Mary Souza’s Newsletter 
The newspapers and blogs are ridiculing the people of the Recall effort, calling names and saying we are crazy, angry malcontents. I thought maybe you’d like to meet some the interesting, hard-working, dedicated, real people of the Recall.
One of the first people to volunteer is a retired salesman who was just getting back into town after wintering somewhere warm. He likes walking and getting signatures and does so on a constant basis. He says he doesn’t have to “sell” the Recall to anyone; they are anxious to sign. I think he’s a Republican, though I’m not certain.
Another of our first volunteers is a Democrat, he told me. He’s a younger guy with a back injury but has been an avid helper almost daily since we began and believes deeply in the right of people to have a vote on the important changes being made in CdA.
One of our most energetic signature gatherers is a Libertarian. She’s an environmental advocate and is seriously dedicated to saving Tubb’s Hill and McEuen from incompatible development. Do you think the North side trail proposed for Tubb’s has really been taken off the table? Nope. Our volunteer will show you that it’s still on the city’s web site; it’s still in the planning process.
And then there’s our slow but steady guy. He’s a Democrat too. He’s out there walking everyday, making his way through the neighborhoods and telling people, “This is not just about McEuen, forget McEuen, this is about getting a vote!” He grew up here, as did many of our volunteers, and he just shakes his head at the closed attitude of the downtown in-crowd.
Who else is involved in the Recall? Lots and lots of real, everyday people of CdA. Recall CdA is moms, dads, grandparents, college kids. We are lawyers, nurses, teachers, former judges, business managers, consultants and military veterans. We are people who were born and raised in CdA and many who chose to move here. But the thing that binds us all together is the desire to have a voice and a vote on the important spending and changes in our town.
This Recall CdA effort is headed up by Frank Orzell, a very nice, incredibly honest and ethical person who would never compromise his values. Frank is a retired businessman who has lived all over the world, consulting for big corporations and reviewing major projects. He is also a seriously smart man who sees through all the bluster and bunk thrown around by the powers players. He reads the city’s contracts, meets with the officials and understands the errors and flaws in their methods. Frank and his wife retired to CdA six years ago and he is now being ridiculed by the Anti-Recall crowd as a newcomer. Why? Because he not afraid of the power elite.
(Speaking of the inside elite, a letter in Sunday’s Press said that Frank Orzell is like a “vigilante”. Really…lawless? Quite the opposite. The Recall is being run by the letter of the law. The woman who wrote the letter, however, is the mother of Mrs. Miller of Miller-Stauffer Architects, also known as Team McEuen. Hmmm. And last week I was called a “Richard Butler” on one of the gossip blogs…they are out of control.)
Everyone has their reasons for wanting the Recall. For some it is McEuen and Tubb’s. For others it is the arrogance and lack of respect coming from City Hall toward the regular people of CdA; that “we know best” attitude. As one reader wrote to me, “These officials believe that while citizens are capable of electing THEM, the same electorate is too feeble minded to understand and therefore vote on issues.”
Others signers are upset about their taxes. Many small business owners are feeling the pain of heavy property taxes while they are struggling to stay open. No wonder our unemployment rate is still a problem. One such owner came into our Recall office, plopped down in a chair and wrote out a sizable donation check, saying “We’ve got to get rid of these people, they are killing business around here!”
(I’ll have a separate Newsletter on taxes coming soon. Send me your property tax info if you can.)
Who’s NOT part of Recall CdA?: Council members Steve Adams, Dan Gookin and Ron Edinger. They have never been any part of the process, yet the Press has so obviously tried to slant its “news” to include them. It’s just not true.
The Press and the blogs are also trying to paint the Recall as one political party. Wrong again. Recall CdA is a big group of all kinds of people. From the very liberal to the totally independent to the highly conservative, we run the gamut. We do not talk about party politics because everyone has their own opinion, but we all agree on one thing: We want a VOTE!
What about the Anti-Recall group? They seem like a mix of political backgrounds too. I can think of Republicans, Democrats and Independents in that group. Why are they opposing the rights of their fellow citizens to simply have a vote on the Recall? Why not let the vote go forward and find out how people feel? The Anti-Recallers don’t want regular people to have a say; they don’t care how the town feels. They have lined up the top leadership of the unions, the civic organizations and the business groups to publicly reject the Recall. Of course they didn’t ask their memberships; the regular people in those groups did not have a voice, and many are not happy about it.
I know you are all very aware that the Anti-Recall people are those who stand to profit and benefit directly from the use of taxpayer money on the massive spending projects proposed by the city. No mystery there. They don’t want the Recall because they are afraid of losing their monetary or political advantage.
By contrast, the Recall supporters have nothing to gain but a vote. No money, no property development, no political connections. All we are looking for is a vote and a voice in the future “vision” for our town. Coeur d’Alene belongs to us all. Let’s start acting like it.
