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The City's Pulse

Posted: Thursday, Nov 29, 2007 - 11:07:37 pm PST
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Mary Souza

Must we all think alike?

Transparency has been trumped again here in our Lake City. In a now common pattern of behavior, the City Council has tried to squelch questions and control the flow of information. Last week, they relegated me to a distinguished list of city volunteers who have been removed from their positions for asking too many questions.

The mayor and council would like you to believe they are open and willing to have questions brought forward. But when legitimate concerns are raised, they grill the questioner about college credentials or wag a scolding finger at them. And if the advocate persists, they can expect personal attacks, fabricated allegations and embellished investigations.

As one of the city's planning and zoning commissioners for the past six years, I frequently raised questions on a variety of issues. But last week, without notice or warning, I woke to a 7:30 a.m. surprise the morning before Thanksgiving -- a speaker phone call from the mayor, city administrator and assistant city attorney. They informed me of my removal from P&Z and cited the reason for my dismissal as "low morale" on the commission. And they didn't offer so much as a thank you for six years of volunteer service.

Funny, because those of us on P&Z got along well and had pleasant conversations as we ate dinner together before each meeting. Maybe by low morale, the mayor meant that LCDC is trying to expand its boundaries and will need P&Z approval in the near future. And, even though my one vote would never change the outcome either way, I might ask some public questions on television. Or maybe by low morale the mayor really meant that four P&Z commissioners have very close ties with LCDC, the same four who supported my dismissal: 1. Brad Jordan, who is also a member of the LCDC board and co-owner of a local real estate company. 2. Tom Messina, a builder and developer who recently brought a project to LCDC for possible funding. 3. Scott Rasor, a surveyor who works with development projects and is a strong supporter of LCDC. 4. John Bruning, the newest City Council member-elect. John's City Council campaign message was prominent on Riverstone's huge electronic billboard last month and John has become a favorite of LCDC.

These are all commissioners I have served alongside for six years. I would have welcomed the opportunity to talk with them about any concerns, but was never given that courtesy. The remaining two commissioners, who did not support my dismissal, were unaware of any low morale on P&Z.

This move by the city has certainly caused some "low morale" among citizens in our community. I have received a flood of e-mails, letters and phone calls. People are angry that the city would dismiss a volunteer who's been conscientiously seeking transparency in government.

Here are just a few of the many comments I have received. I won't include names because retribution seems to be the method of this City Council:

• "I was so shocked when I read about the way the City Council made a decision that is uncalled for. You are one of the few who wants the best for Coeur d'Alene. When I listen to the Planning Commission on the Cd'A station I am always impressed at how well you work with such devotion for the citizens of Coeur d'Alene."

• "We are surely disappointed but not surprised that the mayor and City Council dismissed you, recognizing they don't like scrutiny; however, their public and vicious manner of doing so is utterly despicable. People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing!"

• "Sorry to hear you were removed from the Planning Commission. You were the sole advocate for the citizens. Now what? Does the political steamroller pick up speed? Does the LCDC gain more power and make decisions without accountability to the voters? It's a sad day when individuals of your integrity are summarily removed from office."

Perhaps the best way to end this column is with a famous quote that was also sent to me last week. These are the words of a strong leader of many, Gen. George S. Patton, who said, "If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking."

Mary Souza is a concerned citizen of Coeur d'Alene, local business owner, former nurse and served as a Cd'A Planning and Zoning Commissioner for six years. Her opinions are her own. A free archive of this column is available at www.thecityspulse.com and comments can be sent to her confidential e-mail address: thecityspulse@gmail.com.


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X wrote on Feb 25, 2008 9:51 AM:

" Want great info about Coeur d'Alene politics without the goofy comments from the HBO incontinent comments? Check this web site out- http://opencda.com/ "

8ch Bee Oh wrote on Feb 24, 2008 2:59 PM:

" 50 ft deep underground utilities? Unsafe traffic lights? Why do you people just sit there and do nothing while our city falls apart. Oh my, what's next? Please help us Mary. "

Driver wrote on Feb 23, 2008 10:45 AM:

" Is it true that our traffic lights are out of spec? "

No way wrote on Feb 22, 2008 10:27 AM:

" Why do people keep avoiding the subject. We have serious infrastructure issues that need to be resolved and so far, the only idea anybody has had is using squirrels to direct traffic. We can do better if we try. "

so... wrote on Feb 21, 2008 10:45 PM:

" Ace. Do you make it a habit of being a pretentious blowhard, or is it something in your shallow dna pool. Let's see if the nitwit city council and mayor have the cajones to raise the mill rate that high. I have a suspicion that the Press won't let them sneak it pass the people. "

Ace wrote on Feb 21, 2008 2:08 PM:

" So said: "Has there been any planning for the huge decrease in property tax revenues next year due to the Real estate collapse? With LCDC property taxes off the table, will the council let the city go broke?"

So, if you took a few minutes and learned something about how local governments set property tax levies you would know how uninformed you are. Before opening your mouth you should get your facts straight. The value of the property within the city could decrease 50% and there would be ZERO effect on the amount of property taxes the city would get. The rate would go up and they would still get there $$. Do your homework or be quite. "

Who's Idea wrote on Feb 21, 2008 1:49 PM:

" You gotta be kidding me! We have power lines that are burried 25 feet underground. Who's idea was that? "

No Way wrote on Feb 21, 2008 11:08 AM:

" Underground utilities are hard enough to service but now they're 8-15 feet further underground. Add this one with the traffic light situation and all of the other items that are still unresolved and we have a lot of questions that still need answers. Now what? Does the political steamroller pick up speed? "

So what wrote on Feb 21, 2008 10:31 AM:

" Were the traffic lights lights left at the original / typical elevation or we they also raised? And if the city raised the grade, does that mean that underground utilities are now even harder to get to for service? "

X wrote on Feb 21, 2008 9:36 AM:

" Hey 'So...', what's with asking pertinent questions when the HBO circle-fiesta is just humming along so nicely? "

So... wrote on Feb 21, 2008 12:01 AM:

" ...why did the city spend $4.5 Million to raise the Kroc Center up to street level when it's still 8-15 ft BELOW grade? And what's with the Church towering over Ramsey? The main building is toward the golf course and raising it had little to no effect on its usefulness. The city could have used that money to buy snow plows and pay for extra snow removal personnel. Now, the assessor's office has an 'emergency' and the money is spent. Has there been any planning for the huge decrease in property tax revenues next year due to the Real estate collapse? With LCDC property taxes off the table, will the council let the city go broke? Sorry to interupt the juvenile and mundane banter of the out-of-state trolls from HBO...not. "

What about? wrote on Feb 20, 2008 9:00 PM:

" Very funny Mr Green. But your idea will only work during the day. We need more and better traffic lights and I wish somebody from the Dept of Road Widing and Traffic Signals would do something. "

Mr. Green wrote on Feb 20, 2008 3:55 PM:

" Streetlights consume far too much energy. I say raise them up, and replace them with trained squirrels. They look so cute wearing little orange vests and holding up little stop signs.
"

Overly Concerned wrote on Feb 20, 2008 11:47 AM:

" I heard that there were a few places around town where the snow piled up and almost covered the street lights. So maybe we should also raise the lights. "

Randle Patrick McMurphy wrote on Feb 20, 2008 11:41 AM:

" X - You have contradicted yourself.
"

X wrote on Feb 19, 2008 11:19 PM:

" "And, I'm not some thong wearing realtor." Agreed...not smart enough to be a realtor. "

What about? wrote on Feb 19, 2008 9:27 PM:

" As it looks like the side bar rant has ran it’s course, let’s get back to the street light issue. Something needs to be done to make our roads as safe as they can be! "

Golden Mean wrote on Feb 19, 2008 11:17 AM:

" I care about who Golden Mean is. And, I'm not some thong wearing realtor. "

Aladinsain wrote on Feb 18, 2008 6:18 PM:

" I couldn't care less who the troll known as goldandmean is. "

REAR VIEW wrote on Feb 18, 2008 2:05 PM:

" Golden Mean is really thomgman, now that is surprising. He is a real estate agent at Coldwell banker and on the local democrat executive committee. I've heard that thongman's main task for the dems is to find individuals who will run for office. Apparently thongman is as successful at finding candidates as he is at selling real estate. Being thongman is not a pretty picture, especially from the rear view. "

Golden Mean wrote on Feb 18, 2008 1:50 PM:

" To the City Pulse Drones: So now my name is ThomG. And, I sell real estate too? The last time around you guys said that my name was Dave O and before that I was Tubob. Buzz, buzz, buzz... "

Golden Mean wrote on Feb 18, 2008 12:26 PM:

" Ooops, I made a trolbortion. Excuse me everybody. "

Anybody see wrote on Feb 18, 2008 11:09 AM:

" the pictures of ThomG at the HBO blobfest? Would anyone buy a house from this man? Apparently not. That he is GM is no surprise. Pathetic. More to be pitied than laughed at. "

X wrote on Feb 18, 2008 9:13 AM:

" Hey everybody, look! Golden spleen has dropped another stinky trolbortion. hahaha, good one Thomy. Sold any real estate lately? "

Randle Patrick McMurphy wrote on Feb 17, 2008 6:28 PM:

" GM, you have angered Rached's eunuchs. "

Golden Mean wrote on Feb 17, 2008 1:25 PM:

" Witness the gloomy buzz of the City Pulse Drones. I’m sure your Queen is pleased. "

to RE Investor wrote on Feb 17, 2008 9:51 AM:

" EXELLENT! "

X wrote on Feb 17, 2008 9:26 AM:

" Trolbortion best describes every single Golden Mean post. " Hahahahaha. "

RE Investor wrote on Feb 16, 2008 12:21 PM:

" Abortion is the most visual and accurate depiction of this ill-designed alimentary corridor. Trolbortion best describes every single Golden Mean post. "

Golden Mean wrote on Feb 16, 2008 1:02 AM:

" To RE Investor - Can we agree not to use the word abortion as an adjective anymore? "

RE Investor wrote on Feb 15, 2008 11:48 AM:

" Back to the Riverbend campus: I remember when there were 1700 students at NIC and the parking was horrible then. Fake-PhD Barry Schuler was trying to take over the Ft. Grounds because he saw the need for more space in the future but was fired for malfeasance and lying about his credentials. (HIs partisans still managed to get the Bosley auditorium named in his honor, despite his lack thereof). The new campus could lease/purchase the Greyhound Park for an instant student union and tack and field facility. The Outlet Malls are hurting and could be purchased/leased while the RE market is tanking, giving the campus teaching facilities immediately. The workforce training center of NIC is already there, as well as many potential employers for students. All this would allow for a smooth transition from the old patchwork/inefficient campus to the new energy efficient, aesthetically and cohesively designed campus. BTW, I am a past student at NIC and think the campus design is an abortion. "

Student wrote on Feb 14, 2008 11:50 PM:

" What?!? I've worked for everything that I have and end up being called a socialist. This town has a mean streak. "

Golden Mean wrote on Feb 14, 2008 12:22 PM:

" Niles, have your manager call my manager. "

to niles wrote on Feb 14, 2008 12:00 PM:

" yeah how dare you scold the socialist spoiled brats of today that expect everything just handed to them by the government using our tax dollars. Don't you know that no one is to be held accountable? How dare you want your tax monies spent in the best possible way. "

Student wrote on Feb 14, 2008 11:01 AM:

" To Niles: Don't scold me. I can see why every other poster here is giving it to you as will the 5 to 10 thousand new students you speak of. "

Student is partly correct! wrote on Feb 13, 2008 11:03 PM:

" Dump Judy Meyer. Keep NIC there as a prep school. Move votech classes to Riverbend near manufacturing to minimize their rents and trans costs. Complete the education matrix out on the prairie. Students in their Junior and Senior year need to start sweating their student loan payments. they don't have time for ambience and culture. As for a stadium, skrew the sports! Let the hike and kayak. Final task: DUMP LOCAL CONTROL OF NIC AND ALL OTHER POST HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION. Hike tuition to pay its own way with support from the 1% sales tax hike to offset tuition costs for those with prior parent incomes under $40,000. If we are to support anyone, let it be the working family with generational roots as opposed to the affluent tansplant wannabes who are suffering culture shock and diminished opulence after relocating from tinsel town. A great laugh as they bite their tongue and drop their shoulders: the now live in closn town. "

Con Carne wrote on Feb 13, 2008 8:04 PM:

" No Niles, that's how you interpreted what I’m saying. Sounds to me like you’re still winging it with your +/- 5000 new student prediction. If this was a business discussion you’d be setting yourself up to loose your job. But, since this is more political in a nature you can say whatever you want to without fear of repercussion. Have I ever read a map? Why yes Niles I have. By the way, on this map that you refer to do you see anything out on the prairie to support your new college. Or are you suggesting that we move the city to the prairie too? Also, are you going to ask the farmers to stop burning their fields? Where’s the waste going to go when they flush? Where’s the water coming from? "

Golden Mean wrote on Feb 13, 2008 5:58 PM:

" Nor should you buy a new car when your kids need dental work. Also, you shouldn't use the obvious to try to explain things that you don't understand. Research before you stir the pot. That goes for you too Niles. There's going to be 5 to 10 thousand new students... you gave yourself a little bit of fudge room there didn't you buddy? Ok, let's build a new college for 5 to 10 thousand new students. What's it going to cost? 50 to 100 million dollars? The City Pulse has stupefied the population. "

Niles wrote on Feb 13, 2008 4:37 PM:

" Student.. You formed your opinion on the assumption that we are the "older generation messing around with things we don't know about". You also state that there's "no culture" on the prairie which is not only insulting but wrong. While you're to be commended for your hard work, aspiration and scholastic diligence you display a immature level of arrogance. Having worked since you were 15 I know you care a great deal about how your money is spent. If you see it being unnecessarily wasted you will speak out. The opinion of many people (some old, some young, all intelligent) is that constructing the new college campus on the river would be poor use of our hard earned tax dollars. There is another option that is close by and much less costly to procure and build on. Once constructed guess what will happen? That campus will develop its own culture pretty much like the one you enjoy now. The collegiate subculture is shared by all higher educational institutes. Enjoy your time in college and I expect that you will do very well in life. In the mean time I'd suggest a good dose of respect for other people and their opinions and not forming your own based on assumptions. "

to student wrote on Feb 13, 2008 4:22 PM:

" Then you should ALSO learn that an education comes from the instructors/educators and data base of some kind. Not a fancy campus. There are people out there that are getting their education off of the internet. There is no corralation between funds expended on an education and actually getting an education. "

Student wrote on Feb 13, 2008 3:33 PM:

" I've been working since I was 15. I'm still working trying to pay my way through college hoping that with an education, I will be able to afford to live here and buy a house one day. But right now, money is tight. I may be younger than you but here's a tip anyways, why don't you try to avoid using assunptions to form your opinions. "

Con Carne wrote on Feb 13, 2008 12:34 PM:

" Niles, I like it when you call me Meaty Man. You still haven't answered all of my questions. It's like you have money that's burning a hole in your pocket. And regarding what I seem to think, how long have you been reading minds? "

to student wrote on Feb 13, 2008 10:05 AM:

" You are in college and probably not paying into the system yet, so this is MY tax money and I do also have a say in the way it is spent. Besides, 4extra miles is not gonna hurt and there are busses now. (city link)

To GM, Most of us are NOT against the crock center. We are against the shady way the mayor and city council went about getting it! I cannot justify buying a new car when my kids need dental work. There are more important things that this city needs than a show piece for the mayor. "

Niles wrote on Feb 13, 2008 6:54 AM:

" Mr. Meaty, you talk like the prairie is located on another planet. NOT! The downtown area is already crowded especially during the tourist season. Adding 5 to 10 thousand daily students to this congestion would be a nightmare for everyone. No, new campuses are not typically constructed in the middle of cities. They are usually constructed away from metropolitan areas and towns grow up around them. Thus the term "college town". Costs? The Stimson site alone is $10 million and it will require environmental remediation. How much prairie land could that money purchase? Now why do I need qualifications to express my opinion and address facts on this issue? Do you know Mike Kennedy perchance? Sources of information: Map- The prairie is located really close to the city of CdA. Try looking at a map Meaty man. $10,000,000.00 from the LCDC website, this paper and elsewhere. People like you seem to think that everyone else is dumb and should shut up and behave. That is the same mentality that drives city hall around here. "

Golden Mean wrote on Feb 12, 2008 6:39 PM:

" Come guys, give the kids a break. It's hard enough to be a student, you don't need to banish them to prairie too. I can't believe this is the same group who was having a cow over the Kroc Center. "

Student wrote on Feb 12, 2008 5:47 PM:

" I think that moving the college to the prairie is a bad idea. First off, my transportation costs will go up. Secondly, the culture of the school I attend is import to me and to the other students. This is no culture out on the prairie. This is another case of the older generation messing with things that they know nothing about. Please let the students decide. "

Con Carne wrote on Feb 12, 2008 3:19 PM:

" Niles, you were probably thinking about my cousin, Con Frijoles. How much will a prairie campus cost? How many more students will attend? Perhaps the roads can be adapted to handle the increased traffic but what will that cost? All of the colleges that I have seen are located in the middle of the city which they serve, not out on the fringe. I don’t think learning out in the middle of nowhere will appeal to many students. How much more will the new campus cost the students / citizens? What are your qualifications regarding campus design and relocation? Please don't say City Pulse reader. I sense that you mean well but where did you get your facts? Show me the numbers! "

Niles wrote on Feb 12, 2008 2:01 PM:

" With Meat (my bad)... If whatever population is forced to ingress and egress to a campus boarded by the river that limitation will congest all traffic routes. The open prairie can accommodate routes from all directions keeping the traffic flow manageable. The river front property is limited in availability and extremely pricey. Plus some of the property in question may require costly environmental clean up. The project is going to cost a lot of money regardless of where it is built. But when all is said and done a prairie campus will get much more facility for the bucks. Leave the river frontage for the wealthy to develop. Cash in the NIC property. Design a new prairie campus from scratch with enough space for future growth. "

Homer wrote on Feb 12, 2008 2:00 PM:

" mmmmm, Con Carne, aaalglglglll "

