Cda Chamber Shows How To Lose Friends And Infuriate People
The Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce could write the book on how to make a bad situation worse. Last week, the chamber rushed member Lori Barnes to a Sandpoint meeting to back Asarco’s rock Creek Mine, even though its Sandpoint counterpart remained neutral. Such is the controversy surrounding Asarco’s attempt to build a giant mine upstream in northwest Montana. Predictably, environmentalists booed Barnes when she announced her group’s support. But the worst was yet to come. Mine foes were livid when they discovered Coeur d’Alene chamber officials hadn’t polled members about the mine - and that Barnes was on Asarco’s payroll.
Diane Williams, of the Rock Creek Alliance, probably was right to claim Barnes had a conflict of interest. But Williams was off base when she added rhetorically: “What does the Coeur d’Alene chamber have to do with Lake Pend Oreille anyway?”
The region has a stake in the mine and Lake Pend Oreille water quality. Too bad Barnes and the chamber gave foes ample reason to drown out reasonable debate.
Maybe trustees, Bell should take a hike
So, you think I’ve been rough on Idaho College trustees and their hired gun, interim President Ron Bell? Try Lewiston Tribune editorialist Jim Fisher’s take on the latest hubbub. As you recall, Bell blocked a reporter from sitting in on campus meetings with presidential candidates. Concludes Fisher in a Feb. 11 editorial: “The Idaho Board of Education should inform Bell and his buddies that If NIC tells the Idaho public to take a hike when it’s time to hire a president, the Idaho public can tell NIC to take a hike when it’s time to pay the bills.”
Tater Tots
State Sen. Jack Riggs’ bill to fix U.S. Highway 95 was a good one when it split the repair cost between gas taxes and vehicle registration fees. Now, the Coeur d’Alene Republican wants to dump it all on registration fees, so that Idahoans will pick up the tab rather than sharing it with visitors. Send this one back to the drawing board. … Concerned Businesses of North Idaho monitors local budgets well. Therefore, the Post Falls School District should be proud the business groups rated it as the most efficient school district in Kootenai County. … Must Rep. Helen Chenoweth keep her promise to serve only three terms, now that we’re no longer holding politicians accountable for character and honesty? I think so, but don’t want to force my morality on anyone.
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