RECALL: Say no to 'citified park'

An open letter to the citizens of Coeur d’Alene, McCall and Sandpoint:

“We must never let what is happening in Coeur d’Alene happen in McCall.” Those are the words I remember hearing on my way through McCall three or four years ago.

I agree wholeheartedly. If you value the uniqueness and beauty of your town, elect those officials who will protect the naturalness of your public spaces.

Coeur d’Alene is currently in the grips of four people (our mayor and three remaining City Council members) who favor glitzy development of our downtown public park.

These four “representatives” are determined to develop our 15 acre McEuen Field into a citified park. Should they succeed in this very costly remake, our town would be forever changed.

Because the regular citizens of Coeur d’Alene wish to keep what remains of our town’s uniqueness in our public space adjoining Tubbs Hill, we are in the process of recalling the mayor and the three remaining councilmembers responsible for trying to change the character of our home and for refusing multiple requests for an advisory vote. Last November’s election was a mandate from the citizenry, with three members of the council voted in because they supported a non-binding advisory vote to show those in power how we feel about their plans for McEuen. Since the election, every McEuen issue has had a 4-3 vote against the will of the majority. Our only recourse, our last resort to be acknowledged, is to gather 4,311 signatures on each of four petitions to put the issue of McEuen Field’s future on the ballot in the form of a recall vote. Time is of the essence: it is 20 months before they are up for re-election, and by that time, it will be too late for McEuen. Our mayor and these three remaining councilmembers have created a very divisive atmosphere here in Coeur d’Alene by refusing to see the results of a simple advisory vote. No one would have had to be recalled, but they would then have to work with us instead of going full-steam ahead.

This letter is being written as a warning: there are three unique, quaint towns in North Idaho on beautiful lakes: Coeur d’Alene, McCall and Sandpoint. Should our current mayor and three remaining councilmembers succeed with their plans, you can scratch Coeur d’Alene off this prestigious list.

Money and glitz are not everything to everyone, but they are taking over in Coeur d’Alene. Protect your special home by the lake.

LINDA WOLOVICH

Coeur d’Alene