February « 2010 « OpenCdA

February 28, 2010

Cowardice in Coeur d’Alene

Filed under: Probable Cause — Bill @ 9:36 am

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Ever since Jim Brannon filed a lawsuit contesting the November 3, 2009, Coeur d’Alene city election, I’ve wondered why the Coeur d’Alene Press and The Spokesman-Review haven’t recognized this story for what it is: Coeur d’Alene’s Watergate. The inescapable conclusion is that neither the local Coeur d’Alene Press nor its supposed regional rival The Spokesman-Review wants Idaho residents and legislators to understand just how easily Idaho’s elections can be manipulated. Neither do they want that story spreading across the nation. Bad for business, don’t ya’ know. (more…)

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February 22, 2010

Not for the People

Filed under: General — mary @ 10:47 pm

Renovated Idaho Capitol

There are 7 urban renewal bills being considered by the Tax & Rev subcommittee this Tuesday morning at 8:30am! The subcommittee did not set a date or time to review them until last FRIDAY. It is so wrong for the legislature to make it impossible for citizens to participate in our government. Dan Gookin checked into flying down, I’m not sure if he will, but the first flight he could get doesn’t get into Boise until 9am, so he’d miss the first hour of the meeting unless he pays even more to get there tonight and stay at a hotel and rent a car. Probably $300-400 dollars per citizen.

Why the rush? Why not arrange a time for teleconferenced testimony from citizens all over the state using the new technology our tax dollars paid to have installed in the new capitol?

You can bet LCDC and all the other Urban Renewal agencies across Idaho will have their paid lobbyists present to argue their side of the issues…our tax dollars at work, against us.

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A Patriot Speaks Out!

Filed under: General — mary @ 1:48 pm

Ron Nilson

Mary Souza’s Newsletter

Ron Nilson spoke at the Downtown Rotary last Friday and I went to hear him tell “the other side” of several controversial political issues. His speech was important because Ron didn’t need to say anything at all. He will get no obvious bonus for taking the risk, other than the immense satisfaction of doing what he believes is right. But that’s Ron. Anyone who knows him understands he is a man of principle.

(more…)

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February 18, 2010

What will happen to McEuen Field?

Filed under: General — mary @ 7:56 pm

The City seems ultra-sensitive about McEuen Field. They attacked me when I wrote about it two weeks ago, they attacked Steve Adams when he clarified he was my source and that his info came directly from the City’s Troy Tymeson. Then they attacked Steve for asking that his true words be used in the minutes of the meeting. And Mike Kennedy ridiculed Steve and claimed he was lying.

Why would they be so defensive? And WHY IS THERE STILL NO INFO ON THE CITY’S WEB SITE?

Could it be that the 2002 plan, shown on the left, taken from LCDC’s web site and listed as one of their top goals, is radically different than the 1999 Walker Macy plan that the city spent huge money to pay for?

The City estimates the cost at nearly $2 MILLION dollars to “upgrade” McEuen, as is listed on the Parks Dept. 2008 Master Plan.

DO YOU FEEL INCLUDED IN THIS?

Comments (19)

February 13, 2010

Open Session, Weekend

Filed under: Open Session — mary @ 8:28 am

Any ideas, comments or questions as we start into the weekend?

Comments (5)

February 11, 2010

Stebbi Jo: “thong man now has competition!”

Filed under: Open Session — mary @ 8:04 pm

If you want to get attention in CdA, just mention “thong man!” He was the legendary character who frequented city beaches dressed in only a thong, and I don’t mean on his feet. Did you ever see him? What did the city ever do about Thong Man– Did they pass a law banning that style of swimwear, or did they let him go his own way?

Now Stebbijo is connecting thong man with some current city council folks…not an image I can appreciate. What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve seen or heard lately in CdA?

Comments (6)

February 8, 2010

Open Session, Monday

Filed under: Open Session — mary @ 10:06 am

Did you enjoy the Super Bowl? I don’t ususally watch the whole thing, but I did yesterday. It was a great game! The commercials are usually the best part, for me, but this year I was disturbed by one of them. Did you see the Audi car commercial about the “Green Police”? What kind of statement were they making about our future? Was is sarcastic, because I didn’t think so, or was it predictive? Click HERE to see it.

PLEASE don’t forget the fundraiser for Jim Brannon’s legal challenge, this evening at 5:00 at Greenbriar.

Any other thoughts to start out this week?

Comments (28)

February 5, 2010

Launching CHRG!

Filed under: The City's Pulse — mary @ 3:37 pm

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…)

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February 3, 2010

The Mayor called me a Liar

Filed under: The City's Pulse — mary @ 12:00 pm

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…)

Comments (12)