Broken News !
A Mullan Avenue Gang insider, code name “XXr”, has provided OpenCdA.com with what appears to be a draft of a forthcoming Coeur d’Alene Police Department illustrated press release:
Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Wayne Longo today revealed how the recently approved police substation in City Park would be used during the off season from September through May. Longo said he will follow Councilman Mike Kennedy’s advice and use it as a “re-education facility” to adjust the attitude of citizens who “just aren’t team players” and have been officially declared Enemies of the City by the Mayor and her loyal subjects. Longo explained that given its commitment to education, LCDC’s use of taxpayer money to fund the re-education facility was perfectly appropriate. Longo added that any similarity between the persons in the illustration and former Planning Commissioner Mary Souza and LCDC Commissioner Dave Patzer is purely coincidental.
(Note: This is humor. At least, we hope it is. Even in Coeur d’Alene, it could never come to this. Could it … ?)
(Permission to use the preceding cartoon during Sunshine Week, March 16-22, 2008, has been granted by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists and its participating members.)
I think it takes a lot to stick your neck out these days. I have nothing to lose – most of it has already been taken, so occasionaly get brave but usually with no results. I crave a BREAKTHROUGH! LOL.
I asked a person to call the County Clerk in Bonner just to check up on current policy to get her email address and she said she could not, because her ‘Caller ID’ would hurt her.
Sad – very sad and not so funny.
Comment by Stebbijo — March 21, 2008 @ 8:16 am
Stebbijo,
The number of people willing to stand up and do the right thing is increasing. That makes it more difficult for cowardly and corrupt public officials to successfully silence critics by intimidating employers and others associated with the critics.
Comment by Bill — March 21, 2008 @ 9:16 am
I agree – and an obvious difference here, locally. Kudos to OpenCDA!
Comment by Stebbijo — March 21, 2008 @ 10:01 am
You may have read my personal experience with this local government in one of the other posts. My own personal business being threatened made my spouse scared to the point where wanting leave the area without me. Intimidation, one of the tactics used by this local government. Then we wonder why people do not come forward.
Comment by concerned citizen — March 23, 2008 @ 7:34 am
concerned citizen,
The culture of intimidation that exists at City Hell among the Mullan Avenue Gang is typical amoral bullying behavior. That it is endorsed and used by local elected and appointed officials is not surprising. It works for a time. However, honest people can be pushed only so far by corrupt public officials.
Comment by Bill — March 23, 2008 @ 9:40 am
CC–There are more than just a couple of people “hanging” in the toolshed of the city’s intimidation. But they do it behind the scenes and the public never knows. Even if the info leaks out, the city just implies the dismissed volunteer did something quite questionable that the city can’t divulge. Of course, it’s the reverse that is usually true. The only way to combat this unethical behavior by our officials is to get it out to the public as fully and quickly as possible. And to make a very big deal about it. That kind of information should come from a variety of sources, so blogs, newspapers, etc. all make a difference.
Comment by mary — March 23, 2008 @ 9:47 am
mary wrote this : Even if the info leaks out, the city just implies the dismissed volunteer did something quite questionable that the city can’t divulge. The only way to combat this unethical behavior by our officials is to get it out to the public as fully and quickly as possible.
mary, you were dismisswed by the city, can you give the reasons why? do you have written statements that support your case? that would help wouldn’t it?
Comment by reagan — March 23, 2008 @ 10:48 pm
Yes, reagan, I do. The city told me that, after six years of volunteer service, I was dismissed because of “low morale” on the Planning Commission. As a buisness owner for 25 years, I’ve always believed that morale is determined from the top down. That’s good leadership. If there’s a concern about one person, the leader takes them aside and speaks to them about the issue. I was never aware of or counseled by any person in the city regarding “low morale” on P&Z. Two of my fellow commissioners were also not aware of any such problem. Four commissioners did, from all reports, agree when city officials suggested I should be removed. Those commissioners were: John Bruning, Chair of P&Z (who never spoke to me about any morale concerns even though as Chairman it would have been his responsibility) John was also the freshly elected new city councilman whose campaign was heavily funded by Riverstone and other LCDC supporters. The other assenting commissioners were Brad Jordan, who also sits on the LCDC board, Scott Rasor, Meckel Engineering, who strongly supports LCDC and Tom Messina, builder and developer–Tom had a partnership project in negotiation with LCDC right about this time. The “low morale” issue came out of the blue and the first I heard of it was when the Mayor called me at home at 7:30am the morning before Thanksgiving–on speaker phone, to tell me I had been removed from P&Z. No notice, no discussion, no details. Just a fast city council vote after a late night Executive Session behind closed doors.
Comment by mary — March 23, 2008 @ 11:25 pm