Coeur d'Alene Press Newspaper | CDAPress.com

Local and National News - Kootenai County, Idaho

The City's Pulse

Posted: Thursday, Aug 02, 2007 - 12:29:30 pm PDT
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Mary Souza

It’s summer, it’s hot and many of us want to cool off with a little dip. But we have recently learned that there’s no swimming allowed in the newest of our public parks, the pond at Riverstone.

Don’t worry. I’ve got another way you can “get in the swim of things” — you can throw your opinion in the pool of public conversation.

In this column, I have often stated my goal is to promote open, public conversations about community issues. But, last week, a supportive reader e-mailed me with this question: “Where and how can we have a public conversation? Your archive Web site (www.thecityspulse.com ) is set up for access to your past columns but does not include a comments section.”

He’s absolutely right. I have been remiss about instructions for jumping into the conversation, and for that I sincerely apologize. So let me right that wrong by laying out the ways you can dive into the discussion:

• You can write a letter to the editor.

This can be the traditional method, written on paper and sent through the mail, or it can be by computer and e-mailed to The Press (send it to mpatrick@cdapress.com). This is your basic “stay dry” method because critics can’t respond as quickly. It does, however, get your opinion out to more people and it will also appear online so others can splash back comments, as I describe below.

• Or you can go to The Press Web site (www.cdapress.com) and read my column online. At the bottom of my column, if you keep scrolling down, there’s a “Comments” section. This is where many of you have been carrying on lively public conversations on all sides of the issues. Each week my column generates between 25-100 comments, so you are very welcome to wade on in with your viewpoint.

Almost all of the stories, letters and editorials in The Press have a comments section. To go directly to a list of all the active comment sites, start at the front page of the online Cd’A Press. On the menu, you will see “Story Comments.” Clicking there will take you to a list of all the busy conversations. Choose any of interest and you will also find that subject’s ongoing comment pool.

My caution to you is that it can get a little muddy in this pond of public ideas. You might want to stick a toe in first and get used to the water. The story comments are open to anyone, and you don’t always know who’s saying what. Some people use their real names, which is my preference, but others make up their monikers. Most of the remarks are reasonable, interesting and often downright entertaining; I learn a lot by reading them. Then, of course, you always have those that cannonball in with commentary that’s all wet.

There aren’t any lifeguards in these pools of thought, though other swimmers usually keep an eye on each other. Any serious foul play (language) is tossed out. My opinion columns are just a starting point, a mere drop in the bucket. If you are game for some adventure, please join in the fun. You can float your ideas to the surface, create some ripples or clear up some murky misconceptions.

Together, we can create a stronger stream of conversation in our city by the lake.

Mary Souza is a concerned citizen of Coeur d’Alene and a local business owner. She has been a volunteer on the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission for the past five years. Her opinions are her own. Any, comments or info can be sent to her confidential e-mail address: thecityspulse@gmail.com. An archive of past columns is available at www.thecityspulse.com.


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"A good community newspaper is a community in conversation with itself." - Walter Lippmann

The Press invites you to contribute your online comments, with positive statements whenever possible and, when necessary, your constructive, negative thoughts.

Commenting Rules
NEW- You must REGISTER in order to post on this forum. None of the information you provide will be used for anything that could be considered commercial in nature. The Press simply uses this information as a means to identify the poster.
- Do not use the comments area to promote commercial ventures.
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- Be positive whenever possible
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- THINK BEFORE YOUPOST and ask yourself these questions;
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Most importantly, would I want my name on this forum?

mary souza wrote on Aug 8, 2007 9:02 AM:

" Pete, I went to the Chevy forum you listed and I see your point. The forum is more organized into categories of topics and it's easier to find the area of your concern. I can see how it could be a great way to promote community discussion, the only question is who would set it up? Would it be the city? or a newspaper? or a community group? Then, I imagine, it would need a moderator, especially when it's on politically-related subjects. People get nasty and mean on these sites sometimes, and some words or posts have to be deleted. And would you make everyone register, as they do on the Chevy site? With real identities or not? I told you I'm good at questions! "

Pete wrote on Aug 8, 2007 5:22 AM:

