Public Periscope
No free parking
Power has its privileges. Those privileges, however, apparently aren’t supposed to include free parking to see “Miss Saigon” at the Opera House. … At a recent performance of the hit musical, Mayor John Talbott parked a city car in the drop-off lane outside the Opera House. When a security officer told him he had to move the car, the mayor informed the guard who he was and left the car while he saw the show … Talbott noted a few days later that he has parked there at performances in the past without being asked to move.
“I’m authorized to park there,” Talbott said. “I’m encouraged to go over (to city facilities). It’s part of my job.”
Not quite, said Mike Kobluk, director of the Opera House. While City Council members do receive door passes to attend events, in order to see how the building operates, that doesn’t include parking: “In all the years I’ve been here, and I’ve been here 25 years, those kinds of special privileges are nonexistent.” … By the way, the mayor did purchase his own ticket.
Something to ponder
Spokane Transit Authority’s Executive Director Allen Schweim recently traveled to Rochester, N.Y., to tell that city’s residents how STA’s bus plaza helped rescue downtown Spokane from a downward spiral. According to an article in that city’s alternative weekly newspaper, “City,” Schweim described the plaza as a “catalyst for growth.”
Rochester currently is considering building a similar downtown bus depot and that city’s transit authority paid Schweim’s way to a public forum on the proposal.
In an article in Rochester’s daily newspaper, “The Democrat and Chronicle,” William Millar also praised STA’s bus plaza. Millar, president of the American Public Transit Association, said Spokane’s bus plaza helped lead to downtown retail developments such as Nordstrom and Williams Sonoma.
They’re on someone’s list
Seems there was a list for everything in the last few weeks: best rock songs, most important people, biggest events of the century. And finally, courtesy of the National Journal’s column, Cloak Room, we have the Top 10 Political Ads of 1999 … Although Steve Eugster’s folksy drive around town and look at the Spokane Falls ad didn’t make the list, the term limits campaign against Rep. George Nethercutt did. The syndicated feature from the other Washington described the newspaper, TV and radio campaign as coming from “determined rabble-rousers (who) waged an all out war.”
A species argument
Speaking of lists, the Environmental Defense Fund came up with its compilation of wildlife winners and losers of the 20th century. Among the winning species were the bald eagle, for its much heralded comeback from near extinction, and the restoration of the white-tailed deer, which was nearly gone at the beginning of the century, but was numerous enough to be regarded as a pest at the end … The Snake River sockeye was high on the list of wildlife losers.
Those with power best beware of those without
Inland Power & Light may have been the victim of bad timing Tuesday when county Commissioners voted to yank the company’s permit for boosting the current in an existing power line. Both commissioners Phil Harris and Kate McCaslin had suffered power failures in their homes that morning. And while neither are served by IPL, both said it put them in a foul mood … “I had to shave by flashlight,” said Harris.
Getting involved
The city of Spokane has so many openings to fill on so many boards we thought it best just to list them, and suggest that anyone interested contact the mayor’s office for further details on qualifications and deadlines. The city needs one Human Rights commissioner, one Arts commissioner, one Park Board member, one Sports, Entertainment, Arts and Conventions Advisory Board member, one Animal Control Committee member, two Cable Advisory Board members, three planning commissioners, four Human Services Advisory Board members and four Lodging Tax Advisory Committee members … Stop by the mayor’s office, fifth floor, City Hall, or call Reagan Olive at 625-6250 for information.