Golden Mean wrote on Feb 12, 2008 1:32 PM:

" Fact - out on the prairie, you'll have to contend with the attacks from various nomad groups. I personally find it hard to learn while arrows are flying overhead. Fact - 2+2=4. Fact – stating the obvious does not make one an expert. Con Carne is right, get out and fix it or stop making trouble. "

Con Carne wrote on Feb 12, 2008 11:46 AM:

" Niles, carne means meat, not beans. Again, land is cheaper on the prairie is not a solution. It will cost a lot of money to redirect large portions of the population. Traffic flow will be impacted and the infrastructure will need to be updated/modified/upgraded to support a large population shift. This will cost a ton of money and as a famous philosopher once said, “Fact: money does not grow on trees!” America is tired of hip pocket solutions. Ones that sound good but are not real world applicable. "

Niles wrote on Feb 12, 2008 6:36 AM:

" TO: With Beans........ Prairie land is cheaper than waterfront land. That is a fact. Property on open prairie land has easier access than property with access limited by water. This is a fact. Money not used to buy dirt can be used to buy other things, also a fact. Fact: Money does not grow on trees. This will be taxpayer money that was hard earned and it should always merit thrifty oversight. A prudent solution should consider these facts. These are rather straight forward and not "political double talk". We can have cheaper more accessible land with a larger campus of higher caliber. Or we buy expensive property with limited access and build a smaller campus that would be compromised with budget strained facilities. One would be an institution of higher learning while the other a marginalized showcase. "

X wrote on Feb 11, 2008 11:42 PM:

" Aww..RE Investor...that's just crazy talk! Settle down, hoss. The rich townfo'k ain't gonna
let some reasonable discourse get the go-ahead. Shucks, even I dun got that figured! Best to sit back in the saddle and watch the steers 'n geldin's slam up agin' the sewer walls...'Stone' walls, that is... "

Golden Mean wrote on Feb 11, 2008 8:35 PM:

" There is also a homeless issue to contend with. My solution is land costs less on the prairie. We should also provide them with an education, out on the prairie where it costs less. "

Con Carne wrote on Feb 11, 2008 3:21 PM:

" "Land is cheaper on the prarie" is not a solution! This looks like the work of yet another wannabe politican. The American people are sick and tired of the political double-talk. Stop wasting tax payer money yacking about what you are going to do and get to work. Otherwise, stop making trouble. "

Mary Souza wrote on Feb 11, 2008 2:36 PM:

" The "cahootin'" newsletter that was posted in 4 parts here was my first one about the Ed. Corridor. I have a second newsletter on this same subject, a chapter 2, if you will, called "An Idaho State of Mind". You can access it at www.thecityspulse.com, under Newsletters. "

Mary Souza wrote on Feb 11, 2008 2:32 PM:

" Let me be clear that I put my name to my comments, so the enthusiastic posts below are not from me. But I do agree with "to Con Carne" that the most essential goal we should have is to provide a great education. Some political leaders seem to care more about their version of economic development for the few than focusing on the best education for the students. "

RE Investor wrote on Feb 11, 2008 1:18 PM:

" The idea of a North Idaho College/University at Riverbend in Post Falls has been around for a few years. The snobs in Coeur d'Aloon would rather make money for the privileged few than to address the Real Collegiate needs of the region. It's ALL about CdA. Everyone else is unimportant. "

to CON carne wrote on Feb 11, 2008 9:48 AM:

" It IS in the letter. Please read AGAIN! Here I'll spell it out. POST FALLS OR THE PRAIRIE WHERE THE LAND IS AT LEAST HALF THE PRICE THUS PROVIDING MORE MONIES FOR, get this, WHAT THE PEOPLE WOULD BE PAYING FOR,

AN EDUCATION! "

Con Carne wrote on Feb 11, 2008 12:35 AM:

" So Cahootin' - Do you have solutions too or do specialize in pointing out problems that you aren't gunna fix? That's just making trouble if you ask me. "

Thanks for wrote on Feb 10, 2008 8:36 PM:

" posting Mary's newsletter. The education-alimentary-corridor ending at the sewer treatment plant is a fatally flawed concept. Why? Because the area is growing... and it will continue to grow. Gov Otter and the Dept of Education understand this but the LCDC-obsessed city council and mayor don't. Post Fall's Riverbend could be a fantastic location for a NORTH IDAHO college/university. A state-of-the-art campus could be designed that would be the region's campus for the next 200 years..not the next 10. Students could use the centennial trail to bike to work and enjoy the solitude of the Spokane River on the north side. There is the old Rail Bridge (of the cent trail) over the river that could lead to married, off-campus student housing for grad students, etc.. The Liberty Lake/Post Falls area is becoming the high tech area of our region, so internships and jobs would be close by- not to mention Cabelas and the growing industrial park. Adequate student housing could make the college experience free of having to drive/park/drive. The School would even have enough room for a football stadium ( Go Osprey!). The present NIC campus could be downsized, possibly into a medical/nursing school facility and the valuable lake/riverfront property sold to offset the new campus's cost. The actual beach areas could remain a city park. These ideas require perseverance and long-term vision... traits sorely lacking with this city council and mayor. Perhaps the county commissioners and Mayors Larkin and Holmes could be included in a Regional Collegiate Plan? "

Chief wrote on Feb 10, 2008 4:29 PM:

" mmm, Juicy Fruit..
"

Randle Patrick McMurphy wrote on Feb 10, 2008 1:03 PM:

" Looks like Rached's been inspired. But why is she avoiding the street light issue? "

Is there some cahootin' goin' on? part 4 wrote on Feb 9, 2008 4:51 PM:

" Many years ago, about 23 to be exact, I worked as a Clinical Nursing Instructor for Spokane Community College. My students were mostly single moms, working part-time jobs to put food on the table as they attended school full-time to become nurses. Yet all the while they were parents, caring for their children, taking them to daycare or dropping them off at preschool. These students were very dedicated. They worked incredibly hard and every single minute of their day was busy.

So when I think of a campus for higher education, I wonder what would be best for the students. How easily will they get to the campus? Where will they park? Where will they live? Will daycare and grocery shopping be nearby?

Let's face it, the typical student will be scraping up enough money to go to NIC and continue at one of the branch colleges. Or they might be older folks in town trying to finish some college they had earlier in their lives. But most will be working and going to school at the same time, and often caring for a family as well. Cost and convenience will be essential issues for these students.

Think about which campus scenario will offer affordable, nearby housing for student-level families, easy access for chronically late and stressed adult students, free or cheap convenient parking and reasonable nearby services such as daycare, groceries and inexpensive dining? The Fort Grounds campus, with higher CdA rents, traffic back ups all the way to the freeway, limited parking and treacherous walking across busy NW Blvd, leaves a lot of concerns.

Then, please, think about taxpayers. Remember that no matter where the money comes from for any type of higher education campus, whether from city, county, state, LCDC or state schools--it all comes out of taxpayer pockets. There is no such thing as government money.

This subject has layer upon layer to discuss. So, Chapter 2 of this newsletter about the Educational Corridor / University Place, will be focused on the taxpayers as well as the types of education, academic and/or technical, the future expansion capabilities, basic safety concerns and much more. These higher education opportunities are for the entire northern part if our state. As one citizen observed, our local community college is not named "Coeur d'Alene Community College", it's for all of North Idaho. And so are the branches of our state schools. This is a regional issue. Let's keep that in mind. Mull it over, we'll talk again. "

Is there some cahootin' goin' on? part 3 wrote on Feb 9, 2008 4:49 PM:

" So now, Coeur d'Alene not only wants a comparable project and is using the same name but they are choosing many of the same questionable business and legal partners that were used in the U of I fiasco! It's amazing. But they're keeping all the details very hush-hush.

I told you in my newsletter two weeks ago, that LCDC is making plans for the DeArmond Mill, a key piece property for the corridor that will cost $10 million dollars. It is listed in LCDC's annual report as a priority and Mayor Bloem reported back in January of 2007 that LCDC had retained a consultant for development of the corridor. Yet last week, in an effort to refute my newsletter, Tony Berns, Exec. Director of LCDC was quoted in the CdA Press saying he had "no plan", "LCDC has no plan", he repeated, to buy the property. Now, just a week later, they are in the Press again, announcing their plan to plan to do exactly that! This kind of double talk scares me. It makes me think that, as one concerned citizen said to me, maybe there's some "cahootin' goin' on".

Why are the CdA Mayor and council pushing for this campus? They say it will bring good people into our city to teach at the schools. They talk frequently about the payroll at NIC and how we need more of those kinds of people living in our town to improve the economy.

But critics note that accessibility will be a problem if all the schools are in CdA. They say that NW Blvd and the Fort Grounds area is already congested and expansion will bring serious problems with parking, traffic and student housing. They're concerned that any buildings or parking structures will cost significantly more due to the problems with access and expensive real estate. They worry that taxpayers will have a far greater price tag if the schools are located here, rather than in Post Falls or on the Prairie. "

Is there some cahootin' goin' on? part 2 wrote on Feb 9, 2008 4:47 PM:

" Way back in Steve Judy's reign as Mayor, the city of CdA invited the University of Idaho to use the Osprey building for $10. per year. Yes, that says ten dollars. The city had been using it for offices, so then had to lease and remodel another building on Sherman for the displaced city employees, at costs in excess of $6000/month ever since. There was also an active wastewater bond on the Osprey building, at that time, that the city had to continue to pay, to the tune of $25,000/month. (rate payers saw their bills go up because of this) The city thought it was worth all the cost to keep U of I here in town. U of I, on the other hand, took the $10. per year Osprey space, subdivided it, and rents about a quarter of it to Lewis-Clark State College for a significant amount of money each month. I'd say U of I is getting a good deal both ways.

Last year, the Idaho State Board of Education declined to support the Educational Corridor concept in CdA, and told the college presidents to remain neutral on the subject. Our Governor, Butch Otter, also spoke publicly against the idea and said it's not good to take prime land off the tax rolls.

The Educational Corridor idea was recently re-named "University Place". It's the name recommended by the state if there's more than one school together at a location. But it's a terrible name, and here's why: A few years ago there was a huge financial mess with a similar project down in Boise that was named University Place. It ended very badly with investigations, lawsuits and censures. The President of the University of Idaho resigned because of this enormous problem and the school and its foundation lost all kinds of money. "

Is there some cahootin' goin' on? wrote on Feb 9, 2008 4:45 PM:

" It's not an easy subject. It's not a fun read. But it might be one of the most important issues facing Coeur d'Alene in the near future, and you're probably not aware of the subject or the impact it could have on our city and your wallet.

Bits and pieces of Educational Corridor info have been made public over the past years yet very few people know what's really happening. I still have lots of questions, even after talking, asking and reading as much as possible. So let's step through some of the basics:

The Educational Corridor would be an expansion of NIC's campus, north along the river to the old Osprey building near the city's wastewater treatment plant. The idea is to have one campus where people can get a 2 year degree at NIC and then go on to a local branch of either U of I, Lewis Clark State College, Boise State University or Idaho State U, to finish their education.

The politics of this thing is thick. Mayor Bloem and the CdA council have been focused on this issue for years. (It was actually started before Sandi's time by Steve Judy and Bill Panos) Our urban renewal agency, LCDC, is now the Mayor's key player in this project. CdA wants the Educational Corridor here, but Post Falls has tried very hard to get it over to their Riverbend Park. They've offered cheap land and all kinds of considerations to attract the schools. At the same time, there's a large piece of land earmarked for higher education out on the Prairie "

to What?!? wrote on Feb 9, 2008 1:17 PM:

" We are surely disappointed but not surprised by how MS dismisses you, recognizing she doesn't like scrutiny; however, her public and vicious manner of doing so is utterly despicable. People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing. "

to What?!? wrote on Feb 9, 2008 1:17 PM:

" We are surely disappointed but not surprised by how MS dismisses you, recognizing she doesn't like scrutiny; however, her public and vicious manner of doing so is utterly despicable. People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing "

What?!? wrote on Feb 9, 2008 1:08 PM:

" to MS - Ok, edit, not censor. So then, who gets to decide what information to edit out? Intelligent people ask questions and challenge the answers. The process does not require an editor. Your way of thinking has the Nazis "editing" Germany.(Still sounds like the same thing to me). I Win! "

Re: Golden mean wrote on Feb 9, 2008 9:05 AM:

" I rest my case (for removal) "

Golden Mean wrote on Feb 8, 2008 5:22 PM:

" In response to Niles concerns, I have developed a plan. First, we build an ark. The next step is we hire consultants to estimate just how high the flood waters will rise. Then, we buy up all of the soon to be lake front property before the flooding. After the snow melts and the water level has reached our land, we sell for big bucks to the Californians. Then we take those profits and we buy the underwater lake property and wait for the flood to reside and then sell those properties to the Californians too. With those profits, we will build The City Pulse Arena. Any leftovers will be donated to the department of traffic signals and road widening to fund the round to square traffic light conversion project. "

To what????? wrote on Feb 8, 2008 5:22 PM:

" This would be editing not "censoring". Any truly intelligent person would understand the difference. Had you even a slight grasp of the language, you would have understood that. As another poster said, please, don't breed. "

ask Missouri wrote on Feb 8, 2008 4:36 PM:

" Looks like the revolution has begun! Take America back one city at a time!


!!!RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT!!! "

Dr. Crane wrote on Feb 8, 2008 1:06 PM:

" Now Niles, you know us Crane's are plenty wealthy. Yeah baby I hear the blues are callin' tossed salad and scrambled eggsssss, yeah...
"

What?!? wrote on Feb 8, 2008 12:59 PM:

" How do you keep "the comments on track and reasoned" without censoring? These type of contradictions add to the hypocrisy of it all. It's also another example of MS writing a letter to herself not only to promote her own agenda, but she gave herself a couple of nice compliments too. Any intellegent person would have picked up on this right away. "

Niles wrote on Feb 8, 2008 10:37 AM:

" Here's some no nonsense. Today CdA is facing a weather emergency of historic proportions. It had a "rainy day" fund set aside for such emergencies. But our wonderful Mayor robbed that fund last year for her pet project, the Kroc pot. Is the fund holding out? Could we have had better service if those moneys were available? We have people forced to live in homes when they cannot deal with this heavy snowfall. Where are the emergency shelters for these people? Can we deal with the looming flood? Our leadership has served the wealthy well. Too bad for the rest of us. "

Whatever wrote on Feb 8, 2008 8:53 AM:

" pretty much says it all. I'm sorry Mary, continuing this column demeans you and your message. Why would an articulate, intelligent woman want her name on a column that draws the idiotic GM, fun gal and all the alters. I said it before and I'll say it one last time, this has disintegrated to nonsense that is beneath you. I generally agree with much of what Niles says. But he is dead wrong about this. If you start a comments column on your site, you can control what is posted. Not censor as such, but keep the comments on track and reasoned. But as I said above...whatever. "

ask Missouri wrote on Feb 8, 2008 8:07 AM:

" See what happens when the city council and mayor don't listen to the public! This is JUST an observation. "

G Mean Fan wrote on Feb 8, 2008 1:56 AM:

" I was at a party when I heard that Golden Mean has a website where he posts while he's out of work because of the screen writer's strike. Does anybody else know about the website? My teacher in college had a few things GM had written in a street rag in the '90's during his Bukowski phase that just blew me away and I would love to read them again. "

just saying wrote on Feb 7, 2008 9:54 PM:

" Here’s a thought… How about hiring the homeless to direct traffic? That has to be cheaper than retrofitting the existing traffic lights with the square light conversion kit. "

Randle Patrick McMurphy wrote on Feb 7, 2008 6:04 PM:

" Nurse Rached, Am I on your list? "

Mary Souza wrote on Feb 7, 2008 3:42 PM:

" Thanks, for the support, Niles. I haven't emailed the Press yet, so I'll just let it be. I just sent out another email newsletter--hope you're on the list. "

Golden Mean wrote on Feb 7, 2008 12:58 PM:

" I never thought I would say this... I agree with Niles. "

Easy Now wrote on Feb 7, 2008 12:36 PM:

" "Mike Patrick--thank you for your resilience and patience with this comment thread" M Souza 01/18/08. "

Easy Now wrote on Feb 7, 2008 12:24 PM:

" If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking - Patton "

Vern wrote on Feb 7, 2008 11:07 AM:

" You people take yourselves way too serious. Get off your high horses and enjoy some humor.
"

cdw wrote on Feb 7, 2008 9:55 AM:

" Somebody is censoring posts at the press that are not libelous and are free of offensive language. Who's in charge and is there an agenda? "

To easy now... wrote on Feb 7, 2008 8:41 AM:

" No, but it would b e nice is some people actually "thought". "

Niles wrote on Feb 7, 2008 8:37 AM:

" Actually Mary I must respectfully disagree. The commentary on this, your last column, should be allowed to proceed as the public sees fit. Not all the commentary posted here is facetious. While your new web site will add to this arena this arena should remain available. No disrespect intended but your web site will be more like preaching to the choir while the comments here can be viewed by all. Plus this activity demonstrates to the Press the level of importance of the issues you have raised and will raise. So let it be, please. "

Easy Now wrote on Feb 6, 2008 9:53 PM:

" Must we all think alike? "

Mary Souza wrote on Feb 6, 2008 5:32 PM:

" I've been waiting for this thread to fade away gracefully. Seeing that is not going to happen, I will ask the Editor of the Press to pull it off the comments list. Anyone who wants to discuss local issues with me can sign up for my newsletter at www.thecityspulse.com. Very soon there will also be a web site for public conversation, and I will notify everyone through my newsletter. Thank you all for your support.--Mary "

buckethead wrote on Feb 6, 2008 5:12 PM:

" This thread will never die. "

Sniles Remarks wrote on Feb 6, 2008 4:48 PM:

" Circle beats the square. What do you think about making the round street lights bigger then? Has anyone heard anything new from the department of road widening and traffic signals? "

What?!? wrote on Feb 6, 2008 2:05 PM:

" Mary is above some people? And, The people who post here have "mini brains?" This is rich! "

Nonsense wrote on Feb 6, 2008 8:55 AM:

" Mary stated the comments were senseless, not the poster. The poster is simply a mini brain with too much time on his hands. That being said, to continue this venue is nonsense. Mary should request its removal. The continuation is beneath her. "

Mary Souza wrote on Feb 6, 2008 8:38 AM:

" Read the 11 comments before Feb. 5th, they are purposefully written to make no sense. Square traffic lights? Come on. These were never real ideas by an interested person, they all came from the same source. Most probably from "Golden Mean".
He always said his mission was to "kill" this thread. "

Randle Patrick McMurphy wrote on Feb 5, 2008 9:59 PM:

" Nurse Rached, you call the posters "senseless" then you encourage them to sign up for a free newsletter? That doesn't make sense. "

Ouch! wrote on Feb 5, 2008 7:07 PM:

" Geez Mary, its one thing if you don't agree. But, calling somebody senseless is a bit extreme don’t you think? Regardless, good luck with your newsletter. "

Mary Souza wrote on Feb 5, 2008 9:54 AM:

" Obviously the same person has been posting senseless comments under various names on this thread for the past couple of weeks. If you would like to sign up for my free weekly email newsletter, to get a different view about what's happening in our town, please go to: www.thecityspulse.com "

Drop the gate wrote on Feb 4, 2008 4:15 PM:

" They should treat problem intersections like a train track crossing. In addition to a red light, a gate will also come down to block the intersection. You could generate the money to pay for the gates by naming the donator on the gate itself - "Donated by Mr & Mrs John Doe." And instead of a loud bell, the gate's name sake can pick a song to play while the gate is down. "

Sniles Remarks wrote on Feb 3, 2008 11:13 PM:

" Hopefully Mary will address the traffic light issue. It's sure nice to have a friend on the P&Z! We all know that the LCDC has the money to help if the wanted to. "

What about wrote on Feb 3, 2008 12:11 PM:

" It might be the shape of the light that needs to be changed. A square has much more surface area than the same size round. "

MAYBE MORE wrote on Feb 2, 2008 8:18 AM:

" We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, to establish justice and insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution of the United States of America.

