CD'A: Lacking in two important areas
The other day on the drive home from WinCo Foods, I observed a tall young man walking/shuffling along the sidewalk. When I stopped at the traffic light, I couldn’t help but stare. He was skin and bones, unshaven, long greasy hair and his shoulders drooped as if defeated. I wondered where he would sleep and what his story was. The light turned green and I drove on past the helpless, broken young man at the street corner.
Coeur d’Alene is a special place to live but is lacking in two important areas. We need a place for people, like this young man, to go and receive help. Our veterans who risked their lives for us, also need a treatment facility. What surprises me is the majority of people in our area are religious yet, it appears they do not care about the less fortunate in a productive way.
What I’m trying to say is, if people really care about helping those in need, they would vote for and elect a Legislative candidate who share their concerns and represent the people. Instead, the majority of those who actually got out and voted, voted for Kathy Sims, District 4 Legislator. That is the district where I live! I’m not happy about that. Kathy Sims, Vito Barbieri, Legislator of District 2, and Ron Mendive of District 3A all voted against funding of a state Mental Health Crisis Center, so now these people either have to be housed in the jail, which is overcrowded. Or in the hospital, or like the young man I mentioned, under a bridge out of the rain. Makes me wonder what kind of Christians these legislators are. This trio is not interested in our veterans or Sims, Barbieri and Mendive would not have voted to reduce state funding to care for those soldiers who risk their lives to protect us.
The trio voted “Yea” on Bill No. S 1395, to increase salaries of certain state officials, however, both Barbieri and Sims voted “Nay” on Bill No. HCR 40 to raise other state employees pay by 2 percent. All three co-sponsored Bill No. S 1254 authorizing concealed carry of firearms on college campuses. Bill No. S 1274 prohibiting texting while driving was a “Nay” vote from the trio. I guess they think it’s safe to text and drive. Barbieri co-sponsored S 1387 requiring an ultrasound prior to an abortion! I could go on and on but you get the picture. These Idaho Legislative representatives do not represent the interest of the people in their districts. This kind of representation does not serve the majority.
JANIE HANSEN
Coeur d’Alene