Focus on positive; decision has been made
Is Spokane Valley a city? Or are we simply pretending? These questions have crossed my mind several times over the past year.
It seems like every time the city of Spokane Valley hits a speed bump in its sometimes-haphazard way of dealing with new city dilemmas, the call for disincorporation is heard loud and clear.
The Citizens for Disincorporation thrive on this rallying call. These loyal Valley inhabitants believe Spokane Valley should revert back to its former resting spot under the wing of Spokane County. The group claims that the Valley’s 83,950 residents were deceived into believing that becoming a city would be an effortless transaction by a group of outsiders who bankrolled this campaign and who have a special interest in the money to be garnered within the Valley’s 38.5-mile boundary.
Granted, there are those who hopelessly fall for any political promise, but it’s difficult to believe that the majority of the Valley population didn’t realize that becoming a city would be tough work.
It’s even more difficult to believe that the city proponents were so persuasive in their predictions of less tax, more services and no worries that everyone checked their reality brain at the polls.
Most have learned that predictions are unpredictable. Most know that, typical with elections, the good is touted, the bad hidden, and the voting public is left to insert a substantial dose of reality.
Nonetheless, bankrolling outsiders doesn’t negate the fact that in 2002 voters approved the formation of this city. In other words, fellow citizens, it’s a done deal.
By March 2003 the city of Spokane Valley (and the eighth largest city in Washington state) opened for business. The city council members took their appointed seats and got down to the business of building a city from scratch.
Although many of the positive milestones – Mirabeau Park, CenterPlace, YMCA, Valley Mall, Spokane Valley Heritage Museum, 37 miles of Centennial Trail, the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, Avista Stadium and Krispy Kreme (my personal favorite) – were set in motion prior to incorporation it should be noted that incorporation pushed some of these positive features toward completion. Unfortunately, these achievements have been ignored.
Instead, the hotly debated issues of taxes, City Council salaries, the couplet, contracting for police, fire and library services, sewer installations, and wastewater problems bring about an immediate call for the Valley to disincorporate and forget this new city nonsense that is shouted from the mountaintops … or to any news camera within 10 feet.
Similar to the couplet issue that can’t seem to get beyond University Avenue, this indecisiveness is crippling because it projects the appearance that Spokane Valley’s citizens lack the gumption to stick with their determinations, address the problems that face every city and seek viable solutions.
We voted for city status. We knew the road would be difficult yet the decision was made to move the Valley into the future under our own volition.
Is Spokane Valley a city? Or are we simply pretending? That decision has been made. It’s time to stop calling for disincorporation and start building this community.