CDA: In growth's downward spiral

Just some random thoughts from a resident of 16 years.

Yes Coeur d’Alene is not the quaint town it was in 2003, however, it has become almost unlivable to me. Coeur d’Alene has its finer points; most are fairly well-known. This is about how the quality of life has degraded since I moved here.

High traffic volume and no pre-planning to accommodate it.

Blatant disregard for traffic rules, and little pro-active enforcement.

The fact that you must register as a Republican in order to vote for a Republican in the primary. A person of color most likely would claim that they are being disenfranchised by having to declare a party affiliation. I wrote, and The Press published a My Turn column on this very subject. Add in folks like Brent and Vito, and I’ll never say I’m an Idaho Republican.

The Coeur d’Alene school board members are ineffective and self-serving. I feel there is little regard for my tax dollars as a retired individual. There is no accountability on the teachers’ part for dismal passing percentages. Whose idea was the International Baccalaureate, and how much money was wasted? Who hired Matt Handelman and who agreed to pay him to leave? BTW, me and my wife are legal guardians for our two granddaughters, who are/were Coeur d’Alene School District students.

Parking structures are a crime magnet after dark. Ask anybody who has lived in a big city. Last summer there was a robbery at McEuen Park parking garage. My family no longer goes downtown after dark, preferring to go points north or to Hayden.

Add in knockout punches where the victim hits his head on the cement. How many of those have we had?

How about a shootout at Independence Point immediately after the Fourth of July fireworks this year? Amazing nobody was hurt except the perp, who should have died. Statistics can be stacked any way that you would like, to present your side in the best light. I think the crime stats the police publish don’t tell the whole story.

The City Council that Coeur d’Alene has now is more self-serving than when Sandi Bloem got her way.

I’m not sure what good my thoughts might provide, but I wanted to share them with you anyway.

RICK CASEMORE

Coeur d’Alene