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Well, according to his comment at 11:24 P.M. on May 29, frequent commenter John Austin has left us again.
In honor of his latest depature, here is a theme song for him (via YouTube) by the Penny Loafers: “Goodbye, [John], Goodbye!”
May 30, 2012
May 27, 2012
Hiking Tubbs with the THF Pres.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of hiking Tubbs Hill with Jennifer Johnson, the President of the Tubbs Hill Foundation (THF). She wrote a wonderful My Turn column that was published in yesterday’s Press. You can read it here.
Jennifer had me hiking trails on the backside of Tubbs that I have never seen before, and she was like a walking history of the Hill. She showed me the steep slope of the north side and explained why a trail there would be so destructive. According to Jennifer, the plans for a north side trail and a new City Hall trail head are not acceptable to THF.
On the east side of Tubbs, Jennifer showed me how the wheelchair accessible trail will be leveled up without much problem. She pointed out the end of that section of the trail, culminating in a beautiful viewpoint over the lake, and she also showed me why the wheelchair trail cannot go any further without massive changes. The city’s term “pilot project” for the wheelchair accessible trail is something THF disagrees with because it implies there will be more.
We met so many nice people on the Hill during our walk! People from all over our area and as far away as Edmonton. Everyone was enjoying the trails in their natural state. Just the way I like them too.
What are your thoughts about Tubbs? The Tubbs Hill Foundation? The city’s plans?
May 25, 2012
Really?
Really?
Just because of a recall effort in a town of fewer than 50,000?
ADDENDUM on 05-28-2012: Here is a link to the FBI’s criminal complaint.
May 24, 2012
Recall CdA — See Today’s Nickel’s Worth Ad!
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Check out the full-page Recall CdA advertisement on the back page (page 28) of the Nickel’s Worth for the week of May 25. It’s on the news stands today!
You might want to get a copy quickly before all of them in Coeur d’Alene mysteriously disappear from the stands. Even though the first copy is free and taking more than one copy would be theft, OpenCdA has heard a rumor that Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa will notify Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh that the state’s election laws supersede all other state laws including criminal laws.
Responding to frantic phone calls from his Corrupt d’Alene buddies, Ysursa will reportedly send an “Emergency Action Notification” fax message to McHugh informing him that under Idaho’s election laws, the phrase “one copy free” doesn’t really mean what it says when it refers to the Nickel’s Worth containing one or more paid advertisements which Ysursa considers to be inimical to the interests of his friends in Corrupt d’Alene. Always willing to comply without question to any directive from Ysursa, McHugh will reportedly tell local law enforcement agencies to disregard any otherwise larcenous disappearance of copies of this week’s Nickel’s Worth if the bearer of any purloined copies is wearing a “Decline to Sign” button or tee-shirt.
This is, of course, still all unconfirmed rumor … well, all except the ad in the Nickel’s Worth.
May 23, 2012
May 22, 2012
Tubb’s Hill is in Danger Again!
Mary Souza’s Newsletter
Remember last May, when the City Council passed the $39.2 Million dollar McEuen Park Plan in front of hundreds of citizens who were holding signs asking for a Public Advisory Vote before approval of the plan?
The public’s request for a vote was officially rejected two separate times that evening. But Councilman Mike Kennedy threw some crumbs to the common folk when he motioned that Tubb’s Hill should be removed from the McEuen plan. It was. And all the Tubb’s Hill people let out a big sigh of relief. Maybe they thought McEuen was in jeopardy but at least Tubb’s was safe.
Well no, it’s not. Tubb’s Hill is back in the mix of city projects. (more…)
May 21, 2012
Correct Information
Those of us who have been out gathering signatures on the petitions for recall of Coeur d’Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem, Council President Mike Kennedy, Councilman Woody McEvers, and Councilman Deanna Goodlander have become accustomed to people expressing both agreement and disagreement with the recall effort.
Sunday afternoon between noon and 4 p.m. my wife and I were twirling recall signs and gathering signatures just north of the Midtown Shopping Center (Safeway, Joann Fabric) between Birch and Miller on 4th Street. A man whom I recognized as a high-level employee of the Coeur d’Alene Public Library left the shopping center parking lot, and as he drove past me at a distance of 8-10 feet, he shouted, “You’re responsible for taking away my vote, A__h___e!” Then he went north on 4th and turned right on Birch. (more…)
May 17, 2012
Personal Attacks
Mary Souza’s Newsletter 
Anti Recall people have been slinging personal insults, calling childish names and organizing intimidation against local businesses. They are trying to act big but, in truth, they are incredibly small.
And at last Tuesday’s city council meeting, they even tried to blame the Recall effort for all the personal anger and vitriol. That’s simply not true. This Recall is not personal. (more…)
May 11, 2012
Inclined to Intimidate
Mary Souza’s Newsletter 
There’s a long standing, but ugly tradition of intimidation in our town. It’s trying to smother the Recall effort right now and it’s trying to block the public’s right to vote. But this time the intimidators are not going to win.
We have strength and safety in numbers, and thousands of people have already signed the Recall petitions. They are willing to stand up for what’s right. What’s the city going to do…try to come after 5,000 citizens? Remember, they’ll be out of office and will have no power to intimidate anyone. Isn’t that a very good reason for signing the Recall?
Let’s talk about some courageous community heros. (more…)
May 10, 2012
“So You’ll Recall” — Tom Kane
Wednesday night OpenCdA attended a meeting of about 50 community members to discuss the recall effort under way in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. At the close of the meeting, a man with a soft, peaceful voice asked if he could read a poem he had composed.
I wish everyone in Coeur d’Alene could have heard his poem as he presented it. There was sadness, strength, and resolve in his voice that the words alone on paper can not properly convey. Still, I asked him for permission to reprint his poem, and he graciously granted it.
Here is “SO YOU’LL RECALL,” written respectfully by Tom Kane, Coeur d’Alene since 1945. (more…)