Where does it say: it's ok to over tax, profitiers only, only for the educated, for a chosen few, for the elite, only the upper crust, just for corporations.

This is the preamble to OUR constitution! OUR, THE PEOPLE, THE "CITIZENS" of these United States of America! "

MAYBE wrote on Feb 2, 2008 8:05 AM:

" If we put it back in the hands of "THE PEOPLE" instead of government con artists (lcdc), ALL of "THE PEOPLE" would be properly represented instead of the "CHOSEN FEW"!


"

Make Them Bigger wrote on Feb 1, 2008 4:12 PM:

" It's not the color of the lights as much as it is the size that needs to be addressed. It makes sense to make them approx twice their present diameter. That would make reading them correctly much easier on us older residents. Maybe if the LCDC paid as much attention to the existing population as they do the rich developers, we could have the lights that we need for proper traffic safety! "

how about wrote on Feb 1, 2008 12:45 PM:

" a christmas tree like on a drag race track but run it in reverse. Ya know, green, yellow, yellow, yellow, yellow, RED! "

Here's an idea wrote on Jan 31, 2008 10:51 PM:

" Instead of making the yellow light last longer, what about adding a fourth light, possibly an amber one right before the red. The yellow can last however long it used to but next comes amber which will give drivers a second or so of extra warning before the red. I'm up for anything that makes our roads a safer place! "

I thought? wrote on Jan 31, 2008 5:47 PM:

" That I had heard that the dept of road widening and traffic signals had reject the proposed yellow light modification plan. I’m not sure why as it seems as if both drivers and pedestrians will benefit. "

to Overly Concerned wrote on Jan 30, 2008 6:53 PM:

" I pretty sure that the LCDC was petitioned for the necessary funding to purchase the additional yellow light time but I do not know what the results were. I’m hoping that they will consider another study and look into this further. I think that the increased safety margin is good thing and a long time coming. I'm hopeful that somebody here can help with the details. "

Overly Concerned wrote on Jan 30, 2008 3:57 PM:

" Mary, what is the length of the average yellow light? Maybe it would be a good idea to add a couple of extra seconds to give drivers more time to safely slow down? "

? the Mysterion wrote on Jan 29, 2008 7:47 AM:

" Fun gal and golden spleen should get a room and try to figure out what "grown up" means. "

fun gal wrote on Jan 28, 2008 6:54 PM:

" To GM: When hall monitors grow up they become RA's. When they graduate from college, THEN they get to come here. "

To Really? wrote on Jan 28, 2008 2:32 PM:

" The racers were responsible, but the absence of adequate traffic control at that intersection was a contributing factor thought not a causal one. What we do know is that without the light there, the fatal collision occurred. Neither you nor I can say it would or would not have occurred had a functioning traffic signal been there. "

Really? wrote on Jan 28, 2008 12:18 PM:

" Do you think a traffic light would have prevented those kids from racing on Kathleen? What a ridiculous assertion that anyone but those two idiots are responsible for the tragic death of that boy. Get real! "

good ? Niles wrote on Jan 28, 2008 7:47 AM:

" How in the h3ll did Riverstone get a new intersection light system at Seltice and the SCHOOL got none? I don't remember anyone getting killed at this new intersection. I think the woman that was injured and her son killed in front of charter should talk to an attorney. After all she is a tax paying citizen and why should a RICH DEVELOPER get presidence over the LIFE OF A CHILD! TIME TO TAKE OUR CITY BACK! "

Golden Mean wrote on Jan 27, 2008 11:04 PM:

" So this is where Hall Monitors go when they grow up. "

cynical wrote on Jan 27, 2008 6:45 PM:

" Mary,it's typical with our city or state officials that they'll drag their feet on street improvements,until somebody dies.I've seen it before and it will happen again.It's a matter of when. "

Harry you are wrong about the LCDC wrote on Jan 27, 2008 8:17 AM:

" Meridian Schools Sue For URD $$$
Item: Meridian schools sue Eagle over revenues from urban renewal: The district says it doesn't want to lose out on growth; Eagle mayor says the area may actually help the schools/Colleen LaMay, Idaho Statesman

More Info: The state's largest school district is suing Eagle over what it considers an ill-conceived effort to rebuild blighted chunks of Eagle at the expense of Meridian School District families. Meridian school officials fear that if you live in the School District, Eagle and its urban renewal agency eventually could make your property tax rates go up to pay for new schools.

Solution: State legislators, including Rep. Mike Moyle, R-Star, plan to introduce a bill soon to guarantee that educational facilities get their share of increases in the tax rolls in urban renewal districts.


Posted by DFO | 25 Jan 1:23 PM "

Mary Souza wrote on Jan 26, 2008 4:43 PM:

" The proposed light at the Kroc Center will cost $350,000. The Salvation Army plans to pay $100,000 of that, even though developers are typically required to pay the whole cost. That means the city of CdA is responsible for $250,000. The badly needed light on Kathleen at the Charter School will only cost $125,000 because all the wiring and infrastructure is already in place. It's been there for years, waiting for a light. Maybe it will take another fatal accident to get a signal light at this dangerous intersection where brand new drivers from the Charter School try to cross or turn left onto busy Kathleen Avenue. "

Niles wrote on Jan 26, 2008 3:15 PM:

" Well shucks gang I'm just trying to understand what the funding mechanisms are for such civic improvements. Where the funds originate from how their meted out and how they apply to planned and unplanned expenditures. It is curious that a known traffic hazard gets a nominal treatment when a pet project can pull the Cadillac card every time. There's a new light on Seltice for Riverstone that favors the traffic coming in and out of that development. How did that happen? "

Mary Souza wrote on Jan 26, 2008 1:59 PM:

" The comment from "To Niles" sounded like someone who knows what they're talking about. So maybe they can explain to me why the Public Works meeting minutes from Nov. 13, 2006, state the following: "Mr.
Dobler explained that funds for the traffic signal at Kathleen and Howard would have to come
from Quadrant 1 impact fees, but that fund is currently depleted as a result of the recent
completion of the Kathleen/Atlas signal, the Hanley/Atlas signal, the construction of Atlas Road
north of Hanley, and the planned construction of Ramsey Road north of Hanley. Kathleen &
Howard has been identified as a future signalized intersection, but is not currently on the 5 year
plan."

"

No One Important wrote on Jan 26, 2008 12:21 PM:

" To: To Niles: You said, "There are no such thing as quadrant allotments." The minutes of the November 21, 2006, City Council meeting (discussing signalization) read: "Councilman Reid reported that there were 12 accidents in the past 3 years with one fatality. There are 12,000 trips on Kathleen per day with a good compliance on speed along Kathleen Avenue. The accident to traffic ration is 1:1,000,000. She noted that the City uses impact fees for the cost of installation of traffic signals and this intersection is in Quadrant 1; however, the funds for Quadrant 1 are depleted due to the Atlas Road signalization. The cost for intersection signalization is between $125,000 and $175,000. She reported that the Public Works Committee requested staff bring back the signalization issue at one of the January Public Works Committee meetings." In other words, if Mary was incorrect, it's because former Councilman Dixie Reid was incorrect and because the Council failed to catch the inaccuracy in the subsequent Council meeting. Nope. Mary was right. But maybe this is an example of why Councilman Mike Kennedy objects strongly to citizens using Idaho's Open Records law. We're neutering the City's Council's ability to deceive the citizens. Here's another question: If Reid was right about the cost of signalization, why is the proposed light at Golf Course Road and Ramsey Road going to cost two to three times that amount? "

Green eyes wrote on Jan 26, 2008 11:39 AM:

" Good grief, this thread has it's own Alkaline Batteries. The little energiser bunny ones..keeps going...going...going...going... "

to:Mike wrote on Jan 26, 2008 10:35 AM:

" Go Trollin' Mean is Bob Sudsbury from dave olivera's huckleberries online. He's bored with HBO (as everyones else is) and has no life. His domestic scene in the Spokie valley could be MUCH better and he has a job he hates. Show some pity, fer crysesakes. "

Golden Mean wrote on Jan 26, 2008 10:06 AM:

" To Mike - "It" rubs the lotion on "its" skin. "

To Niles wrote on Jan 26, 2008 9:29 AM:

" To answer your question about quadrant allotments:

The city identifies projects and then prioritizes them according the most need. Then the council approves the list which is subject to change when needed.

There are no such thing as quadrant allotments. "

Niles wrote on Jan 26, 2008 8:43 AM:

" Thanx Mary..... Well we can also share dialogue here as long as the Press allows it. That way important information can still be shared with a wider audience. Can you expound on the troubles the city has obtaining HUD funds? It sounds as though HUD requires that any proposed work be put out for competitive contractor bids and the city is not doing that. Is that correct? Also if the the city prorates impact fees according to the contribution capacity for each quadrant then rich quadrants will receive better services than will the poorer quadrants, nes pas? While that sounds equitable it will only serve to keep poor neighborhoods underfunded and rich ones over funded. Do impact fees collected within the LCDC URD go to the URD or the city? "

F D Quadrants wrote on Jan 25, 2008 9:51 PM:

" what we are really interested in is the wealth of the enlightened! "

Mike wrote on Jan 25, 2008 8:45 PM:

" Mary, too bad "Golden Mean" will never e-mail you. Perhaps then "it" will be exposed and "it's" real name could be posted here and at other comment sites. I feel sorry for the fool as no-one is responding to "it's" comments. "

Golden Mean wrote on Jan 25, 2008 7:24 PM:

" Again Niles, I believe that I can answer that. The quadrant allotments will be divided in 8 equal parts among the six different departments, one of which is the Department of Traffic Lights and Street Widening. The remaining funds will be allocated to support various community events such as Grass Fest 2008. The last 1/8 of the quadrant allocations will be kept in a hidden cave until needed. I hope that you found this helpful and I appreciate your concern. "

Mary Souzao4pfm wrote on Jan 25, 2008 6:37 PM:

" Niles and "To Mary"--you are asking such important questions. I don't know all the answers but these are the kinds of things we need to discuss on the new website we're making. I'll let you know when it's ready, which should be very soon. Niles, I don't think all the quadrants are equal, but I'm not certain. I think they collect impact fees for each quad. and keep them separate. The General Services meeting in Nov. of 2006, when the Kathleen light was discussed, indicated that the fund for that quad. was depleted by the Atlas road issues. I doubt that there's enough for the Kroc Center light or the city would have made a public statement in that regard. I was told, behind the scenes, that the city thought the state grant for the Kroc Center light was a "slam dunk". It was written by Panhandle Area Council, which is the group the city also wants to use for affordable housing money from HUD-- a federal agency. The city has really messed up the procedure for the HUD grant, and the federal gov. does take kindly to that. After several retries, the city has finally gotten the money, but they haven't been proper in the bidding process for the agency to administer the HUD grant (sound familiar--no proper bidding process?) The city has flat out stated they will use PAC -- the same agency that did not successfully get the grant for the traffic light. Lots of politics there. And the beat goes on. "

X wrote on Jan 25, 2008 6:30 PM:

" If Bob's 'Frommage d'Amour" is there...I'm all over it. "

Niles wrote on Jan 25, 2008 5:08 PM:

" Mary, are the city budget quadrant allotments divided equally? Are there funds remaining in the pertinent budget quadrant necessary for the Ramsey traffic light and street widening necessitated by the Kroc center? It is so nice to ask questions and get some answers. Too bad none come from our elected officials. "

Golden Mean wrote on Jan 25, 2008 9:59 AM:

" To X - Constant Teenage Sniping happens to be the name of my band. This summer we will be playing at Grass Fest 2008 along with Mama JD, Cowles Favorite Organ, Fungobbler Gal and The House Mom Tom Blues Band. Nurse Mary Rached has been invited to light the first field and Niles will be there too along with the rest of the Red Hot Mamas. Grass Fest 2008 - Let's Burn! "

To Mary wrote on Jan 25, 2008 9:39 AM:

" Another Kathleen Avenue disaster waiting to happen is the foot traffic to the soccer field when parking at the Ramsey Elementry School.

I wonder if the Police Department is still accessing Ramsey Rd. through the Street Department parking lot to avoid trying to exit Kathleen Avenue? "

Mary Souza wrote on Jan 25, 2008 9:21 AM:

" Patti--I've had hundreds of people sign up, so maybe you could double check your address. Here's the right one:
email: thecityspulse@gmail.com

OR, my archive web site, where all the past columns and newsletters are available (for free) is: www.thecityspulse.com
Please make sure you spell "citys" like the possessive without the apostrophe, not like more than one city--NOT "cities". "

X wrote on Jan 24, 2008 10:28 PM:

" Hey Mary...keep at it. There are many of us that support you but are a little concerned that your ankles might be sore from the constant teenage sniping from golden mean/rspa/dfo's favorite brown noser and mama jd/ cowles favorite organ/fungobbler gal. Or that other house mom, tom gorge. "

Mary Souza wrote on Jan 24, 2008 8:05 PM:

" Niles-- according to the city engineer at the Public Works committee meeting back in Fall of '06, after the fatal accident, there had been 12 accidents at that intersection in the previous 5 years. Three of those were injury accidents, with the one being a fatality. There was no "traffic study" per se, only some traffic counts by the city. The biggest part of the engineer's testimony (Gordon Dobler) was the money issue. The impact fees for that quadrant of the city--they split the city into 1/4ths--was already used up by widening Atlas Road up near Prairie and adding a traffic light at Atlas and Hanley. According to Gordon, the intersection on Kathleen near the Charter School was not even on the city's 5 year plan! So, Niles, even though the traffic counts were heavy and there were lots of Charter School parents to testify about the "near misses" when you combine heavy traffic with brand new drivers and an un-signaled intersection, at the end of the meeting, money won out. There was no compelling reason for the city to step up and commit to a light.

As to Meadow Ranch homes near Fred Meyer, they are supposed to have some comment on their property titles, but this has never been done before and no one knows if it will actually happen. The developer is often long gone by the time the homes are sold--they ususally sell the developement to home buiders and real estate companies. You can't trust that all realtors will divulge the risks to their clients.
Anyone who wants to read my new newsletter can email me at: thecityspulse@gmail.com. It's free. "

patti wrote on Jan 24, 2008 6:17 PM:

" MARY, Each time I try to access your email to sign up for your newsletter, it's telling me that page is not available. That the name might have changed. Help, please. "

Golden Mean wrote on Jan 24, 2008 5:57 PM:

" Niles, I can answer that question. My extensive research has shown that it is best to have a traffic signal at every corner. This gives motorists a chance to safely read the billboards and dial their cell phones. I like to use the opportunity to pick the onions and tomatoes off of my hamburger. I also like the idea of having a traffic signal next to the land fill because that way I could just throw all of the garbage that was in my car right out the window. Hope you found this helpful. "

Niles wrote on Jan 24, 2008 4:35 PM:

" Mary... Got your latest news letter and have a question about the decision to place traffic signals. Are traffic flow studies conducted and the information used to support or refute the placement of a signal? What other criteria are used? Also residents who purchase those future properties next to the landfill will have their property values impacted by that location. I do hope this is properly divulged by that developer. "

Chief Bromden wrote on Jan 23, 2008 9:59 PM:

" So Rached's moved into politics? That's it, I'm throwing the drinking fountain out the window and I'm outta here. "

Randle Patrick McMurphy wrote on Jan 23, 2008 2:39 PM:

" I spoon full of sugar helps the City Pulse go down. "

Beavis wrote on Jan 23, 2008 2:03 PM:

" huh, huh, uhhhh his name's BJ "

Golden Mean wrote on Jan 22, 2008 3:53 PM:

" Am I wrong or does Mary = Nurse Ratchet trying to play Sister Maria in the sound of music? "

Mary Souza wrote on Jan 22, 2008 10:27 AM:

" Thanks, B.J. Remember, anyone can sign up for my free email newsletter by sending an email to: thecityspulse@gmail.com "

B. J. wrote on Jan 21, 2008 5:38 PM:

" Read your newsletter the other day, Mary. Good job!
And good luck with all you do. "

to the 1st MP wrote on Jan 19, 2008 8:49 AM:

" TROUBLE MAKERS? Because we see the corruption and try to expose it because WE are paying for it and you feel the need to suppressed it, we are truoble makers? because we do NOT believe in double dip tax, taxation without representation, conflict of interest from elected officials, and the list goes on, we are trouble makers? It is time to clean house throughout American government all the way to congress and white house. And guess what? It starts with one city at a time. It is time for an American government that is for the American people. Mary, Thank you AGAIN for being a TRUE AMERICAN!

RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT! "

Golden Mean wrote on Jan 19, 2008 12:49 AM:

" Mary - Sorry to burst you bubble but I am the reason that this thread is still alive. If you don’t like it please direct your complaints to Co-President of the United States of America Fun Gal as I’m kinda of busy with the whole Grass Fest 2008 thing. "

to Mary wrote on Jan 18, 2008 9:46 PM:

" I am looking forward to your website since the Press also fell under pressure and you removed your column. Thank you. CC "

Mary Souza wrote on Jan 18, 2008 8:17 PM:

" Mike Patrick--thank you for your resilience and patience with this comment thread for the past 2 months! My email newsletter is now circulating, and anyone who would like a copy can request one by emailing: thecityspulse@gmail.com There will also be a new web site for local-issue information coming online soon (it is under construction right now). There's a lot going on it our area--$250,000 for a traffic signal at the Kroc Center? They aren't even talking about how much it will cost to widen and improve that road. And the school district?, and the Education Corridor? and the lack of trades/skills education at the high schools and NIC...please email me at the above address to keep apprised of my angle on all of these. Plus, I'll let you know when the web site is up and running. "

fun gal wrote on Jan 18, 2008 6:06 PM:

" to GM: Can I be co-president. I will run as Liberapendent.
And I own my own pipe, too. Or maybe I'll run as a Whig. That sounds cool, a "Whig". "

Golden Mean wrote on Jan 18, 2008 4:01 PM:

" I agree with to Mike Patrick. We demand that I am made the voice for the public!

"

to Mike Patrick wrote on Jan 18, 2008 2:53 PM:

" Maybe instead of the last comment it is time to bring back a voice for the public! "

To Mike Patrick wrote on Jan 18, 2008 11:20 AM:

" This is absurd. It demeans the Press. Time to delete the entire thing. This is simply giving a forum to trouble makers and has nothing to do with the content of the column. "

LCDC EMBLEM wrote on Jan 18, 2008 9:11 AM:

" the LCDC should announce that it is going to use the condom as its official emblem because it more accurately reflects its stance toward the common tax payer. A condom allows for inflation (double dip taxation), halts production (lack of infrastructure while making their cronies rich), destroys the next generation (forces locals into workforce housing or out of area), protects a bunch of PR1CKS, and gives you a sense of security while you are actually being skrude. "

Golden Mean wrote on Jan 17, 2008 3:31 PM:

" And I get to be President of the United States. I'll run as a demopublican or maybe as a republicrat. I guess it doesn't matter. And, I plan on blaming all of my problems on the LCDC (CDA people really go for that one). My first fund raiser will be held during the summer at Grass Fest 2008 - Let's Burn! "

Mary for Mayor wrote on Jan 17, 2008 2:10 PM:

" What if Mary were CDA's mayor? Would that shake up the establishment and power order of the City? What if Republicans decided to vote out Bloem? Where would all the demos hide then? The democrats for outrageousness (dfo) would be disconnected from CDA insider information. Time will tell. "

BOSSwoman wrote on Jan 17, 2008 1:59 PM:

" If you need political muscle just buy a diamond ring from me. Money does buy influence but not directly. Remember, you'll pay twenty five times the value for the diamond ring. I'm always open for business but I don't have an inside connection DBA. "

Bloemin' idiot wrote on Jan 17, 2008 9:50 AM:

" I don't care what YOU people think. I'm smarter than you...and stop calling me Creulla d'Alene. "

LTR wrote on Jan 17, 2008 9:01 AM:

" The City has always been in the lead with the education corridor pushing it on the local colleges. All meetings are held and kept very secretive because the City does not want any interference. The educational corridor is a City plan and they do not want to hear from the citizens.

Earlier proposals were made to purchase the mentioned property as a joint effort with the local colleges, city, and LCDC. However some of the local colleges could not commit to the funding. So the City will have to continue to "sweeten the deal" in order to get the colleges financial backing.

A sample of "sweetening the deal" happened all ready when the City gave a Wastewater owned building to U of I to house their offices and use all rental money for maintenance of the Harbor Center Building. The Wastewater ratepayers are currently paying for the luxury that U of I are experiencing. The law states that money collected for utility operation and maintenance can only be used for its intended purpose. Can you imagine someone taking the City to court and the City is found to return this money back to the citizens. This issue is worth pursuing because it is a huge rip-off to our community residents.

County tax roles now lists the U of I as owner but uses a 710 Mullan Ave. address which is City Hall. Can the City explain that one?

LCDC has been buying up properties around this area for several years. The City or LCDC has first option to purchase this property. And it is very possible that funding to hold this option has already exchanged hands "

boxers wrote on Jan 17, 2008 6:12 AM:

" golden: good one, my bad. "

Golden Mean wrote on Jan 16, 2008 10:54 PM:

" Do you mind if I add your word “enrichen” to my vocabulary? Thanks in advance for the more excellenting new wordage, dude. "

boxers wrote on Jan 16, 2008 6:19 AM:

" i believe all this was planned a long time ago probably at some retreat or executive session or some other b.s. backroom deal. lets see chesron buys the mill promises to build a new one so nobody loses their job, promises to cleanup site and build homes/condos now sells it back to us through the l.c.d.c.[i don't believe the l.c.d.c. could buy it outright] at a profit while we look for a new administrator for the college and after a lot of thought ahh priscilla bell,who i believe is a plant to facilitate the education corridor and enrichen the already wealthy few who seem to have the public right where they want us. "

Golden Mean wrote on Jan 16, 2008 12:42 AM:

" I hope that LCDC will support Grass Fest 2008. We need some matches, velvet ropes and a ticket booth. And I would like to invite Mary to light the first field. "

??? wrote on Jan 15, 2008 5:26 PM:

" Just how much of this 32 million will go to the LCDC? "

Niles wrote on Jan 14, 2008 1:59 PM:

" Next questions: Was Chesron told in advance that the LCDC was going to buy that property? How much did Chesron pay? How much will he profit in real money and other incentives? If Chesron is willing to develop that property without LCDC money then why is the LCDC involved? The property isn't blighted. It is prime river front property owned by a major developer. The LCDC should have no purpose or interest in the property. "

Dan Gookin wrote on Jan 14, 2008 11:52 AM:

" Dear Mysterion: The City Council, with un-voter-approved cash from the LCDC, will be buying the old mill site and turning it into the "Education Corridor." They will spend $10M of your property tax dollars to do so. Be sure to keep an eye out for the public hearings on this important project. I know how much Mayor Bloem and the City Council are eagerly awaiting for our input on this vital acquisition, so I'm sure that they'll be plenty of information handed out frim City Hall and lots of public hearings, plus advance notice on when the deal takes place. I'm certain of it. Really. "

? The Mysterion wrote on Jan 14, 2008 6:35 AM:

" Marshall Chesron 'bought' the Atlas mill from Stimson Timber, right? And all the workers were laid off and the mill torn down so he could develop the property ( under the wing of the LCDC), correct so far? Well, what's happening? I hope there is no truth to the ugly rumor that Cheshron has pulled out of the deal because the land is 'too contaminated' to make the project pencil. The county appraiser and all those laid off workers will be soooo disappointed. "

Golden Mean wrote on Jan 14, 2008 1:31 AM:

" The City Pulse Minstrels shake their dark tambourines trying to make time stand still but time never stands still. And they say my thoughts were kind of fuzzy, but it’s not like I had their full attention anyway. I learned about a new shade of gray today. These are my Coeur d’Alene hang over days. "

Golden Mean wrote on Jan 11, 2008 9:05 PM:

" No drugs, life did this to me. "

Wow wrote on Jan 11, 2008 9:19 AM:

" I think Golden had a flash back from the 60s, sounds like he is in the back of the blue bus. Dont ride the snake Golden, its not real. "

do ya like wrote on Jan 11, 2008 8:03 AM:

" Do ya like the new comp plan? And are they gonna sticl to it or still let developers run rampant? "

CAR 54 WHERE ARE YOU? wrote on Jan 9, 2008 9:55 AM:

" Golden Mean is on drugs, someone please help him. His posts will be referred to drug enforcement. He is just plain scary, 911 time. "

Golden Mean wrote on Jan 9, 2008 1:08 AM:

" I can see little twinkly stars, like Christmas tree lights in faraway windows.
Rings of brightly colored rocks floating around orange and mustard planets.
I can see huge tiger striped fishes chasing tiny blue and yellow dashes, all tails and fins and bubbles.

I'd look at the grey house opposite, and close the curtains.
"

Golden Mean wrote on Jan 8, 2008 1:35 PM:

" Turn and face the strange "

DC wrote on Jan 8, 2008 1:04 PM:

" Don't forget, TG is a real estate salesman WITH a journalism degree. Maybe THIS qualifies him to sound like a nutjob "

interested bystander wrote on Jan 8, 2008 12:25 PM:

" Has anyone noticed how the theme of "Change" is resonating throughout this year's Presidential campaign? Seems even without Mary's active presence on the pages of the Press(for almost two months), HER call for change-along with others - goes on. We look forward to seeing her again soon in another format. Happy New Year, Mary! "

To HTBetsy wrote on Jan 6, 2008 9:22 AM:

" He doesn't sell real estate. He doesn't do anything except live off of his wife. He has (or had) 2 listings, little more than shacks. 1 in Athol and 1 in Worley. doubt that his boss knows or cares about his posts. "

heavens to betsy wrote on Jan 5, 2008 10:01 AM:

" When you post on the democrats for outrageousness (dfo) blog you can expect to be smacked by the regular poster thongman. Read below what the SR dfo blog allows by regular posters:

LP, Kiss my A33!
Posted by ThomG | 5 Jan 9:39 AM
And quit humping my posts!

Posted by ThomG | 5 Jan 9:40 AM

How can this thongman guy sell real estate at Coldwell Banker and treat people like this?





"

Niles wrote on Jan 4, 2008 9:09 AM:

" Two public officials have left their positions in quite different fashions this week. Cheri Howell a planner was accused of merely erasing a taped meeting. She was formally accused of a felony crime and fully investigated but no charges were filed. There was no criminal act. But Cheri resigned her job anyway only to be rehired as an independent contractor to do the same work. Dixie Reid ended her 26 year tenure as a Council Woman. She has been publicly accused of conflict of interest in her roles of being a sitting council person, a member of the LCDC and the owner of a business that received work on LCDC projects. She has not yet been investigated so her relative guilt cannot be stated. Those who chose not level formal charges are her friends and colleagues. She received accolades for her work. Two people left the gov't this week. One erased a tape and got raked over the coals and the other stands accused of public corruption and got awards. Go figure. "

to john wrote on Jan 4, 2008 7:56 AM:

" you wouldnt happen to be "bruning" would you? "

john wrote on Jan 1, 2008 7:21 PM:

" Free speech is what is left over after a community has decided in advace what it does not want to here. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 31, 2007 11:31 PM:

" I was ticked off, but the person who get's to decide what to post or not to post quieted me. Perhaps there is only one type of ticked allowed. "

forgive me Fraizer wrote on Dec 31, 2007 4:54 PM:

" We NEED people that are TICKED off and will no longer keep quite! We, as tax payers, need to stand with those like Mary, Dan, Susan, Sharon and yes even Niles. You sounded, with your response to Niles, like one of the people that either have their head in the sand or someone that is benifitting from the current city council, mayor and/or the LCDC itself. If you AGREE with Niles, then you should stand with him instead of complaining about him. I believe the saying is "united we stand devided we fall". "

Mike wrote on Dec 31, 2007 4:23 PM:

" "Mary," go for it, you have more supporters than you know. If the SR,DFO,LCDC and their employees didn't make comments here, it would actually be a site to discuss issues. I look forward to your "newsletter." Not much I can do for now, 2008, is/will be a big change for us all. Happy New Years. "

Mary Souza wrote on Dec 31, 2007 10:39 AM:

" Niles, I've been gone for a few days so I just saw your question. No, it doesn't bother me that the photo and column are still here online. I knew when I started writing the column that it would last as long as it was advantageous to the Press, and not a day longer...that's business and that's the real world. Now it's time to change the method for getting information out to the public. My newsletter, starting in a couple of weeks, and the new website that will be coming online soon also, will give more details, references and complete information than I was able to include in my Press opinion column. But thanks for asking. Happy New Year! "

Frazier wrote on Dec 31, 2007 7:21 AM:

" In response to "To Frazier", out of my comment to Niles where the he;;; did your assumption come from that I am pro LCDC/city council. I am just sick and tired of reading Niles whining about this column's termination. Nothing more. Yea, where is your business? I will make a point not to go there. You are an idiot with that response as it was directed only at Niles. Sorry, Mary your column will be missed. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 30, 2007 8:32 PM:

" Mary, Niles, et al - I want to be the first to wish you a happy new year! "

to Fraizer wrote on Dec 30, 2007 5:19 PM:

" Please come to my business because like the city council and the LCDC a would love to charge you double for commodities since you obviously like doing the same in taxes. "

Fraizer wrote on Dec 30, 2007 9:13 AM:

" Shut up and quit blathering like a baby Niles. ITS OVER GIVE IT UP ALREADY. "

To Golden Mean wrote on Dec 29, 2007 10:25 AM:

" Bore d'Or "

To Niles from LTR wrote on Dec 29, 2007 10:07 AM:

" Perhaps the Press will have a change of heart and ask Mary to keep reporting in the best interests of our citizens. That would be the right decision for our commnunity. "

Niles wrote on Dec 29, 2007 5:28 AM:

" Mary.... I can understand why this particular thread has a self sustaining life. What I don't understand is why the Press continues to show your picture as a columnist on this web site. Are they trying to cause you mental anguish in some manner? Do you appreciate them doing this or is it a source of humiliation given the roughshod treatment they dealt you? "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 29, 2007 12:36 AM:

" So now what? "

DIXIE should be banned from the LCDC BOARD wrote on Dec 28, 2007 9:53 AM:

" DIXIE'S INSIDE CONNECTION: Why is Dixie still a member of the LCDC board of trustees? She was asked to be removed.
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO, HELD AT COEUR D’ALENE CITY HALL DECEMBER 4, 2007 The Mayor and Council of the City of Coeur d’Alene met in a regular session of said Council at the Coeur d’Alene City Hall December 4, 2007 at 6:00 p.m., there being present upon roll call the following members: Sandi Bleom Mayor A. J. Al Hassell, III, Councilman Dixie Reid, Councilman Loren Ron Edinger, Councilman Deanna Goodlander, Councilman Woody McEvers, Councilman Mike Kennedy, Councilman CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Mayor Bloem. CONFLICT OF INTEREST CLAIM: Dennis Hinrichsen, 946 E. Spruce, commented that there is a violation of public trust involving LCDC in that Dixie Reid, being a member of both the City Council and the LCDC Board, received compensation from a developer, Victory Homes, which company received $3.4 million in funding from LCDC. He requested immediate removal of Councilman Reid from the City Council. Mayor Bloem asked Councilman Reid while working for Victory Homes had she ever voted on LCDC. Councilman Reid responded that she has been employed by Victory Homes, no contract has ever existed. She has never been employed by Neighborhood, Inc. who received LCDC funding. Councilman Edinger asked how many Council meetings does Councilman Reid have remaining and when does her term in office end. Councilman Reid responded she has 1-1/2 Council meetings left with her last meeting being January 2nd. "
"

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 27, 2007 5:10 PM:

" Bore d'alene! "

To: Mike wrote on Dec 27, 2007 4:12 PM:

" You say things are happening and coming to light, do you have any examples, other than Dixie stepping down. I would love to see Bloem and LCDC prosecuted!!! "

To Mike wrote on Dec 27, 2007 4:10 PM:

" There are no laws against being gay. And your comment just reeks of ignorant bigotry. "

To Mike wrote on Dec 27, 2007 4:08 PM:

" No, sadly. I'm not out of touch. Dixie didn't run simply because she was told not to run. Her public I don't care what you do, finger waving diatribe was one step too far on the road of hubris. She was a sure defeat and the council couldn't take that chance (nor could her ego). She was told to step down and her successor hand picked. Bear in mind, Dixie still sits on the LCDC board. It matters not who "could" send local individuals to jail. What matters is, who will investigate? And that just isn't happening. The activities of the council and the LCDC have been brought to the publics attention in great detail. If any kind of legal investigation was in the works, the media would be on it like flies on honey. As much as I agree that it should be happening, it isn't and won't. That isn't being out of touch my friend, that is the reality of the current situation. "

To just a thought wrote on Dec 27, 2007 3:07 PM:

" from Dream on....I would absolutely be thrilled if you are correct. I did have to laugh..."Armani suits". That group wouldn't know Armani if they tripped over him. Cruella, to go with with that ridiculous hairstyle, prefers garish animal print clothes covered in sequins. Perhaps she owns stock in the "Bedazzler". At this point, that disgraceful group (both the council and LCDC) feel that they have nothng to fear. Because the turn out was so low, they now feel (and are probably correct) that they are invulnerable. "

optical image wrote on Dec 27, 2007 2:56 PM:

" Just because The Kootenai County Prosecutor's office doesn't file a complaint in District Court against certain local individuals, doesn't mean that other jurisdictions aren't pursuing law violators. There is more than one "sheriff in town" who could send certain local individuals to jail. The big question is, who has personally gained from tax money? The money trail is easily followed since there are millions that have been spent. Bank loans, real estates transactions, deeds of trust, cross use agreements, OPAs, easements transfers are all creative avenues for money transfers. Just who is in control? "

Mike wrote on Dec 27, 2007 2:53 PM:

