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

Apparently, Rules For Day Care Aren’t Sexy

D.F. Oliveria Opinion Writer

Hmmm. Idaho’s counties and cities don’t like the state dictating to them how to run their business. Yet, when state legislators staged hearings recently to help local communities form their own day care rules, the counties and cities largely were no-shows. Despite written invitations. Said state Sen. Gordon Crow, R-Hayden: “I’m gravely disappointed. Whatever problems we identify should probably be addressed at the local level. That’s why I wanted the cities and counties here to hear those discussions.” Given the national criticism Idaho gets for lax day care rules, you’d think local officials would be eager to discuss the issue. But Kootenai and Shoshone counties were the only counties represented at the first meeting. None of North Idaho’s five major cities were. Seems North Idaho shrugs off bad press unless it involves racism.

Thumb your nose at the no’s

The good news is that Post Falls will ask voters a fourth time to approve construction of a new high school. The bad news? The project likely will be so scaled down, to appease the naysayers, that it won’t include an auditorium, stadium or anything beyond a basic high school. Then, you do what you can. The state’s absurd two-thirds supermajority rule for bond passage has thwarted the clear will of Post Falls residents twice now. Each of the past two high school bonds has received more than 60 percent approval. This, at a time when Trojan sports has rebounded to become a source of a community pride. Post Falls should say no to the naysayers, and put the auditorium and stadium back in the package. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125, or by sending e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.

D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125, or by sending e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.