DFO: Not A Flaming Defeat, But It Should Have Been

DanG: 10 to 8 is not a “flaming” defeat. It’s close. This is merely a battle. Urban Renewal went 10 yards. They got a first down. But the game isn’t over. Urban Renewal reform is needed in Idaho. Hell, when the Rep from Salmon is telling me tales of abuse, you know that we have a big problem on our hands. I’m disappointed that the City, via the LCDC, had to spend tens of thousands of Kootenai Co. taxpayer dollars to fight the will of the people, in essence to prefer appointments over elections. I’m really disappointed in George Sayler, who voted to continue corporate welfare for big developers while robbing money from the schools. Good job, George! Remember: Economic development is all about rewarding developers with taxpayer dollars. (That’s not my quote, either.)

DFO: DanG, you aren’t representing the “will of the people” in your myopic battle against the urban renewal district. You’re representing yourself, a few dead-end Pachyderms, and mebbe the brain trust of the Coeur d’Alene Press, which is itchin’ to embarrass Sandi Bloem as part of The Duane’s vendetta against her. The urban renewal district is transforming this town into something pretty spectacular. Washington state would kill to have our ability to support developers who are taking the risks to build quality projects, transforming old mill sites into top-notch business/commercial developments. I haven’t said a bunch about urban renewal while you and a few others were rattling your sabers and, in some cases bad-mouthing some very good people who are making a difference in this community. But I applaud George Sayler for taking his stand. And I would urge Mike Jorgenson, Jim Clark and Phil Hart to wake up and smell the coffee that’s brewing in revigorated downtown Coeur d’Alene.