" Thanks "fungal" for your comment. To "Dream On," you're out of touch. Things are happening. Why do you think "Dixie" is not running anymore? She's realized that the "heat" is coming down on her and her cohoerts. The illegal activities of the city council and LCDC are coming to light, and now those involved are running scared and trying to cover their tracks. It's just a matter of time, they will all be prosecuted and have to answer for what they have done. Sad to say, as with all other politicians, they won't loose what they gained from the taxpayers. If their holdings/properties/bank accounts would be siezed, and given back to the people, that would be "justice." Unfortunately that won't happen, because our society accepts corruption, gay's, illegal's and much more. We've got a senator that has accusations of being "gay," we have a prosecuting attorney that has been accused of "inappropriate conduct." What do you expect. "Corruption"goes all the way. Does anyone really think we'll get justification??? I thank God I've pretty much lived my life to it's fullest and really feel sorry for the future generation. They don't care, it's the older generation that "complains," and unfortunately the younger generation will just accept it and try to go on. Corruption, illegals, drugs, and much will continue. I really feel sorry for our so called "new generation." Happy "New Year," all. The changes are happening and it's on the uphill run to destruction. "

Just a thought wrote on Dec 27, 2007 12:23 PM:

" To Dream On...I appreciate your dose of reality on the subject. Politicians and bureaucrats though are motivated almost always by FEAR. Seems the best way to drive this issue home at this point is to constantly pound these guys with wave after wave of facts and figures on LCDC. Maybe the sound of those ominous savage drums drawing ever closer in the jungle and beads of sweat drenching their Armani suits will hopefully bring them to the realization this is not going away anytime soon. "

Dream On wrote on Dec 27, 2007 9:04 AM:

" There will be no reckoning for the city council or LCDC. It is a pipe dream that law enforcement of any kind will step in. The tax payer will continue to be robbed blind with impunity. Why? Because they don't care enough to come out and vote. Cruella de Ville and her cohorts will continue their sub rosa tactics. I would like nothing better than to be wrong. But, people, it just isn't going to happen. "

fun gal wrote on Dec 26, 2007 6:55 PM:

" To Mike: Been away for the holiday. 1. I'm not related to GM...but I think he is funny. 2. I live on a street off of Harrison, near 3rd "

Mike wrote on Dec 26, 2007 5:26 PM:

" Time will tell. LCDC, CDA city council, etc. are running scared. They're all facing possible prison terms, however, some of it is in the hands of our local prosecutor. Past record and experience, do you honestly think he will do anything??? The money is "flowing" big time here in CDA. I challenge everyone to take time and "dig deeper," to see how much "money" influence has been going on in the past 10 years. Post your comments with info, it's all adding up for the FBI and the State Attorney General, not to mention the law suits that will follow. "

Niles wrote on Dec 26, 2007 4:23 PM:

" The state is on to the LCDC and they see taxes going out of their control into others pockets. The LCDC as it now exists will end soon. The other story here are our 2 local newspapers who have demonstrated very poor standards in their journalistic ethics. Instead of prying onto the LCDC they turned a blind eye for their own profits. The Press allowed Mary her column but declined to strike a hard line or do any investigation of their own. Then when a close election was lost they cowardly pulled support for Mary. How proud they must be. Politicians running amok in their front and back yards and they sing a happy tune. Then again Nero played his violin whilst Rome burned. When the corrupt elephant is shot dead and bleeding on their feet then we'll get some printed news about the LCDC. Will they have spine enough then to give credit where the credit is due? "

Just a thought wrote on Dec 26, 2007 11:40 AM:

" So here we sit on the cusp of yet another possible train wreck in the making... and as the drama has crescendoed this column has been silenced. The discussion & revelations here were too hot(and honest). It also infringed on too many revenue streams. Veiled threats and ultimatums were likely made and the plug was simply pulled. And so this escapade continues with an un-elected, and virtually un-supervised, LCDC smugly going forward into a future that entitles them to spend $200 MILLION plus in our tax dollars AS THEY PLEASE! Picture this - the SAME guys- with SAME predispositions- and the SAME friends & supporters standing in line for handouts. The only hope here is that ID legislators finally smell the coffee and end this travesty. There is no blight and LCDC must end- now. "

LCDC agreement with CIVIC PARTNERS ( what the hell is going on?) wrote on Dec 26, 2007 11:33 AM:

" The LCDC made a special arrangement with Civic Partners, read about the University Place and Civic Partners lawsuit. What in the HELL is the LCDC partnering with CIVIC PARTNERS, with the approval from the CDA City Council? Wake up, this is a bad situation the LCDC and Civic Partners building UNIVERSITY PLACE. From the Idaho State Board of Education web site: (Boise) - The University of Idaho and the Consolidated Investment Trust (CIT), managed by the University of Idaho Foundation, will share in an $8.3 million dollar mediated settlement of legal disputes arising from the University Place real estate project. Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, the University of Idaho and its Board of Regents, the University of Idaho Foundation, Inc., and the other parties announced the settlement today. The State Board of Education, acting as the University's regents, approved the settlement earlier today. The Foundation's board and Attorney General Wasden previously approved the agreement. The Attorney General has enforcement authority regarding charitable trusts and oversight authority over non-profit corporations. The CIT, which consists of several University of Idaho endowments and which is managed by the University of Idaho Foundation, will receive approximately $5.8 million under terms of the settlement. In 2005, the Foundation initiated litigation to recover $12 million originally borrowed from the CIT as interim financing for University Place. The University joined in that action. Prior to today's settlement, the Foundation repaid more than one-half of the original loan. The settlement will extinguish the remaining principal and interest balance the Foundation owes to the CIT. In addition to the CIT portion of the settlement, the University of Idaho will receive $2.5 million from the settlement funds to resolve all of the University's claims in the litigation. This payment will reimburse the University for some of the losses it incurred on this project. The parties to the settlement are the University of Idaho Foundation and its directors, officers and volunteers; the University of Idaho; the University Regents; Attorney General Wasden on behalf of the Consolidated Investment Trust (CIT) and its beneficiaries; Great American Insurance Companies, the fidelity insurer for the University of Idaho and the University of Idaho Foundation; Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company, the directors and officers insurer for the University of Idaho Foundation; Attorneys Liability Protection Society, Inc., A Risk Retention Group ("ALPS") the insurers for the law firms and the attorneys; State of Idaho Department of Administration - Risk Management Group, insurer for the State of Idaho and its employees; the Givens Pursley LLP law firm and its attorneys Roy L. Eiguren, L. Edward Miller and Franklin G. Lee; the Elam & Burke law firm and its attorney Ryan Armbruster; former University of Idaho President Dr. Robert Hoover; and former University of Idaho Vice President of Finance and Administration Jerry Wallace. "The settlement follows months of factual investigation subsequent to the filing of lawsuits. The settlement is an arms-length resolution reached in good faith after several days of negotiation with the help of a neutral mediator who has no ties to the project or any of the parties. The claims, counterclaims, and third-party claims arising out of University Place presented complicated issues of fact and law. The settlement is a reasonable resolution of an extremely complex matter, avoids substantial future litigation costs, and is in the best interest of the University community," the parties said in a joint statement. The settlement extinguishes all claims that the parties have against each other, but is not an admission of fault or liability by any of its parties. The Foundation's contribution to the global settlement fund is $2.5 million. The $5.8 million is being contributed by the parties' insurers. The amount contributed by or on behalf of any specific party by the private insurers is confidential and has not been disclosed to the Foundation, the University, the Regents or the Attorney General. With this settlement, the Foundation has now reduced its losses associated with the University Place Project from over $26 million to less than $10 million. The Honorable Terry Lukens, a retired Washington state court judge, acted as mediator. Judge Lukens is affiliated with JAMS, a nationwide company providing alternative dispute resolution services. The Foundation's civil action against CIVIC PARTNERS, which was the initial private developer and project manager for the University Place project, and Civic Partners' counterclaim against the Foundation are not part of the settlement and remain pending in state district court in Ada County. "

THE LCDC HIRED RYAN ARMBRUSTER, ESQ. wrote on Dec 26, 2007 8:29 AM:

" Did you know that Attorney RYAN ARMBRUSTER is the LCDC's legal counsel? Just read Armbruster's involvement with the University Place. Makes one wonder why the LCDC and the CDA City Council hired Attorney Armbruster, what the HELL is going on here? U of I Foundation sues 4 Boise lawyers The University of Idaho Foundation filed a lawsuit against two Boise law firms and four lawyers seeking to recover up to $25 million from the failed University Place satellite campus in downtown Boise. The foundation sued the law firms of Givens Pursley and Elam & Burke and the attorneys for legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty "while guiding the foundation's involvement in development of the University Place project" between 1999 and 2003. The foundation contends the two law firms did not properly inform the foundation's board of conflicts of interest. The firms also did not tell the foundation that loans they made for the development from endowment funds violated their responsibilities as trustees and state law, the complaint said. Attorneys for Roy Eiguren and Edward Miller said the foundation's lawsuit is an attempt to shift its responsibilities for the failure of the project to its legal counsel. The lawsuit filed Friday in 4th District Judicial in Boise singles out lawyers Eiguren and Miller of Givens Pursley for guiding the University Place project along with then-U of I President Robert Hoover and former Financial Vice President Jerry Wallace, without fully informing the board. Givens Pursley was paid $600,000 in fees from the foundation and another $900,000 from the California-based University Place developer Civic Partners, Inc. "Eiguren received an 'origination credit' of approximately 7 percent of all legal fees collected from the foundation," the lawsuit said. The foundation last summer sued Civic Partners for $7 million claiming overcharges for work it did and accepting payment for work it never did. Civic Partners said its attorney "feels very strongly that the case will be decided in our favor." "Eiguren and Miller saw the project as an opportunity to economically benefit themselves, the Givens Pursley law firm, and other developer clients of the firm," the foundation said in the lawsuit. "It's outrageous to suggest that," said Idaho Falls attorney Timothy Hopkins, who represents Eiguren. The foundation also is suing Frank G. Lee of Givens Pursley and RYAN ARMBRUSTER of Elam and Burke. University Place, once envisioned as a three-building higher-ed complex in downtown Boise, fell apart over questions about financial management. The collapse cost Hoover his presidency in 2003 and left the University of Idaho Foundation $26 million in debt — half of which the foundation has since repaid. The project is now the focus of both federal and county criminal investigations. "The foundation should be accepting responsibility for the business choices it made instead of trying to blame others," said Seattle-based attorney Bradley Keller, who is representing Givens Pursley, Miller and Lee. Negotiations to reach a settlement were unsuccessful, said Foundation President Keith Riffle. "I think it's a tragedy that this situation has come to this," said Riffle. "We tried to reach a settlement and keep this out of the papers, but we weren't able to get there with the firms. I feel terrible. It's bad for everyone (involved)." Hopkins said the foundation board included some of the state's top business leaders and philanthropists who are sophisticated and were aware of the risks and problems as the project failed. "To suggest the responsibility for that is related to the individuals named in this complaint is outrageous," Hopkins said. Efforts Saturday to reach Armbruster, his attorney or a spokesman for Elam & Burke were unsuccessful. The Idaho State Bar charged Eiguren, Miller and Armbruster on April 25 with professional misconduct, resulting from their role in the University Place controversy. The Bar's special counsels said Eiguren and Miller should be suspended from practicing law for an unspecified time because they had conflicts of interests while representing a developer, the University of Idaho and its private foundation at the same time. The two attorneys also failed to provide "diligent advice" and "exercise independent professional judgment" on behalf of the university and the foundation, the complaints said. Givens Pursley said last month a full review of the Bar case "will prove that the assumptions made by the investigator were wrong and that the conduct of the lawyers exceeded Bar standards." The charges go to the Bar's three-member Professional Conduct Board. The Bar review will proceed like a civil case, and there may be a trial before that board. Armbruster accepted a public reprimand and agreed to pay $200 and expenses for failing to adequately communicate the implications of agreements between the foundation and the developer of University Place, Civic Partners. In April 2001 the two law firms signed a letter saying a plan by the foundation to borrow up to $10 million from its Consolidated Investment Trust, where endowment funds are held in trust by the foundation, was legal and proper. "

mafia connection wrote on Dec 26, 2007 6:33 AM:

" From the Idaho Statesman: U.S. attorney asks FBI to help review report on University Place U.S. Attorney Tom Moss said Wednesday he has asked the FBI for help with his review of University Place. Moss, who prosecutes federal crimes in Idaho, said he asked the FBI to help interpret complex financial information in a 600-page report on University Place compiled by attorney Larry Prince, an Idaho special deputy attorney general. Prince did the report at the request of the State Board of Education. The University of Idaho´s Boise real-estate project has left the University of Idaho Foundation $25 million in debt and deepened the U of I´s financial troubles. Moss said he has assigned the matter to the head of his white-collar crime section, Assistant U.S. Attorney George Breitsameter, but that he hasn´t decided whether to open a criminal probe. “At this point, the FBI is not doing a criminal investigation,” Moss said. “They are simply looking at the report to give us some assistance in interpreting it.” Moss began his review last month, after Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden suggested he consider the Prince Report, which was delivered to the State Board of Education on Dec. 5. Meanwhile, Wasden has not decided whether he´ll consider prosecutions in state court. On Dec. 17, Ada County Prosecutor Greg Bower asked Wasden to handle “any possible criminal actions” in Ada County resulting from University Place. Bower said he has a conflict of interest. Wasden is reviewing whether he has a conflict of interest and the resources to prosecute, said his spokesman, Bob Cooper. “We have not yet accepted the case, so we don´t have an open investigation,” Cooper said. “It would be really unproductive to get into the meat of the report.” Moss said he would not discuss any possible federal statutes that might apply. The scope of the Prince Report did not include federal law. Prince does discuss possible violations of state law, including misappropriation of public funds, a felony. Prince found “likely” violations of a civil statute, the Idaho Uniform Prudent Investors Act, related to the investment of U of I trust funds in the project. The report also describes $6.5 million in “questionable charges” paid to a former University Place developer. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson said he welcomes the FBI´s involvement. Thompson is reading the Prince Report and said he may need investigatory help. He said he expected to complete his review last week, but found it more time-consuming than he expected. “The FBI has expertise in financing and accounting investigations, and I´m sure it will be helpful,” he said. Thompson noted that Moss is a former Bingham County prosecutor who is sensitive to a small county´s limited resources. “Tom´s a former state prosecutor. If his office can provide assistance, I´m sure they will.” Moss said it was premature to discuss any cooperative efforts, but said the FBI is “always willing to assist county prosectors.” Thompson is working with the attorney general´s office to secure access to documents — numbering in the hundreds of thousands — summarized in the Prince Report. Cooper said Wasden has arranged to obtain documents for law enforcement. "

Mike wrote on Dec 24, 2007 7:21 PM:

" Thanks Mary. I'll keep in touch. Have a very Merry Christmas and a great New Year. "

Merry Christmas Mary! wrote on Dec 24, 2007 6:32 AM:

" You are a gift to CDA. Don't let the Scrooges and Grinches get you down. Scared people act out of vengeance and spite, the brave from a position of calm and confidence. Merry Christmas!! "

to vern wrote on Dec 23, 2007 8:34 PM:

" What censoring of Coldand Mean? A/A? I could have sworn she was Irish. "

Vern wrote on Dec 23, 2007 1:26 PM:

" I was upset to learn that Golden Mean has been censored and not permitted to post. I’m hopeful that the decision has nothing to do with his recent business ventures or his being an African American. "

Mary Souza wrote on Dec 23, 2007 10:30 AM:

" Mike, I will not have a column in the paper anymore, but the email newsletter will be sent to anyone who wants to be on the list. (see my post below for details) In addition, there will soon be a new web site for information about local issues. It will actually be a much more complete source of info on a variety of subjects and will include documentation, references, etc. so everyone can make up their own minds. I'll let you know when it's up and running. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 23, 2007 1:47 AM:

" This is the last one for the second time. Don’t mind if I do, since it’s getting late. I’ll be there in a few minutes, after I destroy the places where I’ll never go. In my this eveningland. "

Sure wrote on Dec 22, 2007 10:55 PM:

" No thank you!I want XRAY LCDC. "

Bad Hagadroid wrote on Dec 22, 2007 9:09 PM:

" And a guy in a "skullett and a bandana" is interesting? "

Mike wrote on Dec 22, 2007 5:58 PM:

" Mary, will you be posting in the paper? or is the gmail your new address. Let me know, I've always been interested in your comments. DFO, SR, Golden Mean will no doubt have their comments, however, if your new site is personal, they will not make any comments as they can be traced. I'll definately keep in touch with you as I have nothing to hide like the "washington cowards" do. Keep going Mary, maybe someday, CDA will be back to an area for the residents rather than catering to the Washington people and the people that have more money than they know what do do with. If we can cut back the "WASHINGTON" jerks, we can work on a natural order "

Mary Souza wrote on Dec 22, 2007 2:44 PM:

" Just a reminder--My weekly column in the Press newspaper has stopped. If you would like to receive The City's Pulse Newsletter, by email, starting in mid-January, please send your request to: thecityspulse@gmail.com Merry Christmas! "

little tiny MOUSE wrote on Dec 22, 2007 10:20 AM:

" Just imagine what the insider city employees will say as time progresses and certain pressures are exerted. What's more important, job retention or jail time, think about that one? The house of cards will fall, the east wind is building currently. There is no excuse for I had no idea or I didn't violate pubic trust, period. It's fascinating observing the inner workings of the city, names, places and events are now recorded. Time to buy more expensive jewelry before it's too late and business is closed. "

to casting call wrote on Dec 22, 2007 8:28 AM:

" Phillis Dillar, Cloris Leachman, Oliver Hardy, and Stan Laurel cannot play these parts due to conflict of interest since they already hold seats on the city council and board of the LCDC. "

Is Ollie a doofus? wrote on Dec 21, 2007 5:30 PM:

" There’s a writer’s strike going on, so hollywierd needs all the help it can get. How about creating a new sit-com. Sort of a co-op writing gig. Here’s an idea... roughly based on the old My Three Sons from the 70’s, starring Fred McMurray. This time around, it has more of a new millennium feel to it. Let’s call it PonyWorld...My Three Squirts. Instead of a straight widowed father, how about a bi dad whose wife ran off with a PTA board member named Tiron, leaving him to deal with the wacky antics of his 3 simpson-style parasites. [ The scene: a second tier bar on Pines. Hot mama JD, played by Ricki Lake sips her pabst blue ribbon and looks for her internet ‘date’ with Pony. She’s ‘posted’ with him and only knows he looks like a really small Jon Goodman with a skullett in a bandana. She knows he also has a penchant for picking his nose in photos. Her heart beats in anticipation.] ...What? and THEN what?!!!! ...to be continued "

