Dan Gookin has announced he will be running for Coeur d’Alene City Council, seat 3. That’s the seat that long-term incumbent councilman Al Hassel has just confirmed he will be leaving. The election is November 8th.
What do you think will be the top two issues for this upcoming election?
August 27, 2011
Dan jumps In, Al steps Out
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The “Son of River Park Square” Parking Garage on Front Avenue should be the biggest issue. (Most people are likely to say “McEuen Field,” but using public money to build a parking garage for the explicit purpose of financially enriching a few public officials and their cronies is the crowning objective. If pushed hard enough, the City will appear to “compromise” on the other McEuen Field issues in order to make the garage more palatable. The boat launch is going away regardless.)
Comment by Bill — August 27, 2011 @ 11:13 am
Bill get’s it. That will be issue number one. Issue two – jobs. Economic development. The GOB’s will insist that LCDC is the answer, Dan needs a good, clear, cogent alternative.
Comment by justinian — August 27, 2011 @ 1:02 pm
Justinian,
I’d say economic development needs to be broader than just jobs. CdA evolved (or devolved depending on your perspective) from being primarily an agrarian (forestry, farming, ranching) economy to one being based almost exclusively on the hospitality industry (tourism, lodging, food service). The first begat the second because the first failed. Economic development depends on continuing to support and promote the hospitality industry while seeking a much broader economy not dependent on it. The people we have now in economic development are hardly visionary — they can’t be, because they’re locked inside the opaque walls of the hospitality industry.
Seattle experienced this in the late 60’s and early 70’s when it was a company town. When the company, Boeing, lost the SST, Seattle was devastated. Seattle had become too dependent on one industry: aerospace. You might recall the sign by SeaTac that read, “Will the last person leaving Seattle please turn out the lights?” Seattle had more, but it had just become too dependent on Boeing. Coeur d’Alene has more, but it has become too dependent on the hospitality industry. It’s a valuable component industry, but it cannot sustain the city in perpetuity.
Comment by Bill — August 27, 2011 @ 1:21 pm
I do not disagree Bill, but it will be one of the two big issues, and the Pretty People will claim the answer is the LCDC. Dan has to have a clear, clean, simple answer to that.
Comment by justinian — August 27, 2011 @ 2:08 pm
BTW, I’ve heard that Al was leaving his seat for a while. It’s not like he saw me enter the race and got all bug-eyed. So it’s an open seat, and I’m eager to see who else decides to throw in their hats.
Any ideas?
Comment by Dan — August 27, 2011 @ 2:57 pm
Guaranteed the GOB’s are begging Al to reconsider. The Pretty People like Al.
Jobs – a true revitalization of the City. A bottom up review of staffing, programs and spending and a focus on infrastructure – roads, sewers, parks, emergency services. A business owners Blue Ribbon commission to look at a large scale, generational rebuild of the infrastructure of CDA and a disposal of non-working assets.
The bumper sticker: A Great city deserves Great Roads. No more potholes.
Comment by justinian — August 28, 2011 @ 7:21 am
The city of CDA would be raking in the dough if they would put one patrol car at each school 1/2 hour before school starts until the bell and then again from the bell until 1/2 hour after school is out. Pull off of the schools if something more important than doughnuts and coffee.
They would have excess funds as well if they would quite dragging that stupid over speed display trailer around setting it up. Write some DAMN tickets instead. Place a car on 3rd, 5th, 7th, 11th, Ramsey, Atlas, 4th, 15th, etc.,you get the picture, on a rotating radom schedule. This city would never have the need to increase taxes again.
Comment by concerned citizen — August 28, 2011 @ 8:21 am
Heck, they may even catch a certain council member speeding down Northwest Blvd in his gold sedan when he passes me at a good 10 over. ROFLMAO
Comment by concerned citizen — August 28, 2011 @ 8:24 am
I see that George Saylor, has thrown his hat into the ring for CDA City Council, seat 3. It looks like the ‘powers that be’ are scared about losing Al’s seat. It should make for an interesting race.
Comment by kageman — September 1, 2011 @ 1:14 pm