EDITORIAL: Separate traffic center wheat from chaff

When it comes to considering the pros and cons of a possible centralized traffic management system for Kootenai County, it’s good to be skeptical.

It’s not good to be cynical.

At the moment, much of the fury leveled against a possible project coordinated by Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization sounds like volleys fired from a cannon powered by conspiracy theories and outright paranoia. You know, Big Brother is watching with nefarious intent because Big Brother is the Federal Government and we all know that no good comes from Uncle Sham.

That’s cynical.

Yet one of the voices urging caution in hopping on the bus headed toward “smart cities” is the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU urges healthy skepticism whenever cameras and data collection are connected to government entities ranging from law enforcement to federal offices.

Granted, one of the ACLU’s gravest concerns — that this type of surveillance could threaten the rights of people of color, Muslims and other groups — probably wouldn’t resonate quite so much with a Kootenai County coffee crowd. But the ACLU’s warnings deserve to be studied and considered.

Fortunately, you have time to do your own research before expressing your opinion, which the KMPO wants to hear.

A good start is finding out more about what KMPO officials have in mind, hoping to coordinate traffic throughout the county with one centralized system rather than the nine transportation agencies that now operate independently. Go to kmpo.net/public-notices-news/ — or be sure to attend one of the two open houses Aug. 3. The open houses will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Library and at Black Bay Depot in Post Falls.

KMPO is also asking for public input through a simple, seven-question survey on the same link: kmpo.net/public-notices-news/

While the survey results may help guide the decision-makers, we’re disappointed with the survey itself.

The questions lead respondents to acknowledge some beneficial aspect of a coordinated traffic system. In the one question that asks respondents to share their thoughts, there’s no actual opportunity to explain why the person might object. That’s a missed opportunity for KMPO to understand and address citizens’ legitimate concerns, as well as the misinformation, disinformation and outright paranoia that’s out there.

Here’s hoping the public meetings Aug. 3 respectfully acknowledge citizens’ worries while filling in the blanks necessary to make wise decisions.