Our Bread Is Buttered On Both Sides, So To Speak
Sometimes, a bad idea simply won’t go away. Take the latest “Shop North Idaho First” campaign, for example. (Ple-e-ease take it.) Last week, Spokane Valley Mall developer JP Realty Co. Inc. jumped aboard this rickety old bandwagon, causing North Idaho chamber managers to purr contentedly. Usually, the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce pushes this them-against-us nonsense oblivious to the fact that Spokane and Kootenai County residents travel freely back and forth to visit, shop, work and play. It’s not difficult to figure out the reasons behind this PR ploy by JP Realty. After buying Coeur d’Alene’s Silver Lake Mall, the Salt Lake City developer stands to rake in North Idaho dollars on both sides of the state line. Meanwhile, the company has made a good first impression with Kootenai County’s movers and shakers except for Post Falls resort owner Bob Templin, who eschews territorialism. Says Bob: “If everyone else shopped at home, we’d be out of business.” Bingo.
Judge, corrections officer let us down
Who’s going to protect us from the parole boards, parole officers and judges who free the few rapists and killers unlucky enough to get caught and convicted? Now, Donald Torkelson, 36, of Spokane, is in jail again for allegedly raping two developmentally disabled teenagers. Remember him? After spending six years in prison for raping five Spangle children, Torkelson caused neighborhood uproars three years ago when he moved back to Spokane. Citizens brandishing signs stating “Honk Pervert Out of Town” camped outside his door. Now, we learn Spokane County Superior Court Judge Paul Bastine signed an order terminating Torkelson’s community supervision, though Torkelson was considered “a high risk to re-offend.” We also learn that community corrections officer Lori Johnson recommended the supervision be dropped despite Torkelson’s “unsatisfactory” record of reporting to her office. Maybe Bastine and Johnson should be assigned to baby-sit Torkelson the next time he’s allowed to prowl the streets. They might take their duties more seriously.
Idaho lawmakers deserve this initiative
The Idaho Family Forum earns Sweet Potatoes for launching a signature drive challenging the 1997 Legislature’s assault on the initiative process. As you may recall, the Republican Legislature tightened the initiative process so much that some are afraid it’s no longer possible to pass a citizens initiative. The Family Forum not only wants to repeal the recent changes but also make it easier to win ballot status. It deserves your John Hancock.
, DataTimes MEMO: D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” runs Tuesdays and Thursdays in The Idaho Spokesman-Review. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125 or by sending e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.