My heart was lifted this morning when I read in the CDA Press an article titled, “Mayor to get corridor feedback.” I popped-up my computer calendar to ensure that the date was clear and that I could attend. Such good news. Then I read the article.
Our Mayor, God bless her, has decided to do the right thing and get feedback on the Education Corridor. But rather than get feedback from the local taxpayers who will foot the bill, and address issues raised by citizens and well as elected officials, she’s heading to Oregon.
The Mayors Institute on City Design Western Region conference will be held in Portland early in May. Mayor Bloem will attend to find out how those out-of-town folks weigh in on the Education Corridor.
Doubtless Mayor Bloem will present an even-handed view of the issues. She’ll present the options available. She’ll discuss impact. She’ll explain that not everyone locally is behind this. She’ll be honest. Then she’ll get that solid feedback from people who have no idea what the situation is here in Idaho.
They might even present her with a plaque.
When the conference is over, she’ll scurry back here to tell us how everyone there — all those experts — agree that the Education Corridor will be the best thing to happen to Coeur d’Alene since Father De Smet.
Aren’t we the lucky ones?
And don’t you go saying that Mayor Bloem doesn’t accept feedback. That’s just not fair!
Dan, I had a deep sinking feeling in my gut as I read this morning’s paper. At last night’s council meeting, Mike Gridley laid out a specific date and plan a for PUBLIC MEETING about the new Prairie Trail–fabulous! Also at the meeting last night, Ron Edinger was really, really concerned about where the $5,000. for the Animal Shelter plan would come from. (It’s amazing to see them concerned about a piddly 5 thousand, while they pretend spending hundreds of thousands or millions is no big deal.) But any concern about finances is better than none, so GOOD for you, Ron.
And then, in this morning’s paper, the news that the Education Corridor Plan, that we have all been asking, requesting, pleading and shouting to have some/any/a shred of information about, will be shared with outsiders first. WE are only the taxpayers. WE are mere citizens. WE don’t need to know. Our Mayor will tell us what’s good for us, and she’ll only tell us when she’s good and ready.
Her actions are a true insult to the citizens of this community, as well as the neighboring mayors and county officials.
Comment by mary — April 2, 2008 @ 11:59 am
Dan, people from the southern U.S., use the phrase “bless her/his heart” when they’re upset with someone and really want to say what a schmuck they are. They would say, for example, “Sandi, bless her heart, doesn’t seem to realize the taxpayers of all of Kootenai County will be paying for this higher education corridor for decades to come, and they want information and a vote.”
Comment by mary — April 2, 2008 @ 12:09 pm
Bloem’s Commandment: Thou shalt seek forgiveness rather than permission, for yea verily, forgivenss is easier to attain.
Comment by Bill — April 2, 2008 @ 12:39 pm
should the various groups/individuals who talking about an education corridir have a pretty good idea of what it is they want to do, first, so they can answer all the questions y’all are asking? if they held a public meeting and answered all the various questions with, “we don’t know, yet”, would that satisfy folks? I would think it would be better to have sorted through the various options and plans before it is presented. isn’t that he way a business would do it?
Comment by reagan — April 2, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
Businesses are private and spend their own money. We’re talking about public money and public officials doing something for the public.
The point isn’t this or that meeting, but the utter lack of public involvement period. And if they “don’t know” they it’s irresponsible of them to be plowing ahead with such enthusiasm, don’t you think?
You mention options. Indeed, what are the options? The normal process is to discuss information in public at defined meetings. That happens at all levels of government, but not with this crowd.
Comment by Dan — April 2, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
The “Prarie Trail” seems to have a large loan from LCDC it would be interesting to see those loan documents. I attended last nights city council meeting, it seems their new $35,000. consultant is hard at work making them look better as they spent 30 minutes telling the attendants all about the wonderful art they are procuring for us citizens, complete with a slide show. But no where did they give the dollar figure of tax payers money they have spent on all this. So if you want to watch them feed their egos on our tax dollars it was a great show.
A note regarding the/our new building (for police?) in the park, it’s for the Iron Man new 5 year contract? Watch what Iron Man gives us.
Comment by chatty — April 2, 2008 @ 2:39 pm
Reagan, my concern is that decisions are being made behind closed doors, right now, by a very few, that will commit the taxpayers of Kootenai County to a plan that none of us had a voice in. Mayor Bloem could have a public meeting to present three or more different options as to the general location of the corridor. She could discuss possibilities, get input and promise to come back with more details as the plan evolves. That’s what people expect–we certainly don’t think officials should have all the answers during the exploratory phase. But we’re well beyond that now and they are getting us signed, sealed and delivered before we even know about it.
Comment by mary — April 2, 2008 @ 3:07 pm
Chatty–your comments reminded me of the old saying: “There’s no limit to the good that can be done with other people’s money!”
Comment by mary — April 2, 2008 @ 3:09 pm
dan wrote this: “The normal process is to discuss information in public at defined meetings. That happens at all levels of government”
i have been following some of the legislative session and it doesn’t seem like they discuss information, seems more like it already decided before they vote. did you get invited to any meetings that decided to increase sales tax? or have automobile inspections?
Comment by reagan — April 2, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
Yes, it does seem that way, reagan. But don’t get discouraged. I encourage you to go to the legislative sessions. You can also view the meeting minutes on-line. It’s all discussed and debated — and in the open. It would be nice to live closer to the Capitol and participate in the hearings. Believe me, as a citizen when you testify, you carry a lot of weight. And even if you can’t make it, you can contact legislators. I’ve done that many times over the past three months, and they’ve returned the calls and e-mails. When I’ve asked for information, it’s been provided. When the system works, you can be a part of it. I would encourage you to to speak out on those things that concern you.
Deciding how to vote ahead of time is done often, I’m sure. Some people make up their minds ahead of time. And the leaders do have the power to put legislation in a desk drawer. That happens all the time to good laws. But it’s done in public. The legislators cannot make a decision or debate an issue with each other outside of the designated forums.
Remember: I asked Mayor Bloem when the decision was made to obtain a federal earmark. That was a decision. It had to be made by someone. Her reply was (essentially) that the decision was made outside the view of the public. That’s against the law.
Comment by Dan — April 2, 2008 @ 4:35 pm
I have been loosely following the discussion about the educational corridor. Although I make my home in Tulsa now, I still have financial interests in Coeur d’ Alene and owe a debt for county taxes each time that time comes around.
The brokers pulling the levers of power in Coeur d’Alene became terrified 20 years ago that the old downtown area would not longer be the political and influential center of the city.
There was an unspoken pact incubated that never again would the old downtown lose governmental institutions. The library was a sterling example of this effort. What city governmental official or office holder in his or her right mind would locate a new modern library for the people of the city in a place at the very edge of the city the farthest away from the vast majority of the people that the library was intending to serve?
The educational corridor is another example. Who would support the development of higher educational facilities in a land locked area devoid of future much needed expansion that is vital for the survival of these higher education institutions?
It is not about the library and the educational institutions and their futures. It is only about a determination to keep the political power and influence in the old downtown and with the traditional fraternities of old boy and old girl networks of past generations of Coeur d’ Alene.
There is no doubt in my mind that the another library will be built to serve the needs of the people of the city and that library will be placed geographically where this new library should have been located in the first place. I also believe that a duplicate educational corridor will have to be developed where this one is destined to be placed. None of that will matter. The spending of duplicate money will not matter. Old downtown became secure again on the financial backs of the people of the city.
Comment by steve badraun — April 2, 2008 @ 6:53 pm
Steve, nice to hear from you. I fear you are absolutely right on. Do you think there’s anything the citizens can do, at this point, to preclude the full Ed.Corridor from settling in the high-cost, land locked, traffic-congested Fort Grounds area? I think the NIC Health Sciences Division makes full sense to be there, as well as a Waste Water Program near the treatment plant. But otherwise, an interesting option is to have the rest of the programs go out to the now defunct PF Outlet Mall, right near the UofI Research Park. It would be a terrific location: cheap, easy freeway access,easy parking, no traffic problems, nearby affordable student housing, food, daycare, etc. As one person-in-the-know told me, “we’d be dollars ahead (compared to the huge cost of building in the Fort Grounds) if we tore down the whole outlet mall and rebuilt it to each school’s specifications.” Let’s not forget, people, that the taxpayers of Kootenai County will be paying the tab for this Ed. Corridor. So don’t let CdA Mayor Sandi Bloem and NIC Pres.Priscilla Bell, along with developer Marshall Chesrown, make this decision for all of us. I, personally, would rather pay for great educators out at the former outlet mall, than high priced parking garages in the Fort Grounds.
Comment by mary — April 2, 2008 @ 8:50 pm
Hi Mary,
I understand that winter just won’t let go up there….time for spring in Coeur d’ Alene!
I wonder if there is enough room in that outlet mall site for the long term. I know land on the prairie is being gobbled up, but there is still a lot of it. It would make more sense to me to start fresh with a large plot of farmland and build from scratch. This is a wonderful opportunity for Gary Scheidmiller and his family to make a magnaninmous gift to education and to North Idaho.
Comment by steve badraun — April 3, 2008 @ 3:26 am
Does anyone know if Mayor Larkin will will be attending this Mayors Institute on City Design Western Region conference? He could be the one to shed true light on this pitch that Mayor? Bloem has prepared for them. Is there anyway to urge him to speak of the behalf of not only the people of Post Falls but of Kootenai County as well since it does involve everyone, not just CdA?
Comment by concerned citizen — April 3, 2008 @ 6:14 am
Comment by Damn Yankee — April 3, 2008 @ 9:46 am