KENNEDY: Angry and disappointed

I actually let out a gasp when I saw the Coeur d'Alene Press headline Wednesday morning saying "CDA picks up lawyer tab."

It seems that we as citizens and taxpayers are assaulted at every angle with deceptions and self-serving motives on the part of our elected officials. The City Council and the mayor and a number of others thrown into the mix are NOT looking out for the taxpaying citizens of the city; they are looking out for themselves.

I'm sure the City Council and mayor know how the majority of the citizens of Coeur d'Alene felt about the proposal to have the city pay for the attorney fees for Kennedy. I'm sure they read the letters to the editor AND are aware of the comments posted on the online Coeur d'Alene Press. People are outraged! It's a fact that Kennedy did not have to hire his own legal team, the city has legal staff. That was his decision to do so. He didn't have to create an outrageously high bill and they ask the city to cover it.

It was just recently that the city voted to raise our property taxes because they needed the additional money to cover things like a new copy machine (ludicrous) and new books for the library and oh yes, new police cars because the existing ones weren't new enough. The citizens didn't want a tax increase for these items, but the city knows better. They raised the taxes. Now, they seem to have a full pocket when their buddy and fellow councilman Kennedy needs a handout at our expense. Quote: "We have to defend this guy," said Councilman Woody McEvers. "We have to defend our election. If it's not him, it's one of us."

My message to all the citizens of Coeur d'Alene is to vote these gangsters out of office as soon as possible. Every single one of them! Please, all existing members of the City Council and mayor, and especially you Mr. Kennedy, don't run for re-election again.

p.s. - Mr. Brannon, thank you for helping to expose just how corrupt our local government is and how far they will go to get their way ... apparently all the way to Canada for a few extra votes in their favor.

JEAN STARR

Coeur d'Alene