" My view of blogs is fairly jaded. I've always considered them a bit ego-centric and by design more adept at letting an individual speak his/her mind on topics of their choosing, with little room for allowing meaningful discussion. Yes, allowing comments to blogs can create some discussion, but not in an organized way that facilitates true community interaction. I did a little research last night to try to dig up some "web forum" examples. I use web-forums as my way of researching and staying connected with certain focused communities (e.g. car enthusiest, DIY home repairs, etc.). However, I was really surprised to find that actual physical communities such as cities and small counties are not utilizing these tools for community discussion. Here are two examples of what I'm trying to describe. http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/ew/forums.asp, is an example of a web-community based forum that is fairly advanced. Visit http://cityofhuron.org/forums/index.php, to see how this idea can translate to a true "community forum". I'm disappointed in what I've seen available out there, but I think this tool could be a great way for the people of our city to begin lively and meaningful discussions on critical community issues. I'm not saying that these tools can replace the face to face town hall meeting, but they may get more people interested in attending these types of meetings and making a difference in their community. If nothing else you've helped to create more informed, educated, and connected (very important) citizens. My 2 cents. "

mary souza wrote on Aug 7, 2007 6:36 PM:

" Pete--there are Blogs on this site also. If you check the right side menu above, just a few spots above Story Comments you will find "Blogs", which takes you to actually 70 different topics to comment on. Many of these are older topics, about the last 5 are current. These are posted by community people and commented on by anyone who cares to write in. Is that what you had in mind? If not, can you explain what you envision? "

Pete wrote on Aug 7, 2007 9:36 AM:

" If you really want to facilitate a lively, organized, and meaningful community disussion form, you should do just that, create a CDA Press "forum" website. I agree that allowing comments at the bottom of each article is a good way of organizing the comments from readers, but why limit discussion to the stories your paper presents? Why not let the community decide the topics and organize them in a way that allows meaningful discussion on a broad range of topics to be carried on over weeks or months. It would be much easier to keep peoples' interest in a topic if you used the "web-forum" approach to your site. I also think it would be a useful site for research and opinion that local leaders could use to determine the true wants and needs of their constituents. On top of that you could also provide meaningul and insightful information on the current administration leaders and allow public discussion of these people as a way to inform the public come election time. You'd be suprised at the level of true "community" that web-forums can help facilitate. These tools also bring together people who would otherwise feel that they are alone in their thoughts and feelings and could eventually promote positive, lasting, and meaningful change in our troubled community. "

Quick Poll wrote on Aug 6, 2007 8:36 AM:

" The question asked by the Press on the opening quick poll page has interesting results. Almost HALF the voters give the Police a D or an F grade. Even C is not good is it? I wonder why. Let us see here, a cop lets out of town bike riders go free after totalling a local citizens car? We were down at Art on the Green sunday morning, then went over to the City park event (which we like better) and bought some stuff. We got a couple cool drinks and went to the cement edge by the water to look at all the people. We do that once a year, all we can stomach. Right there below us were some self centered chunks lieing in the sand with their little doggie. Right under the sign that said NO DOGS OR BOOZE ALLOWED. They hung/dangled the terrified dog over the water and tried to make it swim. Then after letting it go, it ran back and hide under the chair of the woman (mother) of these chunky girls and thought that was so funny. I looked around for ten minutes and no cops, no life gaurd on the beach either. This is a big event day, where are the cops and lifegaurds? Other people were walking their dogs all over the grass and parks right past the "no dog" signs. Where are the cops? No tickets were ever handed out but dog dung was everywhere. The little doogie on the beach left it's own tootsie roll in the sand. Just what the next family sitting there would love to step in or have junior come running up with, clutched in his little hand. Look Moomy what I found... a tootsie roll with sand stuck to it. On the way out I approached a city employee and pointed out the beach bums. He said there was NOTHING he could do. He could ask them to leave or call the police to do it. But would do neither. What a loser of a guy (public employee). We dropped our cups in the trash bin and went home. No wonder I gave the city police a very low grade several days ago. "

afraid of current council wrote on Aug 6, 2007 7:52 AM:

" It is hard to speak openly about our city and county politics because there are those profitting the way it is now. The locals that are profitting feel they are long overdue for "the good life" and cashing in even at the cost of a way of life. They feel entitled no matter the cost to their community, family and friends. To them, no one has the right to disagree with them, the current government. I know of many that are afraid to speak out for fear of being chastized publicly and their business being boycotted. Again, thank you Mary for being the voice of the people. Though the people exposed attack you, you show much class by sticking to the facts without retaliating. "

Vote em Out! wrote on Aug 6, 2007 5:35 AM:

" Inept, callous, out of touch is what elected officials all around our county are. Vote em' all out - there can be no worse waiting in the wings. But, one cautionary note, be very wary of putting in more insiders of the developers. One good rule of thumb is to see who the slanted crowd from "that" Spokane paper endorses and vote 100% opposite. That way, bought and sold candidates can be avoided. "

