Public Periscope

Improved communications?

City Hall Link was hailed by Spokane City Councilman Chris Anderson as the perfect way to improve the city’s communications with residents when it started last April. Shortly afterward, the on-line computer discussion area devoted to city politics came under fire for what some thought was mean-spirited bashing … Recently, the discourse has taken on a decidedly blue tone. One contributor with a scrambled e-mail address wished obscenities on everyone who took part in the on-line chat. Link creator Matthew Wood apologized for the “outburst by this immature and ignorant person” … Anderson responded that no apology was necessary. “Everyone’s entitled to their opinion,” he said, adding he “wondered which department head or local official sent it.”

Money talks

Latin’s always been Greek to the Public Periscope, so we are exceedingly grateful to the letter-writer in last Thursday’s paper who reported that “Novus Ordo Sclorum” - that phrase under the funny pyramid on the $1 bill - means “new world order” … You’d think the government would admit as much. But Nooo! The Treasury Department claims in its “Facts about United States Money” pamphlet that the phrase comes from the 200-year-old seal of the United States and translates as “a new order of the ages,” which signifies a new American era … This from a department that put out a pamphlet in 1979 claiming the Susan B. Anthony coin was the “Dollar of the Future.”

Shameless in Seattle

One can approve or disapprove of the Legislature’s plan for funding a new baseball stadium in Seattle. But one has to hand it to Gov. Mike Lowry for coming up with the shabbiest of stunts to sign the bill into law … Accompanied by the media pack, Lowry invaded Lafayette Elementary School in West Seattle to sign the bill with 10-year-old Sam Peeler, who had written the gov in September asking that he save baseball … Cognizant that cute moppets make wonderful backdrops for photo opportunities, the governor’s staff advised the press that students were being urged to dress in Mariners team colors for the day.

If it sounds too good …

In recognition of Postal Consumer Awareness Week, the Spokane Post Office is hosting four seminars on detecting mail fraud with Postal inspector James Bordenet and Postmaster Kenneth Symbol Jr., as speakers … Session times and locations are 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Sinto Senior Center, 1124 W. Sinto; 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Downtown Library, 906 W. Main; 10 a.m. Wednesday at the South Hill Senior Center, 2727 S. Mt. Vernon; and 1 p.m. Wednesday at Spokane Valley Foundation bingo hall, 1212 N. Pines.

Getting involved

The city is still looking for people to fill all spots on the the city-county Historic Landmarks Commission, the Human Services Advisory Board and the Human Rights Commission. It also has a vacancy for an adult board member on the Chase Youth Commission. Check with the Mayor’s Office, 5th Floor City Hall, for details and applications.

Because you asked

Question:Where can I get a copy of the proposed city-county charter?

Answer:If you still have a copy of last Thursday’s Spokesman-Review, it’s in there on page C9 and C10. If you’ve already thrown that edition out, relax. It will be reprinted for the next two Thursdays.

, DataTimes MEMO: Public Periscope, published Mondays, is compiled by Jim Camden from staff reports. If you have a question about government, growth or development, we’d like to help find an answer. Write us c/o The Spokesman-Review, Box 2160, Spokane 99210. Or call Cityline at 458-8800 on a Touch-Tone phone, then press 9120 to leave a message. Or send e-mail to jimc@spokesman.com for on-line readers.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Hot Topics Wednesday: Interested in your ability to gain electronic access to government information and data? You’ve got one last chance to offer advice, at a statewide video conference. 6 p.m., 4022 E. Broadway in Spokane. Or send comments via e-mail to the InfoX World Wide Web Site at http:/ /olympus.dis.wa.gov/ pub/access/access.html.