Have a great sunny day! –Mary
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Recall CdA is located in the Sunset Mall, right across Hwy 95 from Fred Meyer. See the map above. Our hours are M-F 10-6 and Sat & Sun 10-4
Come in and sign the petitions, and please help us get more!
@Mary: For what it’s worth, I’m truly the opposite of financially well off and have no money to gain whatsoever from McEuen improvements. Most of us “Decline to Sign” folks likely fit that description as well. We just want to enjoy and make use of the improvements and prefer to see our town improve rather than regress.
Also, there is no evidence I am aware of that anyone on the anti-recall side stands “to profit and benefit directly from the use of taxpayer money”, if you do have direct evidence of this sort of thing rather than speculation, I’m sure everyone involved in this whole mess would love to see it.
Also, i have to ask: many of us are curious about the HBO poster Darth Maul, who claims to be working intimately with RecallCDA and really crosses the line into realms of intimidation and aggression. He said that you all were planning “civil disobedience” and would “get revenge” on those in the city and against the recall, among other things. Do you know if this person is actually associated with your group or not? Just curious, because he is really not a good mascot for your cause, I do have to say. I may not agree at all with the recall, but I also don’t think it’s right for some anonymous poster, HBO or not, to claim to represent you and then post terrifying and rude things. Just wondering about that, and if you all do stand behind Darth Maul’s posts there.
Thanks, and I did get to enjoy the sunny day for a bit, hopefully that big ball of hot light stays in the sky for a while…
Comment by Patrick Jacobs — April 23, 2012 @ 3:56 pm
Mr.Jacobs,
Who’s Mr.Kennedy’s Boss? And will you please tell me which locations adjacent to the park his boss owns?
Comment by lexacon — April 23, 2012 @ 5:04 pm
I don’t remember who his boss is, no idea. But if you have hard evidence that whoever it is will “profit and benefit directly from the use of taxpayer money”, do share.
Comment by Patrick Jacobs — April 23, 2012 @ 5:12 pm
Mr Jacobs,
It has been posted on here and in the press blogs who owns what and where. There are MANY discrepancies that our well connected prosecutor refuses to acknowledge. It is ALL about connections in CdA while the children of the unconnected feel the need to leave their home town for a better life or commit suicide.
Every well paying job has been driven out by your “PROGRESS” and replaced with SLAVE wage $3.35 per hour service jobs. There are JUST as many vacancies in the downtown, if not more, than in the 90’s. These so called “LEADERS” didn’t know a good thing WHEN the did have it. It just needed a little tweek. But NO, GREED is the name of the game in CdA and to H#LL with us “little people”.
Comment by concerned citizen — April 23, 2012 @ 5:35 pm
….trolling….trolling….trolling….trolling….trolling
ROTFLMAO we are being treated Ladies and Gents, the late night comic from DuFO land is here. The author of that famous rant:
Almost as class free as the uber-myrmidon himself!
Feeding trolls is a bad idea folks, the best medicine is laughter, scoff at the violent words and nastiness of the haters and they wither, much like that lady of the broomstick in the Land of Oz when hit with water. Laughter really is a potent tool, and they provide many opportunities to laugh. Use them!
Comment by Pariah — April 23, 2012 @ 5:36 pm
connections cc? One of the broomstick riders named her business “Inside Connections” or some such jibe at the schmucks she was elected to serve.
Comment by Pariah — April 23, 2012 @ 5:37 pm
Pariah,
I guess I should have said, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to research and figure out which somebodies that sat on which boards, then ran right out to purchase properties adjacent to ALL of the projects to be. 😉
Again, Blame it all on our WELL CONNECTED prosecutor and city attorney for the mayor, select council and insiders, paid by us the taxpayer, for NOT doing their job. Well, their jobs for us taxpayers that they are supposed to represent.
Comment by concerned citizen — April 23, 2012 @ 5:47 pm
Patrick Jacobs, I think that Darth Maul guy is an enemy to both sides. Right now no-one is claiming him.
Comment by dinosaurman — April 23, 2012 @ 5:56 pm
Patrick Jacobs,
In response to your Comment #3, see my post titled Will History Repeat?
Comment by Bill — April 23, 2012 @ 6:49 pm
Patrick, Pariah and Darth Maul are one and the same. He thinks they can hide behind the cowardice of anonymity but the truth is this is a rather small community (even if DM hails from Spokane Valley) so it is only a matter of time until their venom is exposed for what it is: contempt for anything progressive. I still don’t know why why Mary and Bill allow his comments, which totally add nothing to the discussion. At least at HBO his comments are being monitored so the whole thing doesn’t devolve into the abyss we see here so often.
Comment by John Austin — April 23, 2012 @ 7:47 pm
Ah the classless and violence prone Johnny returns and proves again to be clueless.
