Mayor Bloem
The Mayor called me a liar. In public, on a blog. And she refuses to apologize even though she now admits my information was not a lie.
Here’s what happened:
In last week’s newsletter about McEuen Field, I described what one of my readers reported about the city’s plans for the old tennis court site. He said that City Finance Director Troy Tymeson told him the city has the plans to build a two story parking garage on that site, with a rooftop viewing deck overlooking the park.
My newsletter was sent out late Friday afternoon. On Monday morning, a Spokane-based blog carried a direct quote from CdA Mayor Sandi Bloem, stating my information was “lies” and I was just “making things up”.
The source of my information about McEuen was former city council candidate Steve Adams. Steve is man of great integrity and felt very badly about the Mayor’s attack on me. He decided to go to the city council meeting last night to publicly explain to the Mayor that my information was not a lie. I also attended the meeting, at Steve’s request.
Steve stood up at the podium during the Public Comments section of the council meeting and clearly and respectfully told what happened. He explained that after the last city council meeting two weeks prior, he walked up to Finance Director Troy Tymeson and introduced himself as the newest member of the city’s Parking Commission. (Troy is the staff representative to that commission.) After some chit chat, Troy asked if Steve had noticed the tennis courts were gone. Yes, Steve replied, and Troy went on to say that the city has plans to build a two-story parking garage on the site with a viewing deck on top, overlooking the park.
Steve explained to the Mayor and everyone present, that about a week later he was at a Reagan Republicans meeting, sitting at a table with Mary Souza and others, when the topic of the tennis courts came up in conversation, so Steve repeated what Troy Tymeson had told him.
(I had also asked Steve if I could write about his information and he gave me his permission.)
Steve declared to the Mayor that the information I published in my newsletter was indeed what Troy Tymeson had stated. (Mr. Tymeson was not present at last night’s city council meeting. The Mayor said he was sick.) Steve then went on to respectfully suggest that Mayor Bloem apologize to me for her public comment calling me a liar.
Sandi Bloem did not apologize. She openly admitted that Troy Tymeson would “not disagree” with Steve Adams’ description of their conversation, BUT, she said, “I will not take it back”.
She went on to describe McEuen Field and the city’s plans, their lack of plans, their old plans, possible new plans and of course they want the public involved in any plans.
Steve stood at the podium, quietly listening during Sandi’s long public relations program for McEuen Field and all of its potential. She did not speak to my information or her accusation about lies.
Then Steve nicely asked the Mayor, again, to consider apologizing to Mary Souza.
The Mayor ignored his request, thanked him for his testimony and moved on to the next agenda item.
There you have it, folks: The good and the bad; both sides of human behavior.
Steve Adams is a man of conviction who is willing to stand up and speak the truth. I did not ask him to go public on this, nor did I ask for an apology. Steve followed his beliefs and did the right thing.
Sandi Bloem did not. She lacks the professional integrity we need in our public officials. The Mayor had an opportunity to begin rebuilding trust with the community, but she showed her lack of courage and conviction instead.
It’s going to be a long four years. Keep your eyes on McEuen Field!
The Mayor can’t decide what to tell our community regarding future plans for McEuen Field!
She comments that “there will be no parking structure of some sort” over at the OTHER NEWSPAPER,Posted by DFO at 10:10 a.m. on February 1, 2010.
As I listened to public comments of the 2-02-2010 City of Coeur d’Alene Council Meeting, the Mayor talks about a parking under-ground structure at the same location.
Did anyone else find the Mayor’s replies confusing?
Posted by DFO at 10:10 a.m. on February 1 Comments (20)
Contrary to what you might have read at OpenCDA.com, the city of Coeur d’Alene has no plans to replace the tennis courts at McEuen Field with a parking structure of some sort.
Comment by LTR — February 3, 2010 @ 5:01 pm
There are plans for McEuen field. There are studies. There’s been talks. There are guidelines. There have been meetings. What there isn’t is any vision or leadership. That is the problem.
Comment by Dan — February 3, 2010 @ 5:13 pm
Perhaps Steve’s straight forward public comments to the Mayor will bring an end to the venomous actions and comments directed at citizens from both elected officials and city staff.
Comment by Susie Snedaker — February 3, 2010 @ 5:52 pm
It seems to me that the Mayor is doubling down on her disrespect for the public. She and LCDC seem determined to confuse the public so that they can ram unpopular decisions down the citizens throats. It is called the old “rassle dazzle”.
Comment by citizen — February 3, 2010 @ 6:14 pm
The party line will be Adams heard wrong.
Her Longnecked Sandiness again demonstrated her class. Class comes in many flavors, high, low an no. This was another No Class moment.
Comment by Pariah — February 3, 2010 @ 7:17 pm
Considering a slander suit?
Comment by Wallypog — February 4, 2010 @ 11:39 am
I wouldn’t be all that surprised if Troy and others at the city are giving out inaccurate information just to try and discredit Steve Adams and others.
Steve Adams is a good man and an honest man.
He’s been my insurance agent since I was 16 and there’s a reason I’ve never gone elsewhere.
It’s sad to see how the city treats anyone who questions ANYTHING and as for that other newspaper’s blog — objectivity is lacking more and more.
Comment by GoodBoysClub — February 5, 2010 @ 9:47 am
Imagine that you want to move to Coeur d’Alene. You read in a local blog that the Mayor — the Mayor — refers to her own citizens as liars. Sound like the kind of nice, cozy place you want to relocate the business or family? Whether what was said is true or not, wouldn’t you expect the elected public official to take the high ground?
Comment by Dan — February 5, 2010 @ 3:59 pm
Imagine if you read and watch that stuff and you live here! I hestitate to be much more active than as a voter, independent blogger, and as a commenter because of the whiplash you will suffer if you do become publically involved. I have watched it happen to everyone on this site – thankfully, I am not a target, because I am not considered a threat – and I have already been “ruined” by the best of them. I am really just entertainment. 😉
There are some of us who are interested in the workings of our local/state government and see that there are areas that need changed by educating the public and exposing the ugly truth – really do fear the wrath of the liars out there that will stoop to anything to ruin a person(s). Anything. Some of us do not want to go through the mockery, humiliation, defamation, and character assinations again. It was painful enough the first time.
The Mayor and others hate credibility – hate it and they smirk at folks and stifle their laughs at people. who come before them like entertaining fodder. That last council meeting reminded me of American Idol, but much worse. The citizens of this area are not entertainment for the city, or county and state government.
There are few who ever take the “high ground” and we see what happens to those who do. So, when I get a nugget like a phone call back from the Judicial Council or a reply from the AG’s office – after I respectfully remind them at least once or twice for an answer back – I become extremely thrilled. I have worked hard just to get that far.
Comment by Stebbijo — February 6, 2010 @ 9:35 am
Stebbijo, you are a lot more valuable than you feel. Don’t underestimate the impact your comments have on others. It’s tough sometimes, but the enlightenment of public officials is a worthy goal.
Comment by Gary Ingram — February 6, 2010 @ 12:54 pm
Thank you Gary – I hope this statement has some impact.
I need support in removing the spouses of judges off of the Idaho Judicial Supreme Court Committees. Can you imagine if you ended up in a “situation” that involved one of the spouses of a judge and you needed to litigate – but they are sitting on the same committees with area judges that judged their own lawsuits – not to mention they were appointed by the Supreme Court? How far do you think you would get?
Comment by Stebbijo — February 6, 2010 @ 1:55 pm
Dan, I would add written comments by staff members as well.
Comment by Susie Snedaker — February 9, 2010 @ 8:04 am