Natives and Newcomers: Join the Dialogue
(Photo by Brian Plonka/S-R)
We launched our Natives and Newcomers Dialogues Sunday. We see it as a way for readers to eavesdrop on some of the conversations we've been hearing about the future of Spokane. It's an exciting time.
Bill Simer -- a shareholder in the Spokane-based public accounting firm of McDirmid, Mikkelsen & Secrest and megavolunteer -- looked at Spokane past, present and future.
Here's an excerpt:
Q: Will we ever get over our inferiority complex? We're not Seattle. We're not Portland. We're not Boise.A: We're better than Boise. That's my motto. I don't care if we're ever better than Seattle. I'm a little worried we're not as good as Portland. They have dog parks all over the place. They have good public transportation. But I don't believe we have any reason to feel inferior. I've never felt that. If I worry about one thing, it's that people who could make a difference here spend their winters away and maybe winter goes from October through May.
Q: What do we lose when we lose them?
A: We lose their support of culture. We lose their involvement in political discourse and involvement that might move the community forward.
Q: Snowbirds. It wasn't something that happened when we were younger.
A: In my neighborhood, it was out of the question. It would be nice in February to go somewhere warmer, but does it make this community a little less like home when you do that? Do you split your allegiances?
Please add your thoughts to any and all. Blog lines are open.