Opinion: City's vision is badly out of focus

Dear Mr. Gridley,

Today I received your invitation to be part of the Visioning CdA 2030 group. While I appreciate the consideration, I am choosing not to attend. In order to be polite and helpful, however, I will openly explain my reasons for not participating at this time.

Planning is good. Involving citizens is good. Vision is good. But your timing could not be worse.

1. The citizens of Coeur d'Alene have just had a massive "visioning" project called McEuen Park rammed down their throats, and it was done without the Public Advisory Vote that more than half the regular voters here repeatedly and adamantly requested.

2. How could any of us forget the Recall CdA effort last spring, when significantly more valid, registered voters signed the Recall than originally voted to elect Mayor Bloem and Council members Goodlander, Kennedy and McEvers. By changing the rules three times, the City managed to politically quash the Recall, but the Mayor still refused a Public Advisory Vote and kept pushing her own agenda.

3. Promises by this City Administration have been broken time and time again. The latest pledge was the McEuen budget limit at $14.2 million, which has now grown past $20 million.

4. The City has huge liabilities staring the taxpayers in the face: The Dixon Police Department lawsuit is likely to cost over $4 million. The Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade will be $33 million. Storm water fees have now returned under a new name. The Dike Road reconstruction will cost more than $1.5 million. And the list goes on.

5. After a City employee embezzled $365,000 of public money, it was discovered she had a past conviction of felony embezzlement, but no one else at the City was held accountable for any part of the problem.

Without honest, responsive and accountable government, there is no trust. And without trust, how can any visioning effort be sincere? That's our problem in Cd'A right now. The citizens have been ignored, disrespected and abused. We don't trust our city. Now, suddenly, comes a visioning exercise? Is this a move to soften the damages done by the McEuen fiasco in preparation for this November's City election where Mayor Sandi Bloem, Deanna Goodlander, Mike Kennedy and Woody McEvers will have to face the voters?

I have a vision too, Mr. Gridley. Mine is not a vision for 2030, mine is a vision for Nov. 5, 2013, when the voters will finally have a say. My hope is for a new, respectful, honest, accountable city government. And when the newly elected officials earn the trust of the citizens, by sincerely listening and keeping their promises, then it will be the right time to come together and plan for our future.

Mary Souza is a Coeur d'Alene resident.