To sh wrote on Dec 21, 2007 4:18 PM:

" IT is the only thing missing from your signature. Just let it go. Mary is not coming back to the press. Duane "

Mike wrote on Dec 21, 2007 3:27 PM:

" "fungal," sorry, fun gal. Are you an offset/offspring of "golden?" "Hollywood" was right, and it's going to be a good soap opera." "FUN," this is not a matter of fun... You're matter of "fun," and my matter is definately different. Your past posts on sites are just like golden's...are you related??? You both switch back and forth, just like a pros..tute. On this site, you do your profession, and do/say whatever you need to get a response. Past comments by both of you have proven this fact. Pure and simple, it's nice to see that the DFO and Spokane Review has to come to CDA for their comments. Washington residents/developers/investors want to destroy this area. Do any of you live here???? I don't think so, otherwise if you did, I would think your comments woulod be more supportive of this area rather than trying to "destroy" it. "

Casting Call wrote on Dec 21, 2007 11:42 AM:

" Actually, I think Phillis Dillar or Cloris Leachman could do a better job as Mary Souza. Dan Gookis role could be played by Oliver Hardy and Niles character could be played by Stan Laurel. "

fun gal wrote on Dec 20, 2007 6:15 PM:

" to Mike: You are just no fun!! "

PRINCE REPORT: UNIVERSITY PLACE wrote on Dec 20, 2007 6:08 PM:

" First we had Larry Craig make Idaho famous now we have the LCDC. But the script will be retold in either State and or Federal Court as the LCDC facts unfold. I prefer to see the real players not actors in this real life saga. I just wonder what the credits will read about those LCDC negative folks? Just please explain why the University Place is under investigation by the FBI and AUSA? And the credits will say what about armbuster, ccdc, civic partners and certain rich developers? This is not fiction folks, read the Price Report at: http://www.uidaho.edu/princereport/ "

no wrote on Dec 20, 2007 5:57 PM:

" I think Tom Petty should play Woody. "

Mary Souza wrote on Dec 20, 2007 4:45 PM:

" Hollywood: I was trying to let this thread die a peaceful death, so I haven't been commenting, but your post was a hoot. Thanks for the Christmas laugh. "

Mike wrote on Dec 20, 2007 4:05 PM:

" to " Golden Mean." You must have been abused as a child and have taken that with you through your life..by your comments here and other places, you're not a very happy or positive person. I see you have comments about everyone that states facts, but when you're "attacked," by someone that "threatens" your so called "manhood," you have nothing to say, rather retaliate with some smart comment. My question for you, "are you not man enough to face reality with your shortcommings?" I see you post on many different sites with the same aspect...you are striving attention. One site you say one thing, another, you're just the opposite. My opinion, you're a child looking for attention and will do or say whatever he needs to get that. I feel sorry for you, in the fact that you haven't got what you needed through family or relationships. If you would like, I can help you with finding the right kind of counselling that may help you overcome your "shortcommings." And I'm sure that there are plenty of people out on this site that could also help/advise you. It's better to face your problem than run away from it. There are people here willing to help. "

Dan Gookin wrote on Dec 20, 2007 3:32 PM:

" Hollywood: Brilliant! "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 20, 2007 2:51 PM:

" I would like to see David Hyde Pierce play Niles! "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 20, 2007 2:48 PM:

" To Hollywood - Brilliant! "

GO DFO wrote on Dec 20, 2007 2:08 PM:

" Hey Golden Mean, you do a great SR DFO imitation. Yo, Dave how columns will you write for us, every week? The DFO has finally returned to the CDA Press. Nice to have you back writing for the CDA Press. It's now the CDA Press DFO. "

Niles wrote on Dec 20, 2007 1:58 PM:

" "Kato Kalin as Woody McEvers" now there's some fine casting. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 20, 2007 11:30 AM:

" Mary is gone and her goons have been instructed to never speak to me again. Wonderful! The City Pulse is now my column where I will post my own editorials. Today’s topic is, “Must we all think alike?” Perhaps there’s a better way to handle a person with a competing viewpoint, maybe you don’t need to take your ball and go home. Intellectual debate is healthy and necessary and there should always be room for a sarcastic or wise guy observation. My City Pulse will be witty, edgy and lively - free of Peppermint Patty’s condemnation. Comments please… "

Hollywood calling!! wrote on Dec 20, 2007 11:26 AM:

" Breaking News from Hollywood...David E. Kelley (producer,"Boston Legal") is in the initial stages of a working script for a TV pilot based on the continuing real drama in a small pristine Idaho town by the lake fighting for it's identity . The story has rich, powerful developers influencing & enticing weak-minded city officials to bring this little town into the "new millenium" and enjoy the " wonderful value-addedness of increased tax base" that comes with big shiny multi-million dollar developments all along it's shores and down it's quaint Main St. A small, but resilient group of townspeople fighting the out of control developments are tagged "a negative, anti-every thing group of busybodies" by the mayor, City Council and it's "consulting group" of select business leaders. Hmmm...sound familiar?? The twist in the Hollywood script is that the Mayor is actual Samantha's (from "Bewitched") naughty witch sister Sandrina and has put all of City Hall under her spell. Yikes!! Working title: "Hex on the City" Tentative Actors: GLENN CLOSE... to play Mayor Sandrina. She would reprise her role as Cruella deVille - same black & white/two-tone hairdo and starched-up collars- only with a penchant for tiger print, form-fitted jackets and the like. JON LOVITZ... to play Tony Berns head of the "consulting group"..."yeah, yeah ..that's it...value-added- that's what we'll call it!" DANNY DEVITO... said he can't wait to set his teeth into the role of nasty blogmeister DF Oliveria who has it in for the underdog group of townspeople. Picture the Grinch vs. Whoville... only nastier. SHIRLEY MACLAINE... to play Trixie Dixie Reid the mayor's retiring council sidekick. Evidently Trixie had her naughty hands in too many pies- even the mayor's most powerful spells couldn't help her! MIKE MYERS...will reprise his role of "Fat Bast@rd" in order to capture Mike Kennedy- another of the Mayors' minions. Greatest challenge?...He had to put on some weight for the role. NICOLE KIDMAN and MEG RYAN... are both adamant that they get to play Mary Souza. "It's a role of a lifetime... what can I say?" said Kidman. Others: Kato Kailin to play Woody McEvers, Christopher Lloyd to play Thom George and much, much more. OK, Alright , Lighten up! It's a joke! Merry Christmas all!.......but it could happen. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 20, 2007 11:00 AM:

" To ManCheese - You are correct. Where you in my house last night? "

to dead horse wrote on Dec 20, 2007 7:58 AM:

" The horse will not be dead until the LCDC, city council and the mayor are exposed to this coruption. "

Macncheese wrote on Dec 20, 2007 7:34 AM:

" Did you know that Golden Mean listens to Ben Harper. "

Old News wrote on Dec 20, 2007 7:23 AM:

" Souza is old news,and will keep getin old. Mary give it up your time has come and gone.Stand in line with Dixie you are both old news.Your fame has ran its time.Your names will not last through the ages. "

fun gal wrote on Dec 20, 2007 6:38 AM:

" to dead horse; I think this thread might try to beat the record held by "please impeach Bush & Cheney" "

dead horse wrote on Dec 19, 2007 9:54 PM:

" good god won't this thread ever die? "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 19, 2007 2:40 PM:

" Mary says no! - Mary Souza wrote on Dec 6, 2007 8:15 AM: "If you continue to respond to "Golden Mean", "Old Hippie" and other names, all of which are probably Bob, who writes over on the SR blog, then you allow him to distract the focus here. My request, Niles and "sh" and others, is please don't respond in any way." - Let this be a warning to all of Mama's boys. "

teenyweenymee wrote on Dec 19, 2007 10:49 AM:

" Why does the LCDC need to pay Tony Berns $130K per year plus have a paid lobbyist from Boise, Teresa Molatar? The LCDC is on a power trip and has evolved into another governing body dictating to the citizens. The LCDC has the ability to collect taxes and do what ever they DAMN well please with those taxes. This is URD gone wild without the bikini girls. Can you imagine tony in a bikini, don't think so. "

Slimey Indeed wrote on Dec 19, 2007 5:54 AM:

" So, was this insurance bought with tax money? Hmmm... "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 19, 2007 2:05 AM:

" Niles, we need to talk. I think that you and I should form an alliance. Now that sh is back you know that Mary will take him to the final 2 with her. Sure they’ll take you to the final four with them because you’re not a threat to win any of the immunity challenges. Me on the other hand, I’m their biggest threat as lately, I’ve been winning the challenges and I also hold the immunity idol. So try as they may, that can’t get rid of me. So let’s form an alliance and vote Mary out first, then sh. So what happens after that? We’ll leave it in the hands of the tribal council. What do you say Niles, are you in? "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 19, 2007 1:53 AM:

" sh – you have once again violated a direct request by Mary Souza to never speak to me. But I knew you couldn’t resist. I also knew that you would find the time to check in on me while you were away; it’s the stalker’s nature. And I’m sure you know the real reason why your wife(s) continue to read my comments, please send my love. Furthermore, it makes me happy to read that you look forward to my contributions and are entertained by efforts as that is my intent, to entertain people just like you, the dried up old crust of the community. So in closing, welcome home! You seem to have made it back safely, in good health and dumber than ever. "

Ottawa Mike wrote on Dec 18, 2007 6:12 PM:

" Hey, Arrivedeci Tony!. What the LCDC bought was "fraud insurance." No, not to protect the taxpayers against fraud. To protect the LCDC from civil liability if it's proven one or more of its "upstanding citizen" members crossed the line between legality and criminality. Even Coconut Willie won't be able to find a reason not to prosecute when the slimy truth oozes out from the shiny new Chamber of Commerce building. "

to golden boy wrote on Dec 18, 2007 4:39 PM:

" you "

sh wrote on Dec 18, 2007 4:04 PM:

" hey "golden," I'm back for awhile. can't say i've missed you much, but catching up on your comments, i've seen that you now have a business of your own. what's next?? a spot on the cda or lcdc council??? you'd fit in just perfect as you are as full of bs as they are. i have a 2 month recoup time, are you sure you don't want to go back with me???? we definately could have some fun... the "misses" has been keeping track of your comments since i left and she really got disgusted by your demeanor. it's really too bad you don't have anything of value to say, rather than just try and stir up more problems. as i said before, you're not a solution, you're just a problem that we all will deal with.. i also see you are trying to be a poet.....if that has anything to do with your new business, you're definately going to fail. just wanted to let you know i'm back for awhile and will be entertained by your "bs" as i won't be commenting further "saving you the "hillary" embarresment. entertain me some more with your follow up...i'm waiting to hear what you have to say as i won't be responding with an answer. and for you "Mary," i wish you would start writing again and keep us all informed. i have to go back, but when i return, i plan on going after "all" the bs that has been going. there are a few "people" that need to be prosecuted for their illegal activities and guarantee, i'm going to get the spark started on the match. "

Niles wrote on Dec 18, 2007 3:18 PM:

" Ah yes the door to the truth about the LCDC is starting to open in Boise. The state legislature knows a well run URD from a skunk and the LCDC is looking more than a tad stinky. "It's too large, too loosely run, and set-up to run for too long". The legislature loves the way Post Falls has run its URDs. They've been focused, concise in scope and length of term. They consider civic elements such as fire, police and school before the URD plan is undertaken. The LCDC is now being recognized as the property tax thief it is. It is understood that it is using those funds for economic development not to relieve any urban blight. It is evident that those tax funds are finding their way into private hands. It is clear that the LCDC has been an exclusively run by a chosen few people without concern for term limits or fiscal accountability. Its projects are too large and take on lives of their own as they morph into expanded roles. The ax hangs perilously by a thin hair. Oh darn. "

Arrivedeci Tony! wrote on Dec 18, 2007 2:33 PM:

" LCDC has been run like a Select Players Club in a Vegas casino. Only the chosen few allowed to in. Those URD bad boys down in Boise came up with the model and Tony Berns & crew have been charging forward with it ever since Tony showed 'em how cool it was. Did they know it rode the edge ethically? Probably. Was is going to be so complicated that no one would even know what questions to ask about it... even the highest of city officials? You betcha. So now that we have figured it out- can someone tell me why Tony Berns is all about buying some sort of ethics insurance for LCDC members in case they're caught in a lie and or some such thing. Can you say train wreck? There is no blight- plain and simple. The tax payers are getting the picture and now the legislators are getting the picture and soon LCDC (in it's present form) will be history. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 18, 2007 11:11 AM:

" Who's Olivera? "

FLYINGFISH wrote on Dec 18, 2007 10:53 AM:

" Just what would happen if subpoenas starting flying around the city of CDA? Is it as clean as ole Dixie says so, "I didn't violate public trust". Hey, ole Dixie tell us about publicly funded projects that you were hired to provided services? I just don't understand what is this "DIXIE'S INSIDE CONNECTION"? "

lovelover wrote on Dec 18, 2007 10:41 AM:

" YO, DFO, your DAVE (Democrats Against Virtually Everything) group is blogging at he CDA Press. They want free money plus interest to go to rich developers, only a select few by the way. The THONG man is leading the charge, he the man. Can me get some of the free money plus interest for my pet project? Who do I have to pay a special incentive fee to get some of the free money plus interest? Me love free money plus interest. Everyone should love free money plus interest like me do. Tony loves to give away free money plus interest because it make him feel extra special. "

SO ABSURD!!!! wrote on Dec 18, 2007 10:23 AM:

" So it's ok for you and your flock of magpies to lob stink bombs at the other side? But when the other side fires back, you start whining because the queen magpie got kicked off her soap box. You don't like it, grow a think skin like the rest of the adults and live with it. If not, go back to thumb sucking. "

LCDC Watcher wrote on Dec 18, 2007 10:05 AM:

" After reading this (http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2007/Interim/landuse1129min.pdf), it looks like the LCDC's days are numbered. Even its big bucks lobbyist (paid for with our tax $$) wasn't ready to answer the questions and comments the legislators heard. "

this is absurd wrote on Dec 18, 2007 8:37 AM:

" If the Press is not going to print Marys column, why does this remain on the web site? It is a magnet for Oliveria and his buddies, making the expected stupid remarks...over and over again. Oliveria is back to a print series of words, not his own, but those of his few regular bloggers. Why is it this man receives a salary for what someone else writes? If The City Pulse is no longer a column, then this last column should now be deleted along with all the comments. "

To Just a thought wrote on Dec 18, 2007 7:06 AM:

" Lug nut huh? Could it be that those legislators whom you seem to be so friendly with cannot even attract developers for their pisshole areas. Or is that they are not even smart enough to put together a URD or maybe it just too much work. Take a look at some of the areas around us. They need a complete tearing down instead of revitalizing the areas. At least CDA had something to work with to build on. Rave on CAVE dweller. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 17, 2007 9:43 PM:

" (Niles) Oh Mary, Mary, wherefore art thou Mary? Deny thy LCDC and refuse thy Press. Or if thou wilt not, be sworn my conscious. And I’ll no longer be a supporter. (Mary) Shall I write no more, or shall I pen thy City Pulse. (Niles) ‘Tis but thy City that is my enemy. Thou art a thyself, though not a columnist. What is a columnist? It is nor committee member nor councilperson. Nor increased property tax, nor any other profit belonging to a developer. O be some other corporation. What is in a termination? That which we call fired by any other name would be as sweet. So Mary would, were she not Mary called, retain thy dear City Pulse which she is owed by thy CdA Press. Mary, publish thy name, and for thy column which shall no longer be, take all myself. "

To Coeur d'Alene Press wrote on Dec 17, 2007 4:13 PM:

" Please bring back Mary! Our citizen's need someone brave enough to ask the questions she asks. Stand up for justice! "

Just a thought wrote on Dec 17, 2007 1:28 PM:

" Hey Lug-nuts...think I'm delusional? Go ahead and make a random call to any ID legislator and ask them what they think about URDs for their cities... and then ask them about what they think about how URDs are operated in CdA...NIGHT & DAY response! CdA has got URD stinky pants syndrome and everyone wants to steer clear. Our City Hall has simply gotten used to the smell...and the greed! "

Niles wrote on Dec 17, 2007 11:55 AM:

" No question about the amounts of money involved with the LCDC. By the LCDC own accounting their property tax income rose almost 200% in 2006. As these new major development come on board ALL of their property taxes will go directly to the LCDC. 10, 20, 30 million per year will soon go to the LCDC for them to bank with, determine how to invest, who to invest with and so on. A load of serious money and very, very poor oversight makes their situation ripe for corruption. Already they shun laws requiring disclosures. Already they hold secret meetings contrary to law. Already they've been party to money shuffles designed to secure business for friends and our own sitting city council members. CdA will be called "kick back capital of the world" and not because we're gonna be famous for relaxation. "

Jack Allison wrote on Dec 17, 2007 8:29 AM:

" Looks like the City Pulse has been stopped. We wondered what happened to it? Will it just be online now? I wish the Press would explain what's going here. It was a favorite of ours. "

To just a thought wrote on Dec 17, 2007 5:24 AM:

" Are you nuts???? That was not a thought its called a delusion. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 15, 2007 11:04 PM:

" ??? "

Just a thought wrote on Dec 14, 2007 4:39 PM:

" To dung- I've lived in the CdA for over 30 yrs. and have seen many changes & cycles come and go. Most were just growing pains- like a middle-school kid going through puberty. But you're absolutely right- what you see right now are the initial phases of big time graft and corruption. Ask ANY legislator in the state and they'll tell you that CdA is the poster child for URD abuse and more. Money, power, greed and ego have taken over at City Hall. Sad. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 14, 2007 1:21 PM:

" Maybe Mike’s right. Maybe I am a jerk. I try to fit in, I really do. You guys don’t know how much I wish I could be like you. It’s not like I haven’t tried. I’ve always admired the way my heroes (Mary, Niles, etc) are able to get so emotional about the things that happen in local government. I wish I could be on a committee. Even back in grade school, oh how I wished that I could be a hall monitor. The power, the respect! Then there were the crossing guards, the glorious crossing guards, medals shining in the sun and armed with whistles that could bring down the heavens… "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 14, 2007 12:31 PM:

" To Fitty Cents - I thought we were friends. And, I've never heard of this thong man that you speak of. Perhaps you’ve confused this site with another one. You know the one you log into when everybody else is asleep. "

dung wrote on Dec 14, 2007 11:54 AM:

" I am really glad that I live outside of CDA. I like living in Idaho, but CDA seems like a diseased place. I wouldn't trust anyone there. It would be nice to ship the whole place to California where this kind of politics are appreciated. I'm not picking sides here, *everyone* should be forcibly relocated; it's not a healthy place. "

50 cents worth wrote on Dec 14, 2007 10:59 AM:

" Hey Golden Mean, err dfo go back to your HBO. You and thong man are best buddies. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 13, 2007 9:58 PM:

" Very nice ? the Mysterion, me like. "

? the Mysterion wrote on Dec 13, 2007 8:15 PM:

" Wow. cavemen vs. davemen with Eva 'Tubob' Gabor from Greenacres moderating. cool. "

cry me a river wrote on Dec 13, 2007 5:52 PM:

" poor wittle mary nobody preciates how much she gives how much she cares. boo hoo effin hoo! "

littleone wrote on Dec 13, 2007 4:49 PM:

" The democrats for outrageousness (dfo) was the reason Mary's column was terminated. Thy got together and formed the DAVE (democrats against virtually everything) group which is a split among the rich developers. Hence the LCDC had to put pressure on the Downtown Association and the threat of the $50 K per year Special Events Budget could evaporate. So call the dfo if you have a problem and yes it's all about the free LCDC money give away. "

Niles wrote on Dec 13, 2007 4:39 PM:

" I suspect the Marys column was dumped out of shear stupidity and insecurity. Had the Press decided to go full bore into being a paper for the people standing behind Mary they could have secured greater successes and financial rewards. But they were too insecure in their ability to succeed and too chicken to try and buck the system. So, like the timid boy to the bully, they knuckled under and slunk away to be a small town newspaper with high advertising rates. The Press could have been a player but chose to be the laughing stock instead. Nobody stuck a "kick me" sign on their back. They pasted it on their forehead. "

mike wrote on Dec 13, 2007 4:06 PM:

" Everyone questions "Mary's" actions??? Why don't you all get off your bottoms and question LCDC and Bloems actions. The Spokane DFO is definately apparent here. And for you " Golden Jerk," since you live in WA, why don't you keep your comments there??? You're nothing more than a trouble maker as Mary said. "

to fact wrote on Dec 13, 2007 3:45 PM:

" Your comment is just like one someone from city council would say. Please read Mary's comment AGAIN. She said it was unclear, not they did not give a reason. "

How about this wrote on Dec 13, 2007 3:31 PM:

" I suspect Mary's column was dumped for money...the advertising money from Riverstone. Has anyone seen any of the businesses in Riverstone advertise in the press? I suspect you will begin to see them now. What a community... Growth has brought us GREED and those with power and money are the greediest. (Isn't greed one of the seven deadly sins?) It's to bad because this use to be a nice place to live. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 13, 2007 2:06 PM:

" Guys, guys! Why don't we let Mary tell us why her column was dumped. Go ahead Ms. Souza, set the record straight. "

Fact wrote on Dec 13, 2007 11:54 AM:

" They told Mary exactly why they dumped her column, and by her stating they didn't is another blatant lie from her mouth. "

Double vision wrote on Dec 13, 2007 10:21 AM:

" They didn't tell you why they were dumping your column? No reasons at all? Was it a conference call? Something smells? What's going on? "

Ex Mrs. Mean wrote on Dec 13, 2007 9:07 AM:

" Aw, Honey. You're still not funny. Especially that part about the stables. Did you tell the boys that? Jamal thought it was funny. He gave me a special squeeze and a wink. "

Mary Souza wrote on Dec 13, 2007 7:47 AM:

" Sorry, the email address is thecityspulse@gmail.com, if you want to get the newsletter starting in January. The address I gave in my last post was for the archive of my past columns, which will continue to be available. "

CDA City Council Meeting Minutes wrote on Dec 13, 2007 7:39 AM:

" MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO, HELD AT COEUR D’ALENE CITY HALL DECEMBER 4, 2007 The Mayor and Council of the City of Coeur d’Alene met in a regular session of said Council at the Coeur d’Alene City Hall December 4, 2007 at 6:00 p.m., there being present upon roll call the following members: Sandi Bleom Mayor A. J. Al Hassell, III, Councilman Dixie Reid, Councilman Loren Ron Edinger, Councilman Deanna Goodlander, Councilman Woody McEvers, Councilman Mike Kennedy, Councilman CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Mayor Bloem. CONFLICT OF INTEREST CLAIM: Dennis Hinrichsen, 946 E. Spruce, commented that there is a violation of public trust involving LCDC in that Dixie Reid, being a member of both the City Council and the LCDC Board, received compensation from a developer, Victory Homes, which company received $3.4 million in funding from LCDC. He requested immediate removal of Councilman Reid from the City Council. Mayor Bloem asked Councilman Reid while working for Victory Homes had she ever voted on LCDC. Councilman Reid responded that she has been employed by Victory Homes, no contract has ever existed. She has never been employed by Neighborhood, Inc. who received LCDC funding. Councilman Edinger asked how many Council meetings does Councilman Reid have remaining and when does her term in office end. Councilman Reid responded she has 1-1/2 Council meetings left with her last meeting being January 2nd. "

whiteboy wrote on Dec 13, 2007 7:20 AM:

" Golden Mean (dfo) how nice to read your posts. Why don't you just keep on posting at the SR where you belong. It's really just an alter ego, right? "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 13, 2007 4:01 AM:

" Mary, will you have a story comments section on your website so I can participate too? I think your readers really look forward to my contributions and I don’t think that either one of us wants to let any of them down. It’ll be like old times, I’ll make a wise comment and then you tell everybody to ignore me. I’ll act up a bit more until your friend Niles arrives and adds one of his signature passive aggressive jabs. I’ll call Niles’ mom and then he’ll get put on computer restriction again... We had some laughs, huh Mary. "

X wrote on Dec 12, 2007 8:51 PM:

" Mill river? Did you mean 'clown town'? "

Mary Souza wrote on Dec 12, 2007 7:10 PM:

" To Thanks: I really appreciate your words. The city didn't bother to thank me for my 6 years of volunteer service, neither during the surprise phone call from the mayor et al (oh, she might have slipped in a quick little "thank you" at the very end as I was hanging up, but I certainly never felt thanked or appreciated) nor at last night's P&Z meeting, when they pretended there was nothing different, even though I was not there. Here's my message to the city: You are welcome. I actually gained a lot from my volunteer experience on P&Z. I learned about how the city functions, I observed how some departments are enormously more efficient and successful than others because of their leadership. I also saw huge gaps in accountability and how the inner-staff politics rule the day. Think about it: the city staff has to work there, day-in and day-out, no matter who the mayor and city council are. The city staff has paychecks, pensions and families to think about. They never know who will be elected in any campaign cycle. So they walk a fine line. Sometimes they tread water. For better or worse they put up with whomever the voters elect...and they try to put a pleasant look on their faces as they go along with the latest crazy idea or political sabotage at hand. That's where my "volunteer service" was purposefully ignored. OK. I get it. Move on. The CdA Press has stopped my weekly column. I'm not clear on their reasons, but they were very supportive right up until the city dropped me from P&Z...who knows. Writing a weekly column was a terrific experience, and I thank the Press for giving me that opportunity. Stay tuned for a possible internet connection / newsletter after the first of the year. Please email me at: www.thecityspulse.com, if you would like to be on my newsletter list. Thank you! "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 12, 2007 6:08 PM:

" I would like to see the dispute between Dixie & Mary settled the old-fashioned way… mud wrestling. The city could sell beer and all of the money would go to charity. "

Botttom feeder wrote on Dec 12, 2007 5:59 PM:

" Tastes good on the bottom,found a boat down here,think i will go fishing in it .You got to love CDA. "

Thanks Mary! wrote on Dec 12, 2007 5:12 PM:

" Anyone who understands politics knows these things comes in cycles- good & bad. It is not a pleasant business. We thank you Mary for putting yourself out there. For asking the hard questions and challenging our city officials on their positions. Many- if not most - of those positions are pre-determined and back-room driven. The general public for the most part goes about their lives unaware of any of it. Thanks for letting us in on it. You've allowed yourself to be an open target for all of the smalled-minded, bottom feeders out there. You've offered a rational forum for discussion while they favored character assassination. You've put out facts and exposed truths they were not happy about...they responded will the usual mindless smears. Those like you Mary, who are truthful and unwavering, will unfortunately have to suffer fools. At the end of the day, though, a clear conscience is life's best reward. So to Dixie Reid, Charlie Nipp, Tony Berns and the many others who have played this endless shell game with the CdA public trust- we're sick and tired of it! Your moment of truth will soon come. Thanks again Mary! "

It's just not right wrote on Dec 12, 2007 2:53 PM:

" This improper use of not one but two power positions really is unfair for the competition. Friends of mine that are building a home were told by their architect that Dixie's Inside Connection is the interior decorator of choice for the building community. "

to to wrote on Dec 12, 2007 2:43 PM:

" just like aci being awarded the contract to fill the crock pit. "

PARK place wrote on Dec 12, 2007 1:17 PM:

" Dixie doesn't have any competition, remember, she gets to vote for funding of LCDC projects. That eliminates all competition. Dixie has a neat niche marketing tool, it's called monopoly control. "

To: Bugaboo wrote on Dec 12, 2007 10:45 AM:

" You are so far off. What about Dixie's competition, they didn't stand a chance. "

Dan Gookin wrote on Dec 12, 2007 9:07 AM:

" When I run again I'll raise those issues, and many more. Until then, I'll continue to do what I can. Stay tuned for January. "

to bugaboo wrote on Dec 11, 2007 7:29 PM:

" ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Did you look at the colors at Millriver? YYYUUUKKK! "

Unfortunately... wrote on Dec 11, 2007 5:44 PM:

" Dan, you're right, a Government that represents everyone would think about the future, and would try to take care of the wonderful places we call home. Where have you found such a government? I'd like to move there, it sounds nice. I'm not sure the local CDA government is doing either. A government run by an interested minority is a tyranny (representative or not). A government run by the impassioned will of the majority is a despotism. A government run by the the rational rule of law stemming from justice (meaning equality) for all people (e.g. thinking about the future and taking care of the places we call home for the good of all people) is by definition not a representative democracy or a form of government that can be facilitated in a capitalist society. CDA has become a microcosm of all that I have become disgusted with in America. A service oriented society run by a misguided middle-class willing to expliot a desperate, unskilled, and unfortunately soon to be transient, lower class for the dollars from rich outside interests that are only here to buy up our property and waste our resources. Sure they'll pay inflated property taxes and maybe even help to "employ" a few extra people in low-paying jobs, but who's really seeing that money? From what I'm hearing the tax money does not seem to be benefitting the general population. Don't tell me a fancy new library is benefitting the family that is struggling to pay their mortgage, heat their home, and put food on the table. Even if I blindly agree that your intentions are to make things better for all, how do you, Dan Gookin, plan on making any difference now that the outside interests have bought our land, our middle-class, and our public servants? "

bugaboo wrote on Dec 11, 2007 9:02 AM:

" So what is so wrong about Dixie making big bucks from developers? She is a great interior designer. Just because she is a lcdc board member and city council member is no big conflict of interest. It just means she is getting hers as payment for time devoted to public good. That's how it works in CDA. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 10, 2007 11:07 PM:

" Did somebody say term limit? "

how long wrote on Dec 10, 2007 9:43 PM:

" how long will mary's column linger online now that the press isn't carrying her anymore? "

I agree wrote on Dec 10, 2007 6:08 PM:

" What's with Dixie working for the builders in Mill River when she approved the project on city council, and on LCDC she approved tax dollars for the project? I saw someone question it at the last city council meeting on channel 19. "

fried green tomatoes wrote on Dec 10, 2007 2:52 PM:

" Hey Dixie did you really recuse yourself from voting for the Mill River project funding, where exactly can I find that recusal? Something smells pretty fishy to me, stinky is another descriptive word that comes to mind. "

questionmiester wrote on Dec 10, 2007 5:49 AM:

" FIRST QUESTION: Is it a conflict of interest were Dixie Reid received income from a developer while seated on the CDA City Council and LCDC? SECOND QUESTION: Is it a conflict of interest were Dixie Reid voted to fund the same developer's project with LCDC tax money? THIRD QUESTION: Did Dixie Reid receive income from other LCDC funded projects? FOURTH QUESTION: Dixie's Inside Connection is owned by whom? "

Dan Gookin wrote on Dec 9, 2007 8:46 PM:

" Interesting theory, "Unfortunately..." but that's not the reason I ran for city council. I'm not backed by any special business interests nor do I harbor any ulterior motives. I love this place and want to leave a better city for my kids and everyone's kids. I do not believe that is in the current interest of those presently in power. While they may be battling with other powers, real or imagined, it's not my fight. Other folks may tell you that "Gookin wants this or that," but that's poppycock. Hear what *I* say: Government that represents everyone, thinks about the future, and takes care of this wonderful place we call home. "

moleman wrote on Dec 9, 2007 7:25 AM:

" I just love the quote by Dixie's Inside Connection at the last City Council meeting, " I did not violate Public Trust, period." You can see it all on Channel 19. Seems the Mayor and Dixie couldn't get their stories straight about working for Victory Homes, contracts and recusals. Some one is not telling the truth. "

Unfortunately You're Screwed wrote on Dec 9, 2007 6:28 AM:

" What needs to be made clear here is that the interests on both sides are probably not in the interest of "the people" of CDA. From a distance this looks like a war between the old school business owners who had enjoyed a relative monopoly over CDA before the boom and the new school business owners now making a profit by taking advantage of the boom. The point I think everyone is missing is the fact that this is a war between business interests plain and simple. One side is losing and so they take the "for the people" angle. That's crap. The old school business owners are just bitter over what has happened and what is passing them by. Don't let them fool you. This is not a problem that "representative" government can fix. This is not a problem that voting for the right candidate can fix. Public servents in representative local governments are bought and sold to the highest bidder. The idea of a public servant who is also a business owner doing anything for the "public" good is an absolutely crazy idea. That would be counter-productive to their goals and objectives as a money making business owner. Local representative governments do not work for the people when boom times come. There is too much money at stake. Unfortnately, the only way I see CDA ridding itself of it's current problems is a complete economic collapse and the inevitable flight of the shady business owners (and their money) currently trying to make a profit off "the people" through their elected positions. The community will always be abused in a system like this during times like these. I aplaud Mary for her efforts, but I am skeptical that her "campaign" was anything but a bitter attempt to oust one business-oriented administration for another. CDA, your growth and lack of a skilled labor force has doomed you. The local economy runs on development and growth and it's not sustainable. The people have no leverage in this situation when the only way to make a buck is to sell their beautiful property or t-shirts to the Californians. This is not the CDA I grew up in with mills and mines and a skilled working class. Everyone's interests are now tied to non-sustainable growth. Don't kid yourselves. My advice, move out now while you can. It's only going to get worse. This is not a sustainable situation. Don't look for answers in elected officials or business owners. What do you expect them to do, had a few bucks out of their own pocket to your bank account? This is the raw, ugly face of American capitalism plain and simple. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 9, 2007 1:04 AM:

" Yea Jack, there's gunna be big trouble. See, "we" have been saving up for the just the right moment, and this is it buddy. Big, big trouble is coming your way mister. "We" have been saving up our votes for just the right moment mister. Better watch out, because "we"... sorry, I can't keep it up, that was way to funny "no jack" I'm sure somebody bought it. "

Wow wrote on Dec 8, 2007 1:03 PM:

" LOL,LOL,LOL. "

no jack wrote on Dec 8, 2007 12:46 PM:

" No Jack it is not over. Mary has only opened peoples eyes. I believe it has just begun and guess what? I think there will be some in BIG trouble when it is all over. We will be back Jack in full force next election. "

Jack wrote on Dec 8, 2007 9:09 AM:

" WAAAAA, WAAAAAAAAAAA, WAAAAAAAAA,...... Its over move on. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 7, 2007 7:49 PM:

" To all Citizens - Mary has reminded me of her much higher standards on many occasions. I wanted to be friends, but she said that I was distracting. When you see her next, tell her that if she’s willing the beers and blomin’ onions are on me. Wait ‘till I have had couple, you have not seen distracting until you’ve seen me once I’ve tied one on. "

s wrote on Dec 7, 2007 6:05 PM:

" All anyone has to do is watch a few of the meetings on channel 19. Know what these folks do for a living what land they own or sold latley. "

CDA Mob wrote on Dec 7, 2007 5:32 PM:

" Post Falls has its Mafia. CDA has its Costa Nostra. Mary has been taken for a ride by the CDA mob. "

concerned citizen wrote on Dec 7, 2007 5:23 PM:

" I to must agree with "To all Citizens". I have never met Mary, but I do believe she has had the best interest of ALL of the citizens of cda in mind and not just a choosen few. She has conducted herself with the utmost integrity which is something I cannot say about some of the posters on this blog site or even the mayor, city council or members of the LCDC. I have been involved with this corupt system that we currently have and had to resign my position. I do NOT believe these people, the mayor, city council, LCDC or even your chamber of commerce has the best interest of people of CDA in mind. Mary, I respect your courage and atleast getting farther than most of us that have said something. The facade is being torn down little by little and the true side of these people are being exposed. Good luck. "

To all Citizens wrote on Dec 7, 2007 3:45 PM:

" Mary is telling our citizens the truth and asking excellent questions. I know because I have personally witnessed everything discussed without ever meeting Mary. She has brought attention to inappropriate behavior down at city hall. She is very brave in doing so and I hope she continues. Mary has integrity and lives by a much higher standard than most. Thank you Mary. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 7, 2007 2:26 PM:

" Niles, I wish you had a column. And, I think that you should call it the "Pity Pulse." "