For one who claims vision you are amazingly blind Johnny.
Comment by Pariah — April 23, 2012 @ 7:50 pm
John, that’s a big accusation you’re making. Do you have any proof? Otherwise back off the finger pointing.
Comment by mary — April 23, 2012 @ 7:56 pm
Johnny has no proof, he can’t. He is blowing hot air. Again.
Comment by Pariah — April 23, 2012 @ 7:59 pm
@ Bill, I fail to completely understand what your link (an exhaustive read) has to do with how neighboring McEuen business owners will “profit and benefit directly from the use of taxpayer money”, other than more connect the dots, unverifiable speculation. Please clarify.
@ Pariah, this coming from the guy who keeps calling me out as drunk when I posted a few times after I got off work late at night. Sometimes I get off work late at night and come home and check the blogs, so what? And even if I were high on horse tranquilizers, my opinion would be the same and I own it, and back it up with my real name, unlike yourself. And isn’t a troll by definition anonymous, which I am not? I don’t particularly appreciate conspiracy and factless speculation coming from either side of this issue. Yes, I admit I was harsh, rude, and overly emotional (multiple times, I know) and have apologized for my outburst and plan on not sinking to that level again. I doubt I can expect the same from you.
As I’ve said elsewhere, my opinion on this whole thing and the people involved is no secret, never has been. The fact that I’ve posted rotten things about the people involved is no secret. But I can own that, and at this point I am willing to try and get past that nastiness and work toward doing my little part to create more positive vibes in regards to this mess. We don’t have to like each other, but we all live in this town (well, except for you, Pariah) and I think at this point we could all use a bit peace and civility. Pariah, do you not see the irony in calling me out for being nasty in the past while you are being nasty currently? Broomstick riders? Eh?
@concernedcitizen, suicide? Really? How morbid and over the top. “There are JUST as many vacancies in the downtown, if not more, than in the 90′s.” Have you been downtown in the last few years? It is thriving and there are zero empty spots, at least on Sherman and Lakeside Avenues that I can even think of. Today I was downtown and there were literally droves of people dining and shopping on a Monday afternoon. Most of us view this as a positive thing, and would like to see that increase, which an improved McEuen would help accomplish.
See, these are the not-quite-truths that seem to occur around here all the time that make a lot of folks perceive some of you as having a lack of credibility and a tendency toward dramatic hyperbole rather than reality. If we could all just be honest and deal in cold, provable facts, maybe we could all somehow meet in the middle and make this whole process easier, if not friendlier in general.
Thanks for letting me invade your forum and speak my opinions, hope you all enjoyed the sunshine today.
Comment by Patrick Jacobs — April 23, 2012 @ 8:07 pm
Patrick, Do you find it odd that the architects who own the two tall condo towers right next to McEuen are the architects for the Park Plan? Is that not a bit self-serving? Councilman Mike Kennedy openly voted on the McEuen Plan and the refusal for a Public Advisory Vote on the plan, yet his boss owns the undeveloped half block of parking lots right across the street from McEuen. Mike’s boss, Steve Meyer (father-in-law of Anti Recall co-chair Sara Meyer), is long time business partners in Parkwood Properties, and other business ventures, with Charlie Nipp who owns the McEuen half block with Steve. Charlie was the first chairman of LCDC and kept that position until just a couple of years ago, when he stepped down to a regular member of LCDC and then about a year ago he resigned.
During the time that Charlie was Chairman of LCDC, he and his partner Steve Meyer bought the half block across from McEuen. This is important because state law says that no one who works for or sits on an Urban Renewal Board shall purchase an interest in any project. The key here is the definition of “project”. The Attorney General said project means district, in which case Charlie would be over the line. But, as LCDC’s Tony Berns told me to my face, “take it to court”. Of course no regular citizen has the money to do so.
I’m not saying that any one has done anything illegal. I’m saying these are the core people in the Anti Recall group and they have a financial and/or political benefit to protect.
I could go on, because there are others, such as Jack Riggs of Pita Pit downtown and I’m told he owns the Beacon building too (his daughter Jennifer Riggs Drake is the other co-founder of the Anti Recall)
I don’t care if these people want McEuen to be razzle dazzle. Great! They can have their opinion and I’m not trying to stop them. The Recall will give them a full vote too. But they are trying to stop me from having a say. They are trying to stop every voter in CdA from having a say. And I think that’s wrong.
Let’s all VOTE and see how it turns out! Join the RECALL CdA Movement!
Comment by mary — April 23, 2012 @ 8:13 pm
Mary Patrick / OTV is here just to score points and troll for comments he can use to hurt you. In vino veritas.
And Patrick / OTV your passive – aggressive games are not getting any traction. You brought up your drinking first when you made you faux apology. Your games cut no mustard here.
