A walk on the bright side

Some residents hate what's happened with McEuen Field.

Others - actually, they're many of the same ones who hate what's happened with McEuen - oppose the urban renewal vehicle that's funding most of the McEuen makeover.

Still others experience acid reflux every time they swallow the high salaries and outstanding benefits they're paying many Coeur d'Alene city employees, including just-retired Parks Director Doug Eastwood.

But none of this should have any bearing on the legacy left by Eastwood. In his 35 years with the city, the last handful in the eye of the aforementioned storms, Eastwood never wavered from consummate professionalism. He took tremendous heat, and in the public eye, at least, he never broke down. If you didn't know better, you'd guess he never even broke a sweat.

Newspaper people spend a great deal of time dealing with bureaucrats, and the best relationship they can hope for is one of mutual respect. Our respect for Eastwood is at the top of the chart because our experience typifies what many others have shared with us, inside and outside the walls of City Hall: Eastwood's work ethic, his attention to detail, his respect for others' opinions, and his deep understanding that he worked for the public and not the other way around were exemplary of any steward of taxpayer trust.

We mention this today as Coeur d'Alene finds itself yet again in the heart of another huge event that showcases our area's natural beauty, community pride and, yes, good overall city management, from the entry-level gardener to the head of the police department, who soon will join Eastwood on retirement's Easy Street. Taxpayers have a right and we believe we have an obligation to demand of our elected and hired public servants the very best possible return on taxpayers' dollars. In most cases and places, there's room for improvement.

Powered by an active citizenry, Coeur d'Alene does many things well but because its leaders take on tough, controversial issues - McEuen, urban renewal, anti-discrimination and so on - some folks conclude that the city does nothing right. Doug Eastwood is just one of many positive examples of this high-profile city's government, and in front of a standing-room only crowd today, we wanted to acknowledge that despite some dings in its fender, Coeur d'Alene remains a magnificent place to live. That doesn't happen by accident.