Disincorporation group runs campaign on false assertions

In May 2002 the Spokane Valley, became a city despite the objections of many. A group soon formed that was intent on reversing that election.

Sally Jackson, a well-known Valley matriarch who has devoted much of her life to our community, became the unofficial spokesperson for the “disincorporation group.” Unwilling to accept the results of a vote, she has often beat the drum to step back in time.

Why would someone so connected to the Valley take such a limited, regressive view? This is especially puzzling when not that long ago she was a strong proponent of incorporation.

I believe that she has every right to question the wisdom of incorporation. She should be keeping a watchful eye on all elected officials. If she feels that allowing 88,000 people to become a fully functioning city was a mistake, then she should step up and lead the charge to disincorporate. If she gets the required number of signatures, let’s vote. If she fails again, accept defeat and move on to another worthy cause.

My term was up as council member over a year ago, so I really don’t have a personal vested interest. What I will tell you is the disincorporation group has whipped up a spin job on the facts and numbers that would impress the most hardened Washington, D.C., politico.

For example: The $42 million price tag for the Sprague Appleway Revitalization Plan. More than half of that cost is to extend Appleway Road. The last time I checked, most of the Valley wanted Appleway extended. Road projects like that are usually funded through grants that can cover up to 80 percent or more of the total cost.

More magic with numbers: The 2004 city budget was $33 million and now the 2009 budget has ballooned to $111 million. These are the true numbers, although what the disincorporation group forgets to mention is that approximately 33 percent of that budget is a carry-over from the previous year. This is typical of every city budget. They also don’t mention the fact that another 22 percent of the total budget is from federal and state grants. That’s right, your state and federal tax dollars coming back to our community, building roads, and bridges and providing a variety of jobs and other services.

They pound their fists and cry that there isn’t any opportunity to make comments at City Council meetings or the City Council just won’t listen. This is flat out wrong! At every council meeting, there are two public comment opportunities on the agenda in which you can comment on anything.

If the subject that you want to comment on is already on the agenda, you wait for that agenda item, and then make your comments. If you still feel like they aren’t listening, don’t vote for the council members at the next election. This is the democratic way.

As politically savvy as Mrs. Jackson is, you would think she would know these facts. However, you might be surprised that she doesn’t attend council meetings or public hearings. She hasn’t seen one State of the City address or Planning Commission meeting. She hasn’t volunteered for a single city-related committee. She hasn’t taken advantage of the many opportunities to become involved. Any of these opportunities would make her more informed.

Mrs. Jackson and her group have used this lack of knowledge to create a cloud of misinformation and are now spinning it in an attempt to enrage a community to disincorporate despite the fact that she once supported becoming a city. Why now is she a city opponent?

Mrs. Jackson has shown her anger with her often repeated battle cry of “they promised NO NEW TAXES!” Ask her who made those promises? See if these were the people that were ultimately elected in 2002.

Another one of her favorite claims is this council is made up of developers and bankers. Go to the city Web site and look at the council profiles. No developers, no bankers.

For a moment, let’s look forward into one possible future where the disincorporation effort is successful. The promise of returning to the days when Spokane County provided all of our services may be more a dream than reality.

The Revised Code of Washington is very clear in the process. By statute, upon disincorporation, a city’s powers and privileges are surrendered to the state. Simply put, we don’t automatically revert to the way it was before incorporation. This is not speculation, it is the law.

Are we better off than six years ago? I think we are. As citizens of a city, we have a parks program where there was none before. The city is upgrading our pools and building new parks. Spokane Valley has police coverage that is clearly a step above what was being provided before. The city’s code enforcement program has truly made an impact in many neighborhoods.

Over the next handful of months someone may knock on your door, claiming the doom and gloom of the city. They will spin the numbers and paint a picture that is just not reality. Applaud them for their effort, but ask them why aren’t they trying to make a better city instead?