Unless you live in Spokane, you’re probably not too familiar with the Mobius Science Center. I’m linking to Ron Wright’s Friends of Mark Fuhrman blog for the accounts of how this project became unglued. Inside Ron’s post is another link to an article by Center for Justice Communications Director Tim Connor. Follow that link to read Reversal of Fortune. Also, please take time to read the sidebar “Similar Stories.” The Mobius story they tell is relevant in Coeur d’Alene.
It’s the story which author Larry Shook characterized this way:
Connor’s story contains eye-opening evidence, heretofore known by only a handful of insiders, that Spokane Park Board members have grown restive about the demands of the Mobius board. Among their concerns: Mobius board members want certain aspects of the deal kept out of the public eye; the “science center” may be just a front for more publicly funded downtown retail space. If true, that could make the project another River Park Square-like illicit laundry of public funds.
I was intrigued by Shook’s statement.
Fortunately, that could never happen in Coeur d’Alene. Our organizations are completely open and transparent and never hide information from the public. We could never have organizations (for example, foundations) being used to launder public money to acquire land so it could house retail space.
It was interesting, though, that the Mobius board of directors had two members with familiar names: Cowles and Goebel. Cowles is Anne Cowles, wife of The Spokesman-Review publisher Stacy Cowles. Goebel is Terry Goebel, owner of Robert B. Goebel General Contractor, the contractor for the Kroc Center in Coeur d’Alene.
Imagine that!
What a thought provoking article. I wonder if something similar could happen here.
Comment by Susie Snedaker — December 20, 2009 @ 11:41 am
Susie,
It certainly could. There is a very common thread that crosses state lines: Use of public money for private benefit. With both the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene news media not paying attention, it’s very difficult for the public to grasp what is going on here as well as there. I’m speculating that Spokane and Coeur d’Alene are very similar in one respect: Some honest and well-intentioned people in both cities are being manipulated by a very few Madoff-like predators. They are predators in that they depend on the blind trust of the honest and well-intentioned people to defend their misuse of public money.
Comment by Bill — December 20, 2009 @ 12:50 pm
I don’t know why, but this thought came to mind: I certainly hope the city is not entertaining thoughts of conveying McEuen field to the Parks Foundation.
Comment by Susie Snedaker — December 20, 2009 @ 4:05 pm
Susie,
If it is the intention of the City to put a parking garage or otherwise make some substantial change to the character of McEuen Field, it is pretty safe to bet that is exactly the way the City will do it. People need to remember that the Coeur d’Alene Parks Foundation, Inc., is a private corporation, not an arm of the City. As long as McEuen Field remains City property, changes to it would still require open public meetings and public records (assuming the City actually intends to comply with the law). Once transferred to the Parks Foundation, McEuen Field would be in the hands of a private corporation. Almost certainly at that point, the Parks Foundation would announce a pre-cut deal with the LCDC and who knows who else to develop it.
Before jumping on the bandwagon to protect McEuen Field by commercializing it, the public ought to ask which City officials, including LCDC board members, and which Parks Foundation members would benefit financially from such a sellout.
Comment by Bill — December 20, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
I am so done with the Kroc Center. Too much guilt, I am going to look elsewhere.
Comment by Stebbijo — December 20, 2009 @ 8:34 pm