter,  By Mary Souza

Years ago, as a cardiac nurse, I had an “ah ha” moment on the subject of aging.  It was a strong lesson that has stayed with me for decades and has provided a clear understanding of old versus young.

My lesson came on a typical, busy day in the cardiac unit. My two patients could not have been more different:  One was a 55 year old who was one of our regulars.  She had ongoing mild heart problems which were made much worse by her high level of fear and anxiety about dying.   (more…)

The City’s Pulse Newsletter, by Mary Souza

The recent moves by the City of CdA make no sense to me.  In what appears a twisted contradiction, the city refused to provide key information to the Idaho Freedom Foundation, claiming it must protect identities, yet at almost the same time, an email of election questions sent from a citizen to the CdA City Clerk, was “leaked” to an online Spokane gossip blog within an hour of its receipt at City Hall.   (more…)

The City’s Pulse Newsletter, by Mary Souza

Do you sometimes feel stupefied by the news?  As if you can’t believe the lack of common sense or rational thought behind the actions of our officials?

Well, today’s newspaper reports the NIC Foundation has “sealed the deal” for the purchase of the DeArmond Mill site.  It’s not surprising that a college would buy some nearby land for future expansion. Not until you look beyond the face of it and see the astounding audacity of its behavior.   (more…)