Letters to the Editor Feb. 10, 2010
DOWNTOWN: Fix with curfew, limits
It's no secret that downtown Coeur d'Alene has become headquarters for big time trouble after dark.
Mostly males in their 20s, boozed up and violent, decide to take "important matters" into their own hands. Intimidation, "accidental" death, lynch mob style beatings and hand gun violence with lethal intent all occur within a few weeks on our downtown streets!
This is not the East Los Angeles barrio on a hot summer night and it's not Dodge City, Kan., in 1878. I repeat. This is downtown Coeur d'Alene 2010.
I don't go downtown after dark anymore. I haven't done so in several years. That solves my problem, but it isn't safe for anyone. A civilized culture must not tolerate this scene.
Downtown is as much a part of our city as Tubbs Hill and I would do everything in my power to preserve Tubbs Hill. But I have no power over what goes on downtown. That power rests with business owners and city officials who are clearly not up to the task before them.
Multiple bars owner Jerry Goggin claims his businesses are doing a good job controlling rowdy patrons downtown late at night. Mayor Sandi Bloem claims she wants to "make sure the public knows downtown is a safe place to be" (this according to a lead article by reporter Tom Hasslinger in the Feb. 2, 2010, Press).
I was born at night. Only not last night.
Follow the money trail. The gin mills bring in lots of bucks to their owners, without putting them at much personal risk since "somehow" the violence occurs afterward, outside.
The mayor and City Council, most of whom were barely re-elected last year, aren't much of a deterrent to these businesses that promote social disorder after dark. This is all part of the problem when old guard gets re-elected and "buddies up" with longtime local business owners. They lend lip service to the situation but take no real action against the profit-motivated saloon keepers.
The young thugs have proven they can't hold their liquor and won't alter their savage behaviors. But there is a solution.
The people must demand a strictly enforced early evening curfew on liquor sales. Or better still, a complete shut-down of bars after dark to save our town.
This purposeful chaos downtown with its predictably hurtful and destructive lose-lose consequences must be stopped.
JOHN MARK KRAMER
Coeur d'Alene
DOWNTOWN: Cops should go undercover
It seems that every other week I read about some moronic knuckle-dragging bullies beating up on somebody in the downtown Coeur d'Alene area. What is wrong with that place? Maybe the police should go undercover and hang around the bars until they arrest all these idiots.
Just this morning there was an article about two (against one as usual) morons beating a Liberty Lake man unconscious because they didn't like the way he looked?! To top it off the police are quoted as saying there "may" be charges filed. MAY?
Those kids should be beaten and thrown in prison for the next 10 years! I hope the parents of the victim sue the hell out of these morons and their parents. My wife and I will be armed every time we go to Coeur d'Alene from now on.
DOUG JEWELL
Hayden
DOWNTOWN: It is time to cowboy up
Henry Youngman once said, "I read about the evils of drinking, so I gave up reading." Don't give up; keep reading!uc!2026 The future of downtown Coeur d'Alene may be riding on it.
In the last six weeks Sherman Avenue and nearby blocks have resembled the inglorious days of Dodge City. Read on. First, around Christmas time, a 26-year-old unloaded six shots from his pistol into a group of partiers from Moses Lake after a scuffle at the local bar. He admitted to carrying a permitted, concealed weapon while intoxicated. He was later acquitted of wrongdoing by a grand jury.
Second, about two weeks ago, another 20-something guy from town was found at 2:30 a.m. lying on Front Avenue near Fifth Street smelling of alcohol, skull fractured and his drinking buddies nowhere to be found. They later said he was in the car with them!uc!2026 then he wasn't!uc!2026 and now nobody is talking. They pulled life support three days later and the kid passed.
Last up, a few days ago a 22-year-old local guy was charged with a misdemeanor for carrying a concealed weapon while intoxicated after a run in with a group of hombres he had crossed earlier at a downtown bar.
See a pattern developing? I'm thinking over-testosteroned 20-somethings, drunk, carrying concealed weapons, acting like punk cowboys!uc!2026 right here in Mayberry!uc!2026 ah, make that Dodge City. Our City Council, the Chamber of Commerce, the downtown association and our police department must act now to bring order to downtown. Kindly folk didn't venture into Dodge City, nor will kindly tourists who are due into town in a couple of months. Seems to me the reputation of Coeur d'Alene and the fortunes of its businesses are at stake here.
I am not, but if I were king I would (1) make it a felony to carry a concealed weapon while intoxicated in Coeur d'Alene, (2) make downtown bars stop serving alcohol at 1 a.m., (3) institute weekend police foot patrols from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Sherman Avenue and the bars surrounding the Coeur d'Alene Avenue/Second Street corridor, (4) ask LCDC to redirect its pending "grant" for the Seltice ice skating parking lot and instead install a closed circuit camera system in downtown to assist police with surveillance and protect LCDC's past investments in Coeur d'Alene's downtown businesses, school infrastructure, high rise housing and our public library.
Cowboys up: Time to reign in Dodge City.
ROBERT CLIFF
Coeur d'Alene
TROOPS: Let's pay it forward
The Idaho Department of Labor is once again returning to North Idaho to host the Serve Idaho program Feb. 25 at The Coeur d'Alene Resort in downtown Coeur d'Alene. Also, once again, the Project Linus Chapter has been asked to take part with a mission.
The focus for the Project Linus this year will be to prepare handmade cards and handmade blankets for the children of the National Guard troops who will be re-deployed in September. These children are the "little heroes of the community."
Once you have looked around your neighborhood, workplace and social community, you will be surprised how many of your average citizens will be in this troop movement. Families are left behind and the little children are sometimes the bravest of the status quo.
We will need some help from the concerned communities of North Idaho: card stock for the cards, some "happy" stamping items, and fleece for the blankets. Because winter blankets are made by this chapter with two pieces of fleece, perhaps you could join with a friend or two and donate a yard or two for this cause. The single fleece pieces will be finished with crochet around the edges and we could use some bright colored yarns to accomplish this mission.
The Department of Labor will once again be bringing some recent college graduates who will help with the many jobs we have to be completed. The last time this program came to North Idaho, these young citizens all commented that they were "paying it forward."
I would hope that North Idahoans will consider "paying forward" to the troops who will be leaving their families - for us, for our freedom, for our country. If you have any questions, please call Barb McLean at 687-8524.
BARB McLEAN
Rathdrum
TAXES: Don't add to burden
People are unemployed. Some will lose their jobs in the near future. People continue to lose their homes to foreclosure. The unemployment rate in Kootenai County is more than 10 percent.
With all this going on in this economy North Idaho College wants to levy more property tax monies for their agenda. On top of that the Coeur d'Alene School District is talking about another levy this year.
The two taxing districts don't appear to care about the economic plight of the property owner and taxpayer in the county. They seem to be on a mission from God. They have an agenda that falls squarely on the backs of the average taxpayer and the elderly property owner!
Wake up people! Vote no on any new levies! Unfortunately there is no stopping the pin-headed behavior of these two taxing districts. No more blank checks when it comes to your property taxes!
WAYNE L. RATHBURN
Coeur d'Alene
POLITICS: Both parties are failing
Republicans, Democrats, do either of you really investigate or ask the needed questions before banging the other guy?
Reading these letters to the editor I get the feeling your ears don't work. Some guy was banging the "right to work" laws of Idaho and says he has to go to Washington to find a good paying job but doesn't say he can't afford to live in Washington because their taxes are too high and their cost of living sucks.
We all know that the Medicare system needs a good overhaul but instead of working together it's easier to say his plan will put us in the poor house instead of let's look at this together and find ways to give everyone a fair chance at health insurance.
WORKING together does not start with "Your plan sucks." Asking pertinent questions in a polite manner or suggesting this as a change with the reasons it would help would really help the process.
Of course if you don't know the solution then I guess bad mouthing their answer would make you look less stupid at first. "They are putting us in the poor house!" does not make for a way to work together. It's a good way to start a fight or guarantee you won't be invited to work on the project and that is what is happening.
Grow up, people, and start working together or we will look for those that will. You're both wrong so far. Care to give it another try?
DAVID E. SHERIDAN
Coeur d'Alene
TRIBE: Disagree with editorial
This letter is in response to your extremely biased editorial entitled, "Let Officers Do Their Jobs" in the Feb. 3 edition of The Press.
It was unfortunate when cross deputization broke down in 2006 between the BIA officers and the sheriff of Benewah County. The BIA officers had been warned repeatedly on misuse of powers in dealing with non-tribal citizens.
Relations between the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and Benewah County have become increasingly strained and the fact that the Coeur d'Alene tribal leadership has been lobbying many of the state electeds, especially ones in Kootenai County, i.e. Sen. Mike Jorgenson and Rep. Jim Clark; the situation has become increasingly worse. Benewah County officials don't attempt to micromanage tribal or neighboring governments and we would hope tribal and neighboring county leadership would demonstrate that same respect. Communication, cooperation and coordination are always the best ways to foster any good working relationships.
The State Sheriffs Association unanimously voiced "no" on this amendment. The only sheriff not in opposition was Sheriff Rocky Watson in Kootenai County.
Proposed amendment to Idaho Code 67-5104 makes no provisions for any arrested citizens to be remanded anywhere except tribal courts. While the state is hopeful that "detainees" would be treated fairly, they have no authority to intervene to assist a non-tribal citizen who happens to be cited by a BIA officer within a checker-board reservation. Tribal sovereignty is exclusive to American Indian Tribes and their people; however, that sovereignty does not extend or apply to non-tribal citizens. Non-tribal citizens are subject to state and federal laws and governments.
I am happy to report common sense seems to have prevailed and our electeds are listening to their constituents and not just the special interests groups. I received a letter dated Feb. 3, 2010, from the state of Idaho, Office of the Attorney General, Lawrence Wasden stating the following:
"Attorney General Wasden asked me to respond to your recent e-mail expressing opposition to an amendment to Title 67, Chapter 51 of the Idaho Code.
"The attorney general has not proposed any legislation this session. He is not involved in efforts to amend this section of the Idaho Code.
"We appreciate your interest in contacting the attorney general and this opportunity to clarify what appears to be a misunderstanding."
It's humbling to see what a difference people can make when they care enough to contact their elected officials when they sense their rights are about to be violated.
PEG CARVER
NICA chair
St. Maries
Editor's note: The bill now in the Legislature would not remand cases to tribal court, as this letter suggests. The bill states that arresting tribal officers shall "deliver the person arrested to the place designated by the sheriff within the county for booking and/or detention of such person" and "cooperate with investigative and judicial requirements related to prosecution of the arrested person as may be reasonably required by the respective county sheriff or prosecuting attorney, as the officers having the primary duty of enforcing penal provisions of Idaho state statutes and law."
RELIGION: Cycle of killing, peace
I am aware that Jesus preached peace most of the time, but I was led to believe (when I had my religious education) that the Bible is the infallible word of God. This, I would think, ALSO includes the Old Testament, not just the New Testament. Isn't the ENTIRE Bible the cornerstone of Christian religion as I was taught? And if it isn't, then why does one part overshadow another part? The Muslims say the Koran is also infallible. So who is right?
I've heard SOME (not ALL) Christians say, "Well, they have a different Jesus than we do." Say what? Just recently, I read that a local pastor would not let a song be sung by children at a funeral service because the song was written by someone of another faith! Should that make a difference?
The truth is that MOST Christians and MOST Muslims are good people. John Stone states in his letter of Jan. 22 that, "If you read the whole Book of Deuteronomy you might even find other conditions to kill somebody else or even a whole community!uc!2026but you still can't apply this to Christians." OK, John Stone also states that, "Christians are taught the teachings of Jesus Christ, which is to love and forgive, not hate and kill." Yet the followers of Jesus (Christians) and Mohammed (Muslims) are responsible for the conflicts in Northern Ireland (Protestants versus Catholics), Sudan (Muslims versus Christians), Eritrea and Ethiopia (Christians versus Muslims) just to name a VERY few.
You see, if you give people different, irreconcilable, and untestable notions about what happens after death, then oblige them to live together with limited resources, then there will ALWAYS be an unending cycle of killing and cease fire.
And no, Hans Neumann (Jan. 22), I did NOT delete Islam from fault. I just said that they are not the ONLY ones. And yes, they are the ones that are waging all out war right now against everyone. I guess they're getting back at us for the Crusades, which the CHRISTIANS (followers of Jesus) waged for about 200 years from 1095 to 1291 to eradicate Muslims, although there were also campaigns against pagan Slavs, Jews, Russian and Greek Orthodox CHRISTIANS, and Mongols to name just a few.
I also noticed that you did not comment on the original reason for my last letter, Unus Vocate's statement that "Islam must be destroyed." So you do agree with that? And you say you follow Jesus' teachings? I noticed that you did NOT capitalize "god" when you referred to Islam. So this is one of the "different" gods, then, and not yours? It is arrogant of MAN to assume that one religion is better or truer than another. God would NOT assume that, and by the way, Jesus wouldn't either.
THOM PACE
Coeur d'Alene
Hear ye, hear ye!
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