MikeK: A Sad Day for CDA Citizens

Mike Kennedy: You will hear “officially” that it’s good that we now have certainty in the lake level debate and that we can now define that point and move forward with some clarity. And on its face that position is correct.

But what I will say for myself alone is that this is a sad day for the citizens of Coeur d’Alene.

I’m beyond saddened to know that there are parents and grandparents in Coeur d’Alene going to bed tonight with heavy hearts because they can no longer bring their children and grandchildren to play and frolic on the same beach that Dr. Ted Fox let them play on, the place where they learned to love the outdoors and the public lands that are Idaho.

This ruling is but one chapter in an long and ongoing saga. For what it’s worth, though, I pledge to work, talk, beg, plead, negotiate, