Spokane7
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October 23, 2011 in Opinion
Editorial: Condon has the plan to revitalize Spokane
The Spokesman-Review recommends the election of David Condon for Spokane mayor.
Incumbent Mary Verner took the reins in 2007, on the eve of the global economic meltdown, and has managed the city through unusually difficult times. But the progress that has been made to get costs under control has fallen short of the radical restructuring of pay – about 85 percent of city expenditures – needed to realign public-sector compensation with what Spokane businesses have been able to pay their employees, if they have been able to keep them at all.
Minimizing raises and shifting more benefit costs to employees, as Verner notes she has done, will not rebalance a system that has been out of whack for longer than she has been in power. Hard times are a challenge, but also an opportunity to make things right.
Condon says other cities are negotiating freezes with their workers. Why not Spokane? He says local labor organizations understand they have to sacrifice pay in exchange for job security. He’s right. Spokane will never get the police officers it needs on the streets without Police Guild concessions that go beyond freezes. The same is true for firefighter bargaining units, as well as others.
If he really wants to drive that compensation point home, Condon should return a significant portion of his pay to the city, as Verner has done for four years at a cost to her of more than $250,000. So far, he has made that commitment for only one year.
Condon concedes he did not grasp the depth of the public’s revulsion to the death of Otto Zehm until he started ringing doorbells. The case has shaken public confidence in the force, as has Guild resistance to an independent ombudsman with independent investigatory powers, he says, adding that body cams on officers might rebuild trust.
He places part of the blame for the city’s inadequate response on assistant city attorney Rocky Treppiedi, whom he would fire; a move long overdue.
Condon says he would have vetoed rate increases recently imposed on heavy water users. Tiered rates are acceptable, he says, but counterproductive if those users simply let their lawns brown up in response to excessive rate hikes.
He adds, correctly, that the city will have to be more selective about undertaking major capital projects until revenues rebound.
To that end, Condon says he will be a much more visible and vocal advocate for the city and business. A former small-business owner himself, Condon would create an “economic ombudsman” and small-business council within City Hall meeting quarterly to examine ways Spokane can be more business-friendly.
Verner has her share of accomplishments, annexation of a significant portion of the West Plains, for example, the ongoing development in the University District, and efforts to embed sustainability as a guiding principle.
But the city needs to take a stronger stance than has Verner confronting a fundamental problem: overcompensation of too many employees.
We think Condon will push back, as he pushes for more economic development. We urge Spokane voters to elect him.
Trudy Rubin: Egyptians say no to Islamists 
Shadedmuse on October 23 at 12:06 a.m.
We need to make the mayors rqace a referendum on Cathy Mcmorris and her do nothing attitude she only works for her big fat cat contributers and we need to send a message and voting AGAINST HER BOY!!!!!
drywitt99 on October 23 at 3:29 a.m.
My god…..what will Dazed post?
Which is greater?????
Her hatred for the Mayor??
Or her hatred for the S-R????
Whatever happens…..up to and including her head exploding…..Dazed’s response should be entertaining as hell!!
By the way: I believe the S-R is wrong on this.
I have already voted to re-elect Mayor Verner.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on October 23 at 7:21 a.m.
I am not sure if “Rocky” Can be fired…. if he is part of a Union there is hell to pay to even get someone to do their job correctly in most settings… anyone have any information on the “at risk employee” status of the assistant attorney?? John
brianrbreen on October 23 at 8:00 a.m.
@ChefGus
It doesn’t make any difference if he is President of a union. If you take just the Zehm case, and assume that the government didn’t make everything up regarding Rocco, in my opinion there is enough there for termination, and that’s only the Zehm case. The problem is, if the appropriate steps were taken regarding Rocco, how many others would he try and take with him.
Spokane_Citizen on October 23 at 8:05 a.m.
Actually, the response from Dick Adams will be most interesting; how will he reconcile his difficulties with the River Park Square issue, and accepting the recommendations of the Spokesman-Review?
The_Seer on October 23 at 9:14 a.m.
Wow, what a shocker. Who’d have thought the Cowles Clan would back an inexperienced lackey who’ll carry their water at City Hall?
Mr. Cowles as publisher has a lot of gawd damned nerve dictating to us that organized labor should bear the sacrifices during an economic meltdown caused by his social class’ greed. Maybe we’d have a little more cash sitting in the kitty for slow times if your family hadn’t defrauded city residents of tens of millions of dollars?
Condon only became concerned about the Zehm case when it could be used as a wedge issue and get him on the news. What does it say about a man wanting to be our next mayor who didn’t understand how upset the community has been about Otto’s death FOR NEARLY SIX YEARS? Mr. Johnny Come Lately sounds just a bit out of touch.
soccermomsusie on October 23 at 9:19 a.m.
Thank you Spokesman-Review for the endorsement of OUR TEA PARTY CANDIDATE - FUTURE MAYOR DAVID CONDON!!! Although I must admit, usually the unwashed masses rebelliously do the opposite of your request.
I wish you hadn’t brought up the part where FM Condon plans on raising his pay. I have suggested to him that he should keep the mayor’s pay the same and then have Cowles Corp and other wealthy benefactors make up the difference once he’s in office. These businesses/individuals would certainly get their money’s worth.
Singing this song with more fervor than ever!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S41wMUBiez4
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!
misjustice on October 23 at 9:54 a.m.
As much as I feel that Queen Mary has not lived up to her potential, the SR’s endorsement of McMoRo’s secretary has convinced me that I can’t vote for Condom; even if he promised me that he could deliver world peace and thin thighs in 30 days.
soccermomsusie on October 23 at 10:19 a.m.
I like the headline about CONDON HAS A PLAN! The Good Paper forgot to note that it is TOP SECRET!!
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!
soccermomsusie on October 23 at 10:19 a.m.
I like the headline “CONDON HAS A PLAN!” The Good Paper forgot to note that it is TOP SECRET!!
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!
Diana on October 23 at 10:23 a.m.
This SR editorial endorsement is just as relevant as when they endorsed the McMavericks in 2008.
Ed Byrnes on October 23 at 10:42 a.m.
Officer body cams, though helpful, fall far short of what is needed to correct the legion of law enforcement abuses that have plagued our community for years.
So for a policy statement on an issue he called out Verner on so strongly he offered the buzzword of oversight, then his “plan” is to fire Rocky Treppiedi and have the officers wear body cams. These are not the equivalent of structural oversight changes.
What we actually need is a change to the city charter that mandates civilian participation in independent, inclusive, and transparent oversight of all investigations of police misconduct. What Condon offers up is paltry compared to what’s needed.
It is also very disingenuous for a candidate with such deep ties to a major political party to have the word nonpartisan so prominently displayed on his campaign signs.
Make no mistake, I am disgusted with Verner’s blend of duplicity and ineptitude around law enforcement accountability. I recently publicly stated that I would not vote for either mayoral candidate and encouraged others to do the same, for the purpose of denying the winner any claim to a mandate.
After reading this editorial I will vote for Verner and encourage others to do the same. After observing Condon’s cynical manipulation of an issue that is deeply important to our community it is clear that he is nothing more than a political opportunist, and he will be very unlikely to deliver on his two paltry offers to apply a bandaid where surgery is necessary.
Ed
soccermomsusie on October 23 at 11:53 a.m.
At least the Cowles Family has not abandoned the fight against unions which they started in the 1800s. It seems like only the better of Our Betters are taking an active stand against those who would dare challenge their God-given right to power and to rule. I would count the Koch Brothers as allies with the Cowles Family in this. GOD BLESS THEM ALL!!
Sure, Verner wheedled concessions (salary freezes!?!?) out of unions to save the city tons of money. But, Condon will tell the unions to GET LOST! Yes, we all know that his actions will only strengthen the unions and will wind up costing the city more money when the unions win in court and in the public opinion polls. But sometimes, there are more important things than money (the taxpayer’s/city’s money that is).
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!
Pat O'Leary on October 23 at 12:05 p.m.
Cathy McMorris’s favorite water-boy has now been promoted to the Cowles’s favorite. Just what this city needs is a mayor with absolutely ZERO, nada, goose-egg experience in city government. All the better that he can be led around by the ring in his nose. This paper continues on its path to complete irrelevance.
Despite the Cowles’s wishes, my vote will continue to be for Mary Verner. While she is a long ways from perfect, she offers the city the best way out of the doldrums that affect this area. She has done way too many things right to be kicked to the curb at this point in time.
Go Mary!!!!!!!!!
Citizen on October 23 at 12:25 p.m.
Condon is nothing but Cathy’s Clown. Everly Brothers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxfljegYXk4&feature=fvsr
No city administration experience. An underling for a career politician.
Bad call, S-R.
Shadedmuse on October 23 at 1:11 p.m.
I would not Vote for Cathys boy if he got Osama and end brought the troops home from Iraq. I would vote for that guy for Mayor, Vote Obama 4 Mayor of Spokane. Obama can do two jobs, he can be president and mayor of this crime invested meth cess pool.
CommonSenseJoe on October 23 at 1:33 p.m.
I know at least 15 people who are voting for Verner. Hopefully many others know at least as many people who are going to do the same.
Shadedmuse on October 23 at 1:35 p.m.
Condon has spent his political career working for Tea-Bag Congressman Cathy McMorris. Now that Condon is running for office, her donors and former staffers are funding and running his campaign.
The Tea-baggers has caused enough trouble in D.C. The last thing we need is a Tea-bagger Congressman pulling the strings of our Mayor from Washington, D.C.
Blondscence on October 23 at 4:38 p.m.
David’s run a very exemplary campaign. Mayor has done nothing in her 4 years. She’s very limited in her administrative skills. She ires more people she thinks can supplement her limitations.
David will cut the water tax out. Guaranteed. He’ll rid us of the police scandals and deal with the Guild and other unions. He knows what’s draining the taxpayers in Spokane. He cares about that. The present mayor does not care no matter what she says. Do you want the same or better? FBI let all this news out. David just used the facts.
Spokesman made a very courageous pick. If you want Spokane to get back to normal and grow, you’ll chose David. Mayor sets the tone. Thus far, this one has done nothing but spend and cover these terrible deeds by the police.
Give some honor and growth back to our fair city. Vote for David.
CommonSenseJoe on October 23 at 4:59 p.m.
Blondscence,
What’s his plan?? I haven’t heard anything from Condon except faulting Verner for things beyond her control. I’m always leary of someone who complains and doesn’t propose any solutions. When that’s the case, I’ve found one of two things happen: either they do the same thing as the person they just beat or they do something they only held off announcing because they wouldn’t have gotten elected if they did.
The_Seer on October 23 at 5:07 p.m.
commonsensejoe: Stacey Cowles already outlined in this endorsement what Condon will do if elected. Blame unions for budget shortfalls and do everything to diminish their gains for the working class over the last 150 years.
Condon is disingenuous when he claims local labor leaders understand the nonsense he’s trying to portray. If that’s the case, why have ALL OF THEM ENDORSED VERNER?
Shadedmuse on October 23 at 5:09 p.m.
S.R’s endorsement of Cathy’s Boy the Partisan is a biger Joke then their 2004 endorsement, of Mr War crimes Bush. Now granit sounded like the cowles forced the Editor to endorse Boy George, with the reluctantly endorsed Bush headline. if the GOP nominated a stump the Cowles would endorse the Stump for Mayor president Govenor animal and vegitble.
gmorton on October 23 at 6:14 p.m.
The_Seer wrote,
“If that’s the case, why have ALL OF THEM ENDORSED VERNER?”
Well, because they expect her to be more union-friendly than Condon. Why else?
Bringing the police department and its budget under control will not, however, go far toward “revitalizing” Spokane. It’s problems are much broader and deeper than that. Most of them arise from the fact that the city is in the State of Washington.
DickAdams on October 23 at 6:26 p.m.
Obviously, Verner condones Roco Treppiedi`s behavior, as mentioned in the story, when he counter sues somebody because the person said something bad about the city or sues. My comment regarding Mayor Verner is, she allows the buck to stop in other offices when it should be her office. Verner lets the Chief of Police cover up the SPD ills instead of straightening out Anne . The office of the city attorney is another department who should be answering to the Mayor yet she allows the buck to stop in his office on certain stuff as well, and the beat goes on. Verner apparently does not have the necessary skills to manage the city of Spokane and resolve problems when the buck should stop in her office. I often wonder who it is who really pulls her strings. From her first week or so after being sworn in, she reached out and grabbed the owner of the Spokesman Review, Stacey Cowles on her first committee she formed.. From Stacey Cowles first contact with her, just follow her contacts since. Its strange to see some of her bedfellows. It is obvious, Verner is in big trouble with the DOJ.
Spokane_Citizen on October 23 at 6:43 p.m.
You do understand that ‘Blondscence’ is nothing more than the troll Dazzee, don’t you?
misjustice on October 23 at 7:02 p.m.
Dazzee bleated, “Spokesman made a very courageous pick.”
How so? How is their selection of McMoRo’s lackey “courageous”?????
gmorton on October 23 at 8:22 p.m.
Here is some advice for the next mayor on “revitalizing” the city:
http://www.freespokane.net/?p=134
Shadedmuse on October 23 at 9:54 p.m.
I will tell you what Spokane doesn’t have what other cities like SLC Denver Portland Calgary Edmonton Vancouver ABQ Has is Light rail. Calgary and Edmonton built their LRT in the late 70;s and since then they have increased Population Density and have lower unemployment and job prospects, Spokane has fallen so far behind and that greater Spokane inc is only interested in retail=Bar-restraunt wage slave JO-Jobs. until Spokane changes its thinking then Spokane will be stuck in the past and Cathy’s boy will keep Spokane moving backward unlike Verner who is trying to move the city forward, the Conservative members on STA board has over seen service reductions that will stifle employment and job growth, all the comapnies in liberty lake are suffering because of lack of a Public transit system to Liberty lake to serve their 7 day a week three shift needs.
Truthbtold on October 24 at 6:02 a.m.
Well, there you go Spokane….cannot count how many times that I have heard it said that Mayor Verner is in the Cowles pocket…….
This should PROVE she is not.
Cammas magazine…..he is your proof that Mary does NOT jump when the Cowles ask her too. If she did, she would have their endorsement///
jimvw2 on October 24 at 6:54 a.m.
Sounds like Condon’s plan is to disrespect and fire city workers by attacking their rights to organize and refusing to bargain with them.
According to the S-R editorial board, Condon will also create a shadow government of businessmen to make Spokane more “business friendly.”
If this plan sounds familiar to some of you, it should. It’s the same American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) agenda that we see tearing Wisconsin and Ohio governance apart. All brought into this campaign by Cathy McMorris Rodgers and her One Percenter patrons.
If you want to shed a few hundred family-wage jobs and take more taxpayers out of the system, Condon’s your guy.
If you want Betsy, Stacey and Jim Cowles, those paragons of ethical business behavior, calling the shots for Spokane from a script supplied by ALEC and Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ Tea Party, then Cathy’s Clown is your guy.
If you want dysfunctional government engaged in a constant class war to benefit our own One Percenters, Condon’s your guy.
I prefer a government that respects its workforce and understands that the role of local government should not be bidding its workforce to the bottom. That this will make the local economy worse, not better.
I prefer a transparent city government run by an elected city council, not an annointed cabal of Cowles’ downtown tenants.
I prefer experience and competence over loyalty to McMorris Rodgers or allegiance to her political puppet masters like Grover Norquist and Dick Armey and their rightwing billionaire patrons.
I prefer a mayor who will work hard and make personal sacrifices to help Spokane become a resilient, independent and prosperous community for ALL of us.
So I prefer Mary Verner. You should too. As for the S-R endorsement. Consider the source.
The_Seer on October 24 at 9:03 a.m.
shannonsullivan: Don’t you have something better to do, like spreading lies about the late Jim West? None of what you had him recalled for actually happened and you might want to read to FBI investigation’s findings. We finally had a great mayor and you ruined it for all of us. Get a life.
The SR didn’t endorse Verner because they know she’ll eventually be indicted.
The_Seer on October 24 at 9:05 a.m.
jimvw2: Very well stated. Where has this eloquence you’ve discovered as of late when it comes to the Karl Thompson trial. I’m getting crickets from you on those threads?
misjustice on October 24 at 9:41 a.m.
It was this very “newspaper” that helped to bring Mayor West down, as I recall.
He must have known too much, especially concerning the RPS scandal/ripoff. Sullivan was the Cowles’ unwitting patsy; finishing off what the “newspaper” started.
TK McGuinness on October 24 at 10:08 a.m.
If “Condon has a Plan” I would like to hear it. So far, all I have heard from Condon is how awful our mayor has been, I have not heard ONE solution from him… The more somebody points the finger at someone else, it means they have little substance of their own.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on October 24 at 10:18 a.m.
Shannon Sullivan is Nobodies “patsy”…. and I am proud to say i know her a bit.. and would be happy to have her “have my back”…she is a brave woman…who did a courageous thing… would that we can find someone to deal with this current kerfuffel and mess in the same effective way. john olsen ( oh she also always uses her own name… which is a lot more than so many of those that post here) j
misjustice on October 24 at 10:45 a.m.
No doubt she did what she thought was correct, I just believe that she was used to accomplish a goal that the Cowles could not have done on their own; even with their “journalist” that went “under-cover” to try and entrap Jim West.
People can be brave and have the best of motives and still be co-opted/used by those with ulterior motives. It happens all the time.
And at the same time that she was doing their dirty work the press attacked her character. I remember reading about her own legal problems, something about firing a weapon at someone…and the attempt by this very paper to drag her name through the mud.
Anyway, Chef, it’s my opinion that Sullivan was used by the powers that be, just an opinion which I am entitled to even if I don’t post under my “real” name. This paper started the attack on Mayor West and Sullivan helped to finish it.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on October 24 at 1:41 p.m.
Mis j…. of course you are entitled to your own thoughts…. and most of them are on point… Shannon has a complex life as i understand it…. and in spite of that… ( and she is no dummy) whether she was “used” or not…. she coalesced the city to recall a slimy guy… who was using city resources for his own use…. there are lots of “stories” about the Boys Ranch etc and the Boy Scouts… and on and on in this town that would curl your toes… and also involve other rather prominent people…… the undercurrent of “child abuse” in this city runs deep…very deep…. and is all covered up …since the 50s i know this for a fact cause i used to swim naked at the ymca…. ymca….lah de dah… thank you to Ms Sullivan for “nailing” one of them…. the rest of the bunch remain under cover… j
Mayocynic1 on October 24 at 1:42 p.m.
I wonder if things could get much worse when the mayor is implicated in the coverup of a homicide. Tom Keefe says it best in his ad for Condon. Tom is a for chair of the democratic party in Spokane and a lifelong Democrat.
Given all this Verner should be nobodys favorite unless you vote Democrat only and have no ethical concerns.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on October 24 at 1:43 p.m.
Oh… and face to face… they’d be wishin they’d not “run in to me” again…j
Mayocynic1 on October 24 at 1:44 p.m.
Nailing one of “them”???? Very nice .
misjustice on October 24 at 2:31 p.m.
Skinny dippin, Chef?
Lol!
; )
gmorton on October 24 at 2:33 p.m.
Shadedmuse wrote,
“I will tell you what Spokane doesn’t have what other cities like SLC SLC Denver Portland Calgary Edmonton Vancouver ABQ Has is Light rail.”
They sure do. All minimally used and heavily subsidized.
