Public Periscope
Taking liberties
The Libertarian Party got at least one - and maybe two big boosts in the Nov. 7 election. The first is the right to be listed as a major party, based on showings in the lieutenant governor, auditor and lands commissioner races in which Libertarian candidates got more than 5 percent of the statewide vote. Two years from now, Libertarians can do the things that Democrats and Republicans do for partisan elections. … But the hidden benefit may be the incorporation of Liberty Lake, which gave the local chapter a catchy slogan: “Keep the Liberty in Liberty Lake.” It would like to stretch alliteration to the limits by forming the Liberty Lake Libertarians.
To recruit members to the Triple L’s, the group offered a quiz in the Liberty Lake Splash, a local weekly, asking voters to score themselves on 10 questions about issues such as the draft, consensual sex, free trade and taxes. “Yes” answers got 20 points per question; “no” answers got zip. … The quiz seems to have been weighted against drug laws. It asked twice whether drug laws do more harm than good and should be repealed.
The Triple L’s have scheduled a start-up meeting at 6 p.m Wednesday in the Liberty Lake Sewer Commission office, 22510 E. Mission.
One plan to pad the budget
Spokane Valley resident Nancy Echelbarger won $250,000 in a Move.com sweepstakes, but she doesn’t plan to use the money to move to the city. If anything, she said, she would move to another Valley neighborhood, Ponderosa. … Spokane Mayor John Talbott stopped by last Tuesday to congratulate Echelbarger when the Internet real estate company that sponsored the sweepstakes presented her with her winnings. Talbott took the opportunity provided by the media event to joke about the city of Spokane’s financial situation, asking about upcoming Move.com sweepstakes: “Have you got one for a bail-out-a-city contest?”
A chance to be heard
Spokane County engineers want comments on plans to improve a stretch of Upriver Drive east of the Spokane city limits. The project would add shoulders to both sides of the road between the Centennial Trail islands trail head parking lot and Plantes Ferry Park. … It also would build a pedestrian pathway along the Spokane River. Cost of the project has not been estimated.
But there is a draft document that discusses possible historic and cultural sites associated with the project. That’s the document on which the engineer’s office wants comments. … Copies can be reviewed at the downtown Spokane public library, all Valley library branches and the county engineer’s office, 1026 W. Broadway. Written comments should be mailed to Gary Nelson at the engineer’s office, 1026 W. Broadway, Spokane 99260.
Web site of the week
Washington state has launched a consumer information Web site, offering safety and consumer protection tips as well as links to government agencies that have more such things. It got its start-up funding from the federal Institute for Museum and Library Services, which ponied up $100,000 to get the site going.
The governor’s office, the state library, the attorney general and others have had a hand in putting the site together. It can be found at http://finditconsumer.wa.gov.
Change of plans
If you were planning to attend a public hearing on Spokane County’s comprehensive plan today, find something else to do. County commissioners canceled the three comprehensive plan hearings in early December to give the Planning Commission more time to work on a portion of the plan dealing with capital facilities. … The hearings haven’t been rescheduled yet.