Vote wrote on Aug 5, 2007 3:07 PM:

" If I hear one more time how "CDA used to be" I'll vomit. Free market forces along with slash and burn developers are turning North Idaho into suburbia..The developers are aided by crooked (bought & paid for) local elected officials who really don't give a hoot how "CDA used to be."..Our only hope of regaining sanity is to "Throw the bums out."..We must make our voices heard at the polling places because those we elected (and trusted) to contain growth are simply ignoring the will of the people in favor of a new SUV and a few trinkets & beads..Your vote means a lot more than you might realize..Use it!! "

What did you run of Papst? wrote on Aug 2, 2007 5:10 PM:

" The USA was a better place back in the 1950's to the early '60's. I think if we just revolt and exterminate everyone then life would be better. Oh the good old days. "

me wrote on Aug 2, 2007 4:16 PM:

" to my opinion, give it a rest! to what I know, great job! "

jg wrote on Aug 2, 2007 3:10 PM:

" I've seen many man made lakes and most do not allow swimming. But most did allow recreational paddle type or oar boats and many had fish. Most also had fencing especially when swimming was not allowed. "

Remember wrote on Aug 2, 2007 3:01 PM:

" i remember when the resort was cloud nine and jc penny was down town,and you could take a slow drive on sunday out by the lake,or on the praire without 10 or 15 cars honking behind you,and you could fish just about anyplace without seeing a no trespassing sign,and the people had respect for each other.Our little town is all grown up now and that stinks. The good old days "

to what I know wrote on Aug 2, 2007 3:01 PM:

" You hit the nail right on the head! Exellent post! Thank you for saying it like it really is! "

Hey Mary, wrote on Aug 2, 2007 2:21 PM:

" I received an absentee ballot the other day for the Aug 7th Highway Dist Election... No where did the package say 'anything' about the candidates.. Who these guys are or even if there is an incumbent..though there is space for a write in. I have e-mailed the Elections Dept. of Kootenai County and also asked the editor of this paper via voice mail to at least write something about to attempt to inform the voters. Neither has bothered to respond!! Who we are supposed to vote for.. How is someone supposed to make an intelligenbt decision without being informed?? SO FAR, THE UPCOMING ELECTION APPEARS TO BE A WASTE OF TIME, MONEY AND ANOTHER FARCE.. Do you have any suggestions as to where a citizen might find out who these candidates are? We could always write in YOU. lol "

My opinion wrote on Aug 2, 2007 2:01 PM:

" The only 'dips' around here are the Cali-bagger immigrants. "

What I know... wrote on Aug 2, 2007 1:32 PM:

" What I know: CDA has gotten too big for its infrastructure. CDA has too much emphasis placed on downtown and not nearly enough on other sections of town. CDA has a lot of ultra-rich snobs in Cadillac SUVs, Beemers, etc, and big shiney boats. These people did not make their money here and many act better than the rest of us. CDA City Council promotes projects to bring more and more of these kinds of people here. CDA City Council about once a year makes some token, half-hearted effort at discussing affordable housing so that some of our native young people can stay here and then the talk dies and the issue is lost for another year. CDA has no blight. CDA is just fine and dandy and in fact leaning towards posh. Despite this, LCDC and the City Council claim there is blight so that LCDC can continue to exist long after their useful shelf-life has run out. CDA used to be the place to overhear in the grocery store, “What year did you graduate Coeur d’Alene High? – I know I know you.” Now, it is a place that you now hear, “Oh yes, I lived in San Mateo too, don’t you miss that that heavenly Villencia Sorbet at Che Snooteria? This place has no idea what a fine restaurant is!” CDA used to have manageable traffic and great city services – nuff said on this one! CDA used to be a place that a business person would open shop in whether or not LCD waved tax-payer cash at them or not –like in a normal free-enterprise system. CDA used to provide us with a great quality of life. That has been robbed from us by short-sighted people chasing here and now dollars with no vision of the ramifications that come downstream a few years. CDA used to have no horn honking when you did not jump on the gas the micro-second a traffic light turned green. CDA used to have a really nice Rathdrum Prairie – nuff said on this one. CDA is not totally ruined yet, so the next election cycle is critical to us all. Get out and vote for a change. Vote in fresh faces to the City Council who will dissolve LCDC. Let’s get back to mainstream, middle-class normalcy and forget this quest by City Officials to be ultra-rich, Snootvile, USA. "

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