“Calgary and Edmonton built their LRT in the late 70;s and since then they have increased Population Density and have lower unemployment and job prospects . . .”
Don’t be silly. Calgary and Edmonton have grown because they’re sitting on a $trillion worth of shale oil. Seattle has prospered because it has Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, etc. No one moved to those cities to ride their superfluous rail boondoggles.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on October 24 at 5:21 p.m.
Yeah… it was required Mis J…if you wanted to “go in the pool” downtown YMCA… yes the “YMCA” …. you had to go buff.. I was never offended against cause of who i am/was… but there were lots and lots of “life guards” :)) watching and soaking up us kids for their fantasy lives….j
Ed Byrnes on October 24 at 8:55 p.m.
The SLC light rail was built with grant funds in advance of the olympics and has enjoyed so much ridership, beyond anyones estimates, that they have added spurs to the main line with the profits, and created a commuter line along the Wasatch front that is similarly successful. Granted the SLC metro area had terrible traffic problems before light rail so it was a rational choice for riders.
Ed
Dazzeetrader1980 on October 24 at 9:26 p.m.
Meanwhile….had a death in the family. I hope you all missed me:)
Condon , in polling, has caught Verner. Quick Shannon! Make something up, start a rumor. Condon might win this after all is a stunning resurgence.
GMorton’s right…Charlotte is gorgeous and prosperous. Lots of private non government money does that. Low unemployment and very well structured city. They designed a non communist plan and stuck to it. I don’t think Spokane will do this for many reasons. It’s a model for success though. Spokane has everything plus more than Charlotee…except a good Mayor. Vision, not homicide coverups lends itself to doing some great things.
It’s an odd season this year. Still the Stuckart choice is puzzling…moreso the reason given. Terrible idea.
Condon, Mike Allen, should win their races. I hope so.
gmorton on October 25 at 1:27 p.m.
Ed Byrnes wrote,
“The SLC light rail was built with grant funds in advance of the olympics and has enjoyed so much ridership, beyond anyones estimates, that they have added spurs to the main line with the profits . . .”
No, Ed. They have not added spurs “with the profits.” There are no profits. They have added them with additional taxes and subsidies. Farebox revenues covered 15% of operating costs for SLC’s commuter rail system (2008, latest available). It operates at about 24% of seated capacity. All transit modes in SLC combined carry <4% of daily commuters.
http://ti.org/NTD08sum.xls
http://ti.org/antiplanner/?p=5640
Ed Byrnes on October 25 at 2:31 p.m.
Gmorton this is more recent data than I based my statements on so I give to a win on your point.
Ed
Mayocynic1 on October 25 at 5:29 p.m.
Busted Eddie.lololol….funny too.
Ed Byrnes on October 25 at 7:57 p.m.
Admitting a mistake when presented with more current evidence, which I did a couple of weeks ago in a different forum, is not something I am ashamed of. Some of us refer to this as being open minded, rational and learning. We could all learn a lot from each other if all posters did this more often.
Ed
JBlim on October 26 at 8:21 p.m.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X64qe8LnOsg
another_perspective on October 27 at 1:27 a.m.
Verner somehow has lost her moral compass after getting elected. She turned her back on the people that put her into office. She has surrounded herself with incompetence and corruption. i.e. Treppidi, Feist and Kirkpatrick and a lesser amount Cooley just to name a few It would curl your hair if all the corruption in City all were exposed. Bob Apple knows.
On the otherhand Condon has no moral compass. Having dealt personally with Condon he has no integrity, no honesty and no clue how to run a city let alone the puppet office office of McMorris. He seems to spend a lot of time visiting the tri-cities and the onion crops down there. Condon was drummed out of the military for failure to get promoted, even with a Congressperson at his back, that portends incompetence and the lack of leadership ability.
Sadly we cant bring the Ghost of Jim West back regardless of his personal peccadilos.
What we can do is pressure Verner to fire the incompetents and corrupt employees she has surrounded herself with. Maybe a new set of contact lenses so that she wont be befuddled and mislead by the same.