Comment by Pariah — April 23, 2012 @ 8:52 pm
Thanks, Pariah, I know you are trying to protect me and I appreciate it. But I weighed my options before responding to Patrick. (I am well aware he has been especially nasty toward me in the past, apologies excepted and accepted.) However, he asked a question whose answer is worth repeating in public again and again and again. “Who is Mike Kennedy’s boss?” ‘Nuf said.
Comment by mary — April 23, 2012 @ 8:56 pm
Mary, boy do you ever get it! Thank You for your civility and hard work!
Comment by Appalled — April 23, 2012 @ 9:09 pm
Yes, I do fully appreciate Mary’s civility and Pariah, I prefer mayonnaise thankyouverymuch.
Comment by Patrick Jacobs — April 23, 2012 @ 9:12 pm
Yeah. Right.
Comment by Pariah — April 23, 2012 @ 9:15 pm
Meh. Pariah, if all you’ve got is that, so be it.
Comment by Patrick Jacobs — April 23, 2012 @ 9:42 pm
ROTFLMAO!
“Meh”? That’s the best you have? What a wit, what a writer, what talent! Not.
Comment by Pariah — April 23, 2012 @ 9:55 pm
Yep. That’s all I got. Or to be more proper, that’s all I have.
Comment by Patrick Jacobs — April 23, 2012 @ 10:22 pm
You won’t see any mouth-foaming here from me or any ROTFLMAOs. Just discussion. And zero response to anything Pariah directs at me from here on out.
Comment by Patrick Jacobs — April 23, 2012 @ 10:24 pm
Hey Patrick, someone just sent me some comments you posted over on HBO about my email to you. Not cool.
Comment by mary — April 23, 2012 @ 10:54 pm
Partick,
The mayor owns the building that is at the end of 4th. The plan was/is to turn 4th into a walkway from Disneyland. Sitting board members on ALL kinds of committees and boards rushed right out and bought up property as soon as they knew of the park plan. Didn’t Martha Stewart spend time in jail for insider trading?
Mary,
Didn’t Parkwood ALSO buy the BoA building?
Comment by concerned citizen — April 24, 2012 @ 6:02 am
Patrick Jacobs,
Your comment in #3 stated you have no idea who Kennedy’s boss is. The post I linked to answered that, and it also showed how his boss, Stephen F. Meyer, benefited from an agreement with the Kootenai Shoshone Area Library System, an agreement engineered by his wife Judy who was and remains on the library’s board of directors. That agreement resulted in library land (publicly owned – taxpayer funded) being converted to a parking lot for use rent-free by the Prairie Shopping Center (Meyer and Nipp) for about fifty years. In return for allowing the shopping center to use public land rent-free, the library patrons and staff are allowed to park on the library’s own (public) land. The annual maintenance provided by the shopping center is inconsequential since that land is part of the larger Prairie Shopping Center parking lot maintenance program. In other words, in return for nothing, the library is allowing public land to be used for personal gain. Thirty-some parking places in a parking lot have considerable value when it comes to assessing rent on shopping center tenants.
My report was exhaustive, because the picture becomes much clearer when the readers have more related dots to connect. Past behavior can be an indicator of future behavior. Keep your eye on NIC (“Education Corridor”) where Judy Meyer is on the NIC Board of Trustees.
Comment by Bill — April 24, 2012 @ 6:51 am
Hi Mary, I actually didn’t post any follow up comments about your email. I simply copied and pasted it because the information was very relevant and not personal in any way. I didn’t post any comments in regards to it after that, so I’m really not sure what comments someone sent you.
Comment by Patrick Jacobs — April 24, 2012 @ 6:58 am
concerned citizen,
Re your last question in comment #26: If your question is about the B of A building at 401 Front Avenue, I don’t know who owns the building. However, the land under it is owned by Black Ridge Properties, LLC, 2100 Northwest Blvd., Suite 350, Coeur d’Alene. According to the Black Ridge Properties, LLC, annual report on file with the Idaho Secretary of State, Stephen F. Meyer and Charles R. Nipp are the listed members. Parkwood Business Properties is a DBA with an address of 2100 Northwest Blvd., Suite 350, Coeur d’Alene. The DBA name change was signed by Stephen F. Meyer.
Comment by Bill — April 24, 2012 @ 7:18 am
Courtesy is not a strong point on the left Mary. The idea that a private email is public property runs with the left’s contempt for all things decent. Much like Eden Irgens odd little game of attempted “gotcha”, patrick / otv seems to think that there are no rules. He can wish for you to be violently quieted down, he can call you the most vile names and then you are supposed to just roll over and accept him as just “one of the guys”. Often normal folks are initially taken in by the frauds on the left because real people cannot imagine such classless behavior is accepted. The longer you get exposed to the situational ethic of the left, the more careful you will get in allowing them near you.
Comment by Pariah — April 24, 2012 @ 8:09 am