Simple Answer wrote on Dec 7, 2007 2:02 PM:

" " One has to wonder why the Press started the column in the first place and why they pulled it now"...Simple answer: Mary was given a job to do, defeat the city hall incumbents who had denied Duane the Memorial Gardens and Blackwell Island. She failed. Duane does not tolerate failure. End of story. Sue? Sue for what? There is no entitlement to write for a newspaper any more than there is an entitlement to serve on the planning and zoning commission. Mary doesn't have a leg to stand on. Her new name should be Neil. "

Weary wrote on Dec 7, 2007 11:11 AM:

" no revolution said: "Can you sue?" Sad that that's the first thing many people think when ANYTHING happens. It's their paper. They can have whomever they want writing in it. "

no revolution wrote on Dec 7, 2007 10:42 AM:

" I will miss your articles. What reason did they give you? Why has your voice been silenced? Can you sue? "

Einheitlichen Stimme wrote on Dec 7, 2007 9:51 AM:

" Apparently the Press is intrigued by this "unified voice" thing and has decided to give it a try! Good luck with your projects before the LCDC, Mr. Hagadone! "

Niles wrote on Dec 7, 2007 9:47 AM:

" One has to wonder why the Press started the column in the first place and why they pulled it now. I can think of no answer to either question that would put a good light on the paper. Either Mary knew of which she spoke or she did not. If she did not then the column had no business every being allowed to run. If she did (does) then the Press has cowardly knuckled under to the powers that be wanting Mary's voice silenced. "

just proves wrote on Dec 7, 2007 9:13 AM:

" This just proves the power of the LCDC and this city council. "

Mary Souza wrote on Dec 7, 2007 8:57 AM:

" No, I'm not on vacation, the paper decided to stop my column. "

s wrote on Dec 7, 2007 8:18 AM:

" Patrick is kissing @@@ of lcdc and council. If you beat them join them! "

Curious George wrote on Dec 7, 2007 6:55 AM:

" I opened my paper this morning and Mary was GONE!. What gives Mary? Are you on vacation? "

Bad Hagadroid wrote on Dec 5, 2007 11:31 AM:

" To: "facts mattter". Calm down, or you'll soil your K-mart panties. First, there are only 2 't's' in matter. Secondly, the spokane tax rate is 8.6% and rising, BUT if you add in the additional WA. Gasoline SALES TAX, you'd be pretty close to 10%. Thirdly. So what? Wa. sales tax is still AT LEAST 30% higher than Idaho's. And finally- Be my guest: Take the time and gasoline to drive over there and spend 30% more in sales tax. This will prove your 'enlightenment.' http://www.spokanejournal.com/index.php?id=commentary&cid=128 "

to another questioner: wrote on Dec 5, 2007 9:10 AM:

" If there was a decline in morale on the Planning Commission, then John Bruning's failure of character and leadership deserves the majority of the blame. As chairman, he had an obligation to recognize and correct any morale problems when they first came to his attention and before they became a "problem". Mary Souza didn't present a morale problem. She demonstrated more courage, integrity, and leadership skills in her fingernail clippings than John Bruning will ever have in his entire body. "

another questioner wrote on Dec 2, 2007 2:58 PM:

" Asking questions neither makes them intelligent or relevant to an issue before the council. You seem to feel that all questions have equal weight. Many questions are proposed simply to cause friction or inflame. Many of the questions brought before the board were proposed without any real thought by the questioner. Repeating fiction over and over doesn't make it fact. Too much that is written in these blogs is just whiny crap. Mary you have your bully pulpit and then complain when you are called for causing friction and morale problems. Would you like some cheese with that whine. "

Hey wrote on Dec 2, 2007 8:27 AM:

" Check out the Larry doll on stupid.com funny stuff. "

Cynical Kid wrote on Dec 2, 2007 1:17 AM:

" FBI will only go after patriotic, Constitution-toting Americans who obey the law. The corruption we have is sanctioned with the intent of gutting the middle class ending in our quite surrender to the new world order. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 1, 2007 11:31 PM:

" (crying) Oh my gosh, this is a complete surprise… (He pulls out a folded up piece of paper from his black leather pants) I would to thank the academy, my agent Marty Goldberg, and of all my fans. Thank you to Vern, (thumbs up given to his buddy in the audience) you really brought life to your character. I would also like to thank my wife Goldie Mean, without you none of this would be possible. All of you are invited to my after party at the Bates Motel. (Golden Mean walks of the stage to a standing ovation; many babies will be conceived tonight). "

Oscar wrote on Dec 1, 2007 11:09 PM:

" And this year’s academy award for best original screenplay goes to… Golden Mean for Souza-Gate 2007! "

fun gal wrote on Dec 1, 2007 9:30 PM:

" Gee sh, sounds like fightin' words! "

sh wrote on Dec 1, 2007 4:37 PM:

" A lot of you complain...why don't you file your concerns with the state and fbi? What is it going to take...???? Get off your AS"""s and do something. I could name names who are from Cda and who are from elsewhere, but what's the point. If you want to stop the "corruption" here, file a complaint. Otherwise, sit back and take it in the "A" like Golden Mean. "

which jewelry store... wrote on Dec 1, 2007 12:38 PM:

" belongs to Bloem? "

? the Mysterion wrote on Dec 1, 2007 12:01 PM:

" "I will be remembered for coining the phrase Souza-Gate" you'll be remembered as DFO's gay boytoy and a complete asshat. "

facts mattter wrote on Dec 1, 2007 10:54 AM:

" "your sales tax is almost 10% . It's only 5% at Runge" one reason why some people here and this website specifically does not get treted as a crdible source of news and opinions is because of all the wrong information passed off as facts when they are completely wrong! Sales tax in Spokane is what 8% and in CDA it is 6%. A 25 difference is significant so why does the poster feel the need to distort the truth? What other facts are being distorted? "

Niles wrote on Dec 1, 2007 10:46 AM:

" Until the citizens of CdA become outraged enough to block vote for change nothing will change. Consider the obvious. Who likes how things are? First on that list is every real estate agent, broker, mortgage broker, title and escrow people. They all want higher property values and as many new migrants attracted to the area as possible. Worse is that they do not care how that happens. In numbers alone they and the people who work for them constitute more people than voted against the establishment in this last election. The point is that there are many, many people whose wallets are being fattened by the status quo. The majority are getting nailed and robbed by the status quo and are too simplistic to realize it or too complacent to think they can stop it. Many simply do not believe in the power of the ballot. The next elections are less than 2 short years away. In that time the effort to inform and invigorate the electorate must be relentless. A grass roots ground swell can end this dynasty of public corruption. "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 1, 2007 10:44 AM:

" I will be remembered for coining the phrase Souza-Gate. "

Mary Rocks! wrote on Dec 1, 2007 10:23 AM:

" Mayor of CDA. "No tax money will be used for the Kroc Center." Mayor of CDA is also the Kroc Chair. Mayor of CDA moves 3 million dollars of city money to the Kroc Center Where she just happens to be the Chairperson). Mary Souza challenges this. This is NOT a conflict of interest that should be investigated? The Mayor and her cronies scream. Mary Souza is fired by the Mayor from the P&Z. Yup, justice prevails - Coeur d'Alene style that is. "

wow wrote on Dec 1, 2007 10:20 AM:

" I am really glad that I live outside of CDA. I like living in Idaho, but CDA seems like a diseased place. I wouldn't trust anyone there. It would be nice to ship the whole place to California where this kind of politics are appreciated. I'm not picking sides here, *everyone* should be forcibly relocated; it's not a healthy place. "

Native Guy wrote on Dec 1, 2007 10:02 AM:

" If it was'nt for Mary,I would'nt even know who LCDC is or what they do.Thank god somebody's educating the public on matters we need to know about.Were paying for it! "

RadRevD wrote on Dec 1, 2007 10:01 AM:

" Normal citizens will vote and accept whoever gets elected. Their desire is to place trust in the 'best' candidate that won. Their goal is to lay their head down at night for a peaceful rest. For me, that has not been possible for over two years. I hate politics. I consider it a strategy to rule the population. It does serve a purpose as long as everything is conducted in the open. Coeur d'Alene is supposedly a "Walking Community". My wife and I enjoyed our first few years walking downtown and around the boardwalk. Today, it is difficult to cross 3rd and 4th streets due to increased traffic that will not stop for pedestrians. On one occasion, a car accelerated as we crossed and we had to rush to reach the curb in time. Mark Hinshaw's proposed densification by 1500 families in the downtown area hasn't happened yet. Instead we got thousands in the Riverstone, Landings, Hawks Nest, and Mill River projects. They saturate Northwest Blvd. at rush hour. Locals have compensated by using the 3rd/4th couplet initially and now use 7th & 9th Streets for quick transit without stop signs or police interdiction as they roll through the controlled intersections. A CDA traffic study in the vicinity of where the driver played chicken with us revealed numerous incidents where speeds were in excess of 70 MPH. YIKES, should I carry a gun and shoot the run away horses? My attempts to resolve this within city channels is exhausted. [b] No impediments to marketing of growth to wealthy retirees will be permitted. [/b] _________ The per capita ratio of police officers will remain well below national averages despite increased crime and gang activity. Pray for those who ensure your safety. They are not the problem and should be adequately staffed. It would add about $3.00 per officer per year to your property taxes to add an officer. __________It isn't the expense; it is the impression that would be sent to wealthy in-migrants who wish to escape the hostility of L.A. & SoCal. Don't know about you, but I hear sirens regularly in my neighborhood. Thanks to our current rulers, Coeur d'Alene Sense of Community is nearly lost. "

LTR wrote on Dec 1, 2007 8:35 AM:

" The city does not give documentation listing reasons for dismissal. I have indicated many times that Mary is telling our citizens the truth and asking excellent questions. I know because I have personally witnessed everything discussed. Look at the family tree of relationships between Mayor, Council and developers. The conflict of interest is pretty clear down at city hall. Mary has brought attention to this behavior and she is very brave in doing so. The city will do anything within their powers to install fear and get Mary to stop asking questions. The city does not play fair and are not to be trusted. "

Bad Hagadroid wrote on Dec 1, 2007 7:49 AM:

" Well now. The HBO flying monkeys are flocking here in droves. The hit count is way up. Thanks, DFO! So why not take a break from flinging spittle at Mary's feet and take a look up. Yes, that's good old Runge furniture- a Coeur d'Alene institution where you can find great furniture and financing too! But here's the best part... because you Spokane folks have liberals in power your sales tax is almost 10% . It's only 5% at Runge. Save, save,save at Runge! "

Mary Souza wrote on Dec 1, 2007 7:13 AM:

" The city gave me no documents related to my dismissal. Read my column, DFO, the city called me on speaker phone--that's it. They didn't have the courtesy to meet with me. All of their other past attempts to conjur up dirt against me have been covered in articles in this paper. "

cmh wrote on Dec 1, 2007 7:11 AM:

" So what about it, Mary? Release any documentation you have ever been given regarding you duties with P&Z? "

SR dfo POST wrote on Dec 1, 2007 5:57 AM:

" The democrats for outrageousness [dfo] is at it again, at 1:01 am in the morning. He doesn't seem to have anything better to do than to rail on the CDA press. How hateful, here is his post: I doubt the information could be released without Mary's consent. Mebbe an HBOer should hold his/her breath tightly and venture over to the CDA Press Blog Sewer and ask Mary why she doesn't release any information the city gave her to explain its action. That would put her on the spot. In the interest of full disclosure, she should release the info, especially if she doesn't think its legit. Posted by DFO | 1 Dec 1:01 AM "

Golden Mean wrote on Dec 1, 2007 1:12 AM:

" Charlie Brown 1, Peppermint Patty 0 "

Mary Souza wrote on Nov 30, 2007 6:50 PM:

" Thanks for the support. Let me again state that I am an unpaid columnist. I do this as a volunteer, up to this point. I have never met with Mr. Hagadone about this column or anything to do with it. In fact, the only time I've ever had a conversation with him was two years ago for 10 minutes. This paper never tells me what the write or what not to write. The business that my husband and I own, called Design Events, we started 24 years ago. We work with the Resort and all the hotels and venues in the CdA-Spokane area. We also send staff all over the country for events with our clients. We are the only business of our kind in this city, so I am able to speak out when other people are not. People in the insurance, finance and retail areas cannot come forward with their names because their businesses will be hit, and hit hard, by those in power. I am not exaggerating this one bit. I have received so many emails telling me local stories about retribution that would send shivers up your spine. "

sh wrote on Nov 30, 2007 5:05 PM:

" I have watched and participated in this issue long before Mary was " ?released?" of her duties/participation. "cmlt, perplexed, good grief, to transparent and waiting for answers," are all people/responders that are from spokane or people that have direct benefit, monetary, from "mary" and others questions and claims. The "CYA" issue has applied to everyone involved with the city council/government and LCDC. The legal issues are starting to show the "misappropriation of funds, insider trading/benefit and political infleunce buying." What people are seeing here "in negative comments," are those who have the most to loose. Granted, the "most wealthy" of this area wish to keep and improve their status, "maybe a few comments," but the ones to loose the most by "Mary and others," questions about the "on-goings and happenings" of the current government and lcdc are the developers and the wealthy. Sooner or later, the developers and "money hungars" will get their just reward. "

to Mary: wrote on Nov 30, 2007 3:57 PM:

" There is nothing wrong with your requesting people to write letters to the editor. Those who complain about your request do not seem to complain about the Mayor, the City Council, and the LCDC using CDA TV Channel 19 as their own publicly funded propaganda machine. Maybe you and the other honest people in the community ought to produce your own programming and demand that it be shown on Coeur d'Alene's answer to the Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Co. "

Professional Victim wrote on Nov 30, 2007 3:51 PM:

" Mary, you love to be the "victim." I think most people are OK with asking questions but you crossed the line too many times. You insinuated accusations unprofessionally and all with the emperor's forum. The fact that he and the mayor had a feud; and that you were given a weekly opportunity to slam her is no coincidence. Your 15 minutes is almost over. Hope you enjoyed it. "

CdA res wrote on Nov 30, 2007 3:49 PM:

" Can someone tell me why there has not been a petition yet to remove Bloem? "

Juan Ioda wrote on Nov 30, 2007 3:08 PM:

" Mary is a star in my country. Check this out - http://www.answers.com/topic/suave-y-tierno-1998-album-by-mary-souza "

Mary Souza wrote on Nov 30, 2007 2:41 PM:

" The attacks continue. I did send an email to some people who have written to me with their support and concerns. The email was to let them know what happened, because the city likes to hide these things around holiday weekends so people are distracted or out of town. I suggested letters to the editor if people wanted to express their opinions and were willing to sign their names. I also offered to forward their comments via a letter or column, if they did not feel comfortable having their names in public. Many people emailed me back with their comments, but did not want to go public--and can you blame them? We have a nasty climate of aggression and retribution in our city right now, and some of the posts on this blog show it. "

WAITING FOR ANSWERS wrote on Nov 30, 2007 2:36 PM:

" Why hasn't Mary released the documentation relating to her dismissal? Mary knows the real story. Where is the openness and transparency? Why hasn't Mary told the full story of her two conflict of interest investigations requested by citizens? Why hasn't Mary come clean about her conflict of interest business dealings with the resort and her votes on Hagadone corporate interests? How much under the table money did Design Events pocket from Hagadone and the Resort while she was rubberstamping their projects? I think maybe the Idaho Attorney General would be interested in that story. Release the documents, Mary!! "

to Mary wrote on Nov 30, 2007 2:23 PM:

" I am so sorry that you have been released. I will miss working with you. I guess the rest of us will have to learn to like the taste of butt. "

to transparent wrote on Nov 30, 2007 1:48 PM:

" transparent - You want to know how the letter to the editor showed up and how that letter's author knew what was going on? Because Mary asked for it. She sent out letters requesting supporters to send letters to the editor. read the following link. http://www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/nhb/media/marysouzaletter.doc "

Good Grief! wrote on Nov 30, 2007 12:35 PM:

" How long is the Press going to allow Mary to use this column for her whining and complaining? I think there is more to the reason that Ms. Souza was dismissed from P&Z, but City Hall is attempting to allow her to depart with a shred of dignity. "

Honest Gov't wrote on Nov 30, 2007 11:10 AM:

" There is a way to discover what's 'delusional', transparent or 'in the public's interest.' It's call a 'lawsuit.' Discovery is an amazing thing. The city shouldn't have any worries- their crack legal team did such a good job at Sander's beach and they have University Place's Ryan Armbruster. "

Niles wrote on Nov 30, 2007 10:56 AM:

" The city of CdA see's around $18 million dollars per year income from property taxes. That's for the entire city. Soon the LCDC will see abut the same amount of annual income from property taxes. The LCDC will then have the same level of income the entire city does and they will decide how it is to be spent. All of these charades and political power plays is to get to see who will control this big old money pot. What projects get built, who builds them, what contractors are used, what land will be bought??? They do not want Mary or anyone like Mary to be on the inside with eyes and ears not sympathetic to their plans. There's a lot of money at stake and it is our money. We should be able to decide how it is best used. We are who Mary was looking out for and it was us who got stabbed in the back. "

perplexed wrote on Nov 30, 2007 10:43 AM:

" The more I read Mary's column, the more I believe she's delusional. "

Thank you Mary!! wrote on Nov 30, 2007 10:12 AM:

" I appreciate what Mary has done and continues to do. Since when does being an advocate for the citizens and working towards a transparent government such a bad thing? It seems to me that Mary has caused the rats to come out of their holes. "

transparent wrote on Nov 30, 2007 8:19 AM:

" intersting that there is a letter to the editor in today's paper about today's column. how did he know? by the way could you please disclose any documents relating to your removal from the p+z commission. "

CMH wrote on Nov 30, 2007 8:04 AM:

" Mary - you turn Martyrdom into an artform. What in the hell is wrong with you? Whiny and complaining. I can't possibly imagine an upbeat morale with you around like this. Honestly - other P&Z people don't agree that you were a peach. And NO ONE is surprised by your removal so how on earth can you be? If you are going to fight for a cause, then go for it. Don't cry about being treated poorly for your activism afterward. I would respect you more if you were matter of fact instead of spinning for sympathy. "

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