Things are buzzing right now, but most of the action is behind the scenes.  On the surface there’s a sense of quiet, which is good.  We can all use a break, especially during Easter week, when our focus is on spiritual connections, family and friends.

The City of CdA was busy last week, though.  They held a public meeting to discuss the options for McEuen Field’s renovations.  Good for them!  And kudos to the 75 or so citizens who attended.

If you missed the meeting, don’t worry, the city says there will be more.  Let’s all keep an eye on this process because, though I applaud the city’s efforts, they have a history of asking for citizen input then doing what they had planned anyway.  And that’s not just my opinion, here’s an editorial from the Idaho Spokesman Review, way back in 2002, that points out the city’s “Committee of Nine”, who were in charge of this decision, were not listening to the public. The editorial states that “Coeur d’Alene’s Committee of Nine is off base again in its quest to revamp public McEuen Field…”     (more…)

Dangerous Doctor Dilemma

Our oldest son will graduate from medical school in two months. His graduation will be just a milestone, albeit an important one, on a long journey of dedication to his field. Now, after 8 years of college and med school, he will spend the next 5 years in an Ear, Nose and Throat residency program in the Midwest.

Dave called us last night and he is concerned.  He’s worried about the impact the Obama health care bill will have on doctors’ professional freedom and the quality of care in our country.  (more…)

Mary Souza’s Newsletter, March 9, 2010

Who are the customers for our local government?  We are.  We consume their services and, as taxpayers, we pay for everything they do.  So, do you think we’re getting good customer service?  Would you put up with arrogance, name-calling or absurdly high prices, if you were dealing with a regular business?   (more…)

In a stunning, arbitrary decision this afternoon, Judge Benjamin Simpson imposed a $40,000 bond on those challenging last November’s local city council election.

His action appeared random because the number was apparently plucked from thin air, as we all watched, without reason or rationale given by the judge.  First he asked Mike Kennedy’s attorney, Scott Reed, what dollar amount Scott thought the bond should be to cover his expenses.  Mr. Reed hesitated and said it would take some thought… but the judge prodded him again, asking for a dollar figure, to which Scott Reed answered, “$25,000”.  (more…)

How unprofessional.  A county attorney is using the media to openly ridicule citizen efforts. Not only that, but he is asking that the records from the last election be sealed, so the public cannot view them.  And his salary is paid by the very people he insults and obstructs.

Kootenai County attorney John Cafferty was quoted in the Press last week, calling the legal challenge of the last election a “witch hunt”.  Excuse me?  The challenge is a legitimate legal action, undertaken to review the process and procedures during last November’s election.  It is an effort on behalf of the voters of Coeur d’ Alene and all of Kootenai County.  Yet this attorney, representing the County, is flinging inflammatory, juvenile names and accusations.  (more…)

Mary Souza’s Newsletter
February 5, 2010

Dear Readers,
I’ve been reading a book about three Chinese women.  My sister-in-law loaned it to me with a glowing endorsement, and I thought it would be an easy, relaxing read.  Not so.

“Wild Swans”, by Jung Chang is a historically accurate account of three generations of women, including the author, which takes the reader from the mid- 1800’s through to near modern times.  The author describes the unbelievable courage of people trying to eek out a decent existence under unthinkable conditions caused, not by the ravages of nature, but by the outrageous intrusion of government into their lives.  (more…)

Mayor Bloem

The Mayor called me a liar.  In public, on a blog.  And she refuses to apologize even though she now admits my information was not a lie.

Here’s what happened:

In last week’s newsletter about McEuen Field, I described what one of my readers reported about the city’s plans for the old tennis court site.  He said that City Finance Director Troy Tymeson told him the city has the plans to build a two story parking garage on that site, with a rooftop viewing deck overlooking the park.  (more…)

Site of former McEuen tennis courts 1/29/10

Watch Out for McEuen Field!

They’re gone.  The tennis courts at McEuen Field are completely gone.  Did you know this?  Neither did I.  But I’ve been busy with family and post-holiday activities so when I heard about the tennis courts from an alert reader, my thought was that there must have been some public announcement and I just missed it.

So I went to the city’s web site and checked everywhere, even under “CITY LAUNCHES BLOG TO ENHANCE COMMUNICATION”.  There was no info about the tennis courts.  Then I thought maybe they announced it at a recent city council meeting.  So I checked the last two months worth of meeting minutes, reading all the way through…no info on the tennis courts or McEuen field.  So much for enhanced communication!  Heck, they publicize when they’re going to do slash burning and cleanup on Tubb’s Hill, so people won’t get worried, but they take out the tennis courts without the same concern?  (more…)

Senator-elect Scott Brown

What a difference a week makes.  Last Tuesday, Scott Brown, the Republican Senatorial candidate won the Massachusetts’ special election.  It was a huge upset. Within just days, the impact of this historic election became clear: Health care legislation is now “on hold”, the President is getting “folksy” trying to join up with the common man and “relate” to our anger, and many congressmen, of both stripes, are suddenly speaking up for the “little guy”.

What does all of this show?  WE, THE PEOPLE, HAVE POWER!  And our power is in our vote.  It is our most important weapon in the fight to gain back our freedom.   (more…)

Priscilla Bell

Mary Souza’s Newsletter — Follow Up!

Dear Readers,
My newsletter from last Friday was about NIC’s abrupt firing of Dr. Robert Ketchum, the respected director of NIC’s Work Force Training Center in Post Falls.  The previous evening, the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce held its annual banquet, and Dr. Ketchum attended, as did  NIC’s President, Priscilla Bell.  (I bet they weren’t sitting at the same table!)

Several of my newsletter readers were at the Chamber banquet and emailed me with their outrage at what happened.  Here’s a sampling of their candor:  (more…)