Nimbyism Vs. City Hall: What Is It Going To Be?

For some time, the dispute over an expanded maintenance center for city vehicles has been primarily an issue for Spokane’s Logan neighborhood where the proposed site is located. It’s another one of those not-in-my-back-yard squawks with City Hall.

This week, the City Council voted 4-1 for a $60,000 study of how the facility would affect traffic near the site along Foothills Drive east of Hamilton. Logan neighbors don’t want the maintenance center or the study. Just say no, they urged the council. Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers did vote no. Councilwoman Roberta Greene supported the study but said she doesn’t favor the site. Councilman Jeff Colliton said if the traffic study produces adverse news, he wants to know so the city can pursue other options.

Some thinking seems to be going on about how neighborhood concerns are treated. The city is full of neighborhoods with their own concerns. They’re all interested in how City Hall relates to them.

Meanwhile, city government has citywide issues to deal with, too. Such as the most efficient way to store and maintain its now-scattered fleet of plows, garbage trucks and other vehicles that would come and go daily at a new maintenance facility.

How do you expect municipal government to balance these interests, knowing such conflicts will keep coming up, maybe in your block next time?

Crime doesn’t pay; should criminals?

Since 1995, inmates who work or receive funds from outside have been required by law to pay for part of their keep in Washington state prisons. The law, under which $1 million has been seized and held in reserve, is being challenged in court. Some legislators also are having second thoughts about automatically confiscating 35 percent of cash that friends and families send inmates to help pay for toiletries and other items (such as TV sets) the inmates have to buy.

Rep. John Koster, a Republican from Monroe where the state reformatory is located, wants to change the law that he says punishes inmates’ families and constitutes double taxation. Interesting that in a tough-on-crime environment, it’s a Republican who would scale back the burden on inmates - except that families who move to Monroe to be near loved ones become his constituents.

How do “Bagpipes” readers feel about the law and Koster’s assessment of it?

, DataTimes MEMO: “Bagpipes” appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. To respond, call Cityline at 458-8800, category 9881, from a Touch-Tone phone or send a fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to dougf@spokesman.com. You also can leave Doug Floyd a message at 459-5577, extension 5466.