Go ahead and use this spot for any topic you want to bring up. Here’s my current question: In a letter to the editor today in the Press, Councilman Mike Kennedy said, in regard to a public vote on the McEuen plan,“…the easiest thing to have done, politically, would have been to simply oppose the project and call for a public vote. But it was clear to me that would have been a fruitless approach…” Why would it have been fruitless, Mike? He never says. Also, two days ago, over on a Spokane blog, Olivera said this: “ I simply have no idea re: who’s in the majority on this issue… Mebbe a majority supports the boat launch. A public vote would be just as muddled, especially with individuals intentionally spreading misinformation. I could live with a scaled-down version of the McEuen Field plan.”
So, a public vote would be “fruitless” and “muddled”? No. I think what we’ve got now is totally muddled. The city’s survey showes 70-ish% of people like parts of the plan, the Friends of McEuen survey of over 1000 people shows over 80% want to keep the boat launch. And the current online poll on the Press site shows 66% say the city messed up by approving the plan. THAT’s a muddled mess! The only way to know what the public really wants is to have a Public Advisory Vote. Mike Kennedy was totally ” intentionally spreading misinformation” last Tuesday night, when he said the issue of a vote was heard and dismissed by General Services Committee. That meeting dealt with a binding public vote, not an Advisory Vote, as we were requesting last Tuesday…and Mike knew it too.
As I said at the end of my latest newsletter, a public advisory vote is the only way to know what the public really wants, it would erase any question of conflicts of interest and would help heal our community’s divisions when everyone’s vote is counted equally.
Your thoughts?
It would not be complicated to vote.
1. Boat Launch Yes/No
2. Legion Ball Field Yes/No
3.Underwater Parking Yes/No
Some of the basics would just be a given. But it needs a Kootenai County vote not just CDA as the boat launch as been paid for by all boaters and tax payers in the county.
No bank loans, No interest to pay.(Bad money management). unless you are the bank.
The park plan does have a few good ideas, but the council was elected to represent the people not just a few with influence. Does the mayor know that if they would listen to what others had to say ,no one would have to hold a sign to get their attention.
Too bad we can’t get the money back from the mess on 4X4th street.
I am aware that you can not make everyone happy, but it is their duty to consider all possibilities, and they should think about it every time they cash their paychecks.
Thank you Mary and the group for all your hard work.
Comment by Jullee — May 27, 2011 @ 2:40 pm
Is it possible to post Kathy Sim’s letter to the AG’s office concerning the conflict of interest concerns over McEuen Field? I see that Huckleberries has posted a rebuttal via the ciy attorney Gridley. He seems to be obsessed over the word “private.” He mentions it close to 10 times and underlines it for emphasis.
Comment by Stebbijo — May 27, 2011 @ 4:46 pm