Mary Souza’s Newsletter, Nov. 21, 2009
Why do some local people rail against the arrogance, over-spending and irresponsible behavior of the Obama administration, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, but then turn around to support the same kinds of behaviors here at home?
We have local officials who treat the public with disdain. We lack sustainable job creation. Our taxes are rising to pay for socialistic urban renewal subsidies to big developers. And both CdA and NIC are pushing through large spending decisions using back door methods to avoid the voters.
Sound familiar? The wise old saying that “all politics is local” seems to be true. Almost everything we’re fighting against on the national level is present here in our own town. So why do some local folks, who seem angry enough to march in the streets against the Obama administration, defend similar actions by local government?
Maybe it’s because they know the people involved; many of the offending officials have lived here for a long time and have scores of inside connections.
Here’s a quick, true story: During the just completed city council election, a prominent county official approached a city council challenger and expressed support for the challenger’s ideas and goals. “But”, the official said, “I have to vote for XXX (the incumbent), because I’ve known the family for years.”
Is that a responsible way to use one’s vote? Our votes should be cast for the person best for the community, not for social reasons.
Or maybe some local folks have blinders on. Maybe they don’t want to see the bad behaviors because they have business relationships that mean big money. Perhaps they do business with the city, LCDC or NIC and worry about losing out if they support a challenger. Or their husband / wife / cousin / friend, works for the city, so they look through rose-colored glasses and pretend the official behaviors aren’t out of line.
Here’s another true story: I know a guy on one of our city’s influential commissions. He is well connected and strongly supports the status quo here in town. He told me it’s understandable if the people who volunteer for some of the city’s high-power boards want to help themselves or their friends with deals, because that’s the way it’s done. After all, they donate a lot of their time.
I bet this same guy, who is a conservative local businessman, is appalled by the actions of the Obama administration. I bet he’s unhappy with huge federal spending, the push for government-run healthcare and the failed use of stimulus dollars. But NIC forcing us all to pay additional, foregone taxes to purchase the Mill site for $588,000 per acre in a depressed real estate market? Or unelected LCDC taking property taxes to shift over to other projects without voter approval? He probably rationalizes these as okay because he knows the people and does business with them.
All politics is local. And the hypocrisy begins at home.
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Post-election update: As you may have read this past week, incumbent Mike Kennedy asked the state for a recount. He did so as soon as it was legally allowed after the city council accepted the results from the County Elections Department. Why would Mike ask for a recount? He was the winner of his race against Jim Brannon by FIVE votes. Well, as it turns out, two things happen when a recount is requested:
First, it ties up all the poll books and records, which are sealed when the recount is requested, so if anyone wanted to research mistakes or improprieties, they wouldn’t be able to access the records.
Secondly, if the winner requests the recount, they have to pay for it, which would have cost Mike Kennedy $2800. He didn’t seem to know this until the state called him several days later and told him, so he withdrew his request.
Jim Brannon has 20 days after the city council accepted the election results to ask for a recount. If he asks, his recount will be paid by the city because his race was closer than 1/10th of 1% and he was not the winner. He also has the choice of challenging the election, which is a much more detailed legal review that includes attorneys, judges and bonds that the challenger must pay.
I don’t know how it will all play out but I will keep you posted.
Meanwhile, don’t believe the nasty rumors running around town about key Brannon supporters saying mean things about Kennedy. They’re just not true, and it makes me wonder about the rumor mill that churns out these bogus stories.
Have a great weekend! —Mary
Mary Souza is a 22 year resident of CdA, local small business owner and former P&Z Commissioner. Her opinions are her own. To sign up for the free weekly newsletter, or access a free archive of past columns, visit www.marysouzacda.com Comments can be sent to marysouzacda@gmail.com. Please visit the local issues web site www.OpenCdA.com for more discussion.
My condolences for knowing the local commissioner who thinks public corruption is “the way it’s done.” What a pathetic person he is. I could feel sad for him, because he will never in his miserable lifetime know the joy that comes from genuine giving with no expectation of acclaim or return. In contrast, look at today’s Press editorial about the anonymous donor who gave $1M to Hospice of North Idaho. She has already been richly blessed with a heart for giving and caring. She’s not anonymous. The One who is, knows.
Comment by Bill — November 21, 2009 @ 6:57 pm
Well said, Bill. Being at peace with the One who is, and the person in the mirror each night, is the best reward.
One of the fallacies of the pathetic commissioner is that the “volunteers” are not the only folks who can serve the community on those boards, but they hold onto their positions desperately, even though fresh faces would be better. Notice the lack of rotation on so many of these powerful boards. Why? Because they get personal advantages. Then they pat themselves on the back for “donating” their time.
Comment by mary — November 22, 2009 @ 10:42 am
I fully agree that people who donate to worthy public causes are very special. But, Hospice of North Idaho is a private business not any philanthropic organization. It charges for its services at the maximum they can and functions pretty much the same any other hospice business does. They are all pretty much regulated in fees and services. They all have to have foundations, volunteers and accept pro-bono patients. But HONI has this area convinced that they are some sort of money losing operation that must get donations and public funds to keep their doors open. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is just a non-profit business like any other privately held non-profit business. With the vise grip they have on the local hospice business they do extremely well. So people who donate for a HONI hospice house are literally building a privately held hospital for the doctors who own and operate HONI. So, when it comes to material misrepresentation and public manipulations HONI is right up there with the best of them. IMHO those funds would be better donated to any medical research group of their choosing. Let HONI fund their own capital asset facilities. That is what businesses do.
Just so ya know.
Comment by Wallypog — November 22, 2009 @ 11:09 am
Wallypog,
When my mom died here in June 2003, she received Hospice care. She was not indigent, and we could have paid any fees and for any services, but we never received any bills or even any requests for donations.
Comment by Bill — November 22, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
Bill,
Do you think they did not bill Medicare? There is no copay for hospice. They collect the billing info and that is all you hear about it. Since the patient always expires their are no benefit statements sent anywhere. Feel free to ask HONI directly. Weil, their Director who is not even a clinician, makes well over $100K per year.
Comment by Wallypog — November 22, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
Well, all politics is local and it’s getting supercharged in just 4 days. Sarah Palin will be in town after completely CONQUERING the Washington,DC media at the annual gridiron club banquet.
A sample:
“If the election had turned out differently, she said, “I could be the one overseeing the signing of bailout checks and Vice President Biden could be on the road selling his book, ‘Going Rogaine.'”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34294622/ns/politics-more_politics/
B there, or B square.
Comment by Zapatista — December 6, 2009 @ 12:33 am
Great link, Zapatista! That quip by Sarah Palin that she “could be the one overseeing the signing of bailout checks and Vice President Biden could be on the road selling his book, ‘Going Rogaine”, makes me chuckle through my tears. If only we had someone with common sense and business experience rather than a socialist political agenda making the decisions about our economy right now, we might stand a chance of bringing back jobs. Sarah Palin would be worlds better than this Administration. And Joe Biden? He is laughable.
Comment by mary — December 6, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
I met Biden last weekend. He seemed like a nice guy, though I disagree with his politics. He’s taller than I expected.
Comment by Dan — December 6, 2009 @ 2:00 pm
“He’s taller than I expected.” So why’d he get those hair plugs…afraid Shaq would give him the jiggle? Joe is a complete history scholar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP-5X_1N3dw
Palin is great. Read the first chapter in her book to understand her ‘realness.’
I liked her saying that when she was coming down on the elevator in her hotel she could ‘see the Russian Embassy.’ The journies were all cracking up.
Comment by Zapatista — December 6, 2009 @ 11:33 pm