Sandi Bloem « OpenCdA

February 20, 2013

Welcome to the 21st Century

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: Administrative Incompetence, Sandi Bloem — Bill @ 8:22 am

Describing the diligent, business-like approach taken by the School District 271 Board of Trustees in selling some unneeded land to the City, Couer d’Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem (shown left) was quoted in this morning’s Coeur d’Alene Press article as saying, “I’m saddened it came to this. In all good faith, we gave [a portion of Person Field] to the district.”

According to the Press article, “…the city gave the school district its half of Person Field in a ‘good faith’ deal roughly 20 years ago so the school district could receive land near Lake City High School while keeping enough property near Lakes Middle School to keep accreditation. Now, the city said, it will be more diligent in future deals, instead of counting on ‘good faith’ ones to pay dividends in the future.” (more…)

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November 17, 2012

2009 Election Contest Lawsuit Appeal Decision

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: Coeur d'Alene Election, Dan English, Mike Kennedy, Sandi Bloem, Voter Fraud — Bill @ 11:52 am

On Friday, November 16, 2012, the Idaho Supreme Court filed its decision affirming the trial court’s decision in the 2009 Coeur d’Alene election contest lawsuit. Here is a link to the Supreme Court’s decision.

In response to OpenCdA’s request, appellant Jim Brannon provided this prepared statement.

Thanks to the efforts, diligence, and integrity of Jim and Christine Brannon, Starr and Matt Kelso, and the many volunteers who donated time, money, and labor beginning November 6, 2009, many flaws in Idaho’s election laws and many failures of duty by city, county, and state public officials have been exposed for public scrutiny. To the extent those flaws either have been corrected by the election of new officials or legislative action, the election contest lawsuit served to benefit all legal voters in Idaho. (more…)

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October 20, 2012

Bloem: “… Bring the Facts”

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: Mike Kennedy, Recall Election, Sandi Bloem — Bill @ 9:58 am

Coeur d’Alene City Councilman Mike Kennedy

At the April 17, 2012, meeting of the Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, City Council, citizen Frank Orzell addressed the Council regarding Recall CDA’s effort to recall Mayor Sandi Bloem, Councilman Mike Kennedy, Councilman Deanna Goodlander, and Councilman Woody McEvers. During his presentation, Orzell stated, “Fear of intimidation and retribution is another indication of the [city’s] dysfunction. Small business owners and city staff have expressed their desire to sign our petition, but very often also talk about fear of reprisal, even loss of employment, and that is difficult for us to ignore.”

Here is the YouTube excerpt of Mayor Sandi Bloem’s response to Orzell’s concern about intimidation and retribution. Note that at the end, Bloem states, “I believe there’s not one person sitting at this dais that would do anything of the kind [resort to fear or intimidation against those involved in the recall effort]. So I would appreciate it if you’d bring the facts.”

Okay. Here are facts. (more…)

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June 23, 2012

Let’s Play Make-Believe…

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: Administrative Incompetence, McEuen Field, Recall Election, Sandi Bloem — Bill @ 5:21 pm

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Let’s play make-believe. Let’s make believe that Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Mayor Sandi Bloem is able to be honest when talking with citizens. (more…)

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May 21, 2012

Correct Information

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: Administrative Incompetence, Coeur d'Alene Election, Public Corruption, Recall Election, Sandi Bloem — Bill @ 12:17 pm

Those of us who have been out gathering signatures on the petitions for recall of Coeur d’Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem, Council President Mike Kennedy, Councilman Woody McEvers, and Councilman Deanna Goodlander have become accustomed to people expressing both agreement and disagreement with the recall effort.

Sunday afternoon between noon and 4 p.m. my wife and I were twirling recall signs and gathering signatures just north of the Midtown Shopping Center (Safeway, Joann Fabric) between Birch and Miller on 4th Street. A man whom I recognized as a high-level employee of the Coeur d’Alene Public Library left the shopping center parking lot, and as he drove past me at a distance of 8-10 feet, he shouted, “You’re responsible for taking away my vote, A__h___e!” Then he went north on 4th and turned right on Birch. (more…)

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January 26, 2012

City Policy: Make It Up As You Go Along?

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: Administrative Incompetence, Mike Kennedy, News Reporting, Sandi Bloem — Bill @ 8:26 am

In my January 22nd OpenCdA post titled Policy Question, I asked, “What is the City’s written policy regarding reading citizen letters into the minutes of City Council meetings?” The question was predicated on the City’s selectively and arbitrarily reading some letters into the minutes of the City Council meetings while rejecting others.

Today’s Coeur d’Alene Press article titled The letters of the law by Tom Hasslinger almost answers the question. Almost, but not quite. (more…)

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January 22, 2012

Policy Question

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: Administrative Incompetence, Coeur d'Alene Election, Mike Kennedy, Sandi Bloem — Bill @ 4:59 pm

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Here’s a policy question for the City of Coeur d’Alene: What is the City’s written policy regarding reading citizen letters into the minutes of City Council meetings? (more…)

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December 12, 2011

Measuring Public Officials’ Performance

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: Administrative Incompetence, Coeur d'Alene Election, Mike Kennedy, Sandi Bloem — Bill @ 3:00 pm

Sometimes elected officials’ performance of a seemingly small but statutorily required function can reveal much about their character, competence, and diligence.

With that in mind, consider this. Under the heading of “I. OTHER BUSINESS,” the agenda for the regularly-scheduled December 6, 2011, meeting of the Coeur d’Alene City Council listed “1. Acceptance of Canvassed Election Results.” Here is a link to the YouTube video of that segment of the meeting. Please pay close attention to the words and inflection, facial expressions, and gestures of the Coeur d’Alene Mayor and Council members.

Recalling comments the Coeur d’Alene Mayor and Council members made in the video concerning the conduct of the City’s election by Kootenai County Clerk Cliff Hayes and his staff, now please read Kootenai County Clerk Cliff Hayes’ letter of December 9 sent in response to the Mayor and Council’s conduct at their December 6 meeting . (more…)

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November 12, 2011

Really, Sandi?

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: Coeur d'Alene Election, Sandi Bloem — Bill @ 3:15 pm

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In the November 10, 2011, Coeur d’Alene Press article headlined Election won’t sway mayor on McEuen, Coeur d’Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem was complaining that Dan Gookin and Steve Adams won because of partisan support in a supposedly non-partisan election.

Really, Sandi? (more…)

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April 30, 2011

Well Done!

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: McEuen Field, Sandi Bloem — Bill @ 11:54 am

This morning’s Coeur d’Alene Press had a My Turn column by Jeff Connaway. It was titled McEuen: Seeking a different solution. Rather than being an aimless, pointless rant, it was a reasoned and reasonable commentary about the City’s and Team McEuen’s handling of proposed renovations to McEuen Field. Not only that, Mr. Connaway offered equally reasonable and reasoned suggestions for a mid-course correction by the City.

There was only one downside to Mr. Connaway’s commentary: In the view of the Editorial Board of the Coeur d’Alene Press, it is only worth a penny (see Press editorial appearing Friday, September 3, 2010).

As for the City’s methodology to bamboozle and stampede the people into supporting a questionable project, one need only remember that it worked before. In August 2009 the North Idaho College Board of Trustees and the NIC Foundation, with the full and complete cooperation and encouragement from the City, foisted the DeArmond Mill site $10.4 million purchase on the people with similar glowing terms and bright, slick drawings.

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