Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Activists welcome new commissioners

The welcome wagon visited Tuesday’s Spokane County commissioners’ meeting.

About 50 neighborhood activists wearing buttons proclaiming “Neighborhood Power” filled the gallery to greet the county’s two new commissioners, Todd Mielke and Mark Richard, and to offer advice on land use issues.

Bonnie Mager, coordinator of the Spokane Neighborhood Alliance, asked that commissioners set aside 45 minutes during the commissioners’ evening meeting on Feb. 1 for a briefing on neighborhood values, opportunities and challenges.

Mager spoke of Richard’s and Mielke’s campaign promises to listen to the community, and said that she wanted to take them up on the offer early in the new year.

“Please say ‘Yes’ to neighborhoods tonight,” Mager asked.

Morgan Acres Neighborhood resident Lindell Haggin also urged the commissioners to make time for neighborhoods.

“It’s important that we bring people together to establish a sense of community,” Haggin said.

Commissioners agreed to meet with the neighborhood group but said they’re reluctant to hold the briefing during a regularly scheduled 5 p.m. hearing because they prefer to stick to official business at that session. Briefings are typically held Tuesday mornings.

But Mager is still pushing for a 5 p.m. time-slot, which she said more people could attend.

Some neighborhood activists and environmentalists were critical of Richard during his campaign because of his position then as the government affairs director for the Spokane Home Builders Association.

He acknowledged that the group at Tuesday’s meeting was trying to raise the stakes, but that he looks forward to meeting with them.

“Everybody deserves the right to be heard,” Richard said.