CDA: Art more like a farce

The city in its continued display of arrogance bypassed another chance to help heal some of the riff caused by McEuen Park. By now most people are aware the city through its Bloem-appointed commission picked an out of state artist and his very modernistic design at a price of $100,000 to $110,000 (you know it will be at least $110,000) to be the entrance to McEuen.

I am not about to suggest that the city should have let the public vote on this, but something like a no cost call in or email, informal poll, would have gone a long way to give the citizenship at least the illusion of ownership. The poll wouldn’t even have to be on the actual design but maybe the direction of the type of design would have been something.

I guess when you’re sitting on top Mount Olympus looking down on your peons and knowing you are about to escape with your ill gotten booty, concerns for the public just don’t matter.

At my last count we have four candidates for mayor and four candidates for council (yes, I’m counting Mr. Bitchin’). I can only hope that the voters take the time to check out the history and associations of each of the candidates (most look like reincarnations of what we have to me) before voting.

Just an oh by the way, does anyone remember the big flap over the urgency to OK the super deal for sewer improvements? Well guess what: Someone forgot to add in the cost of paying the workers so now it will cost (substantially more). At a recent council meeting, Councilman Gookin was basically shouted down for suggesting that it is the job of the council to review things like the budget. Some of the statements made by the other five were, it’s too hard, it’s too complicated, it would take too much time, and my favorite, we fully trust the staff and that would insult them. Now we know why we have 19 staff who can’t seem to add up a contract making more than $100,000 a year.

MICHAEL TEAGUE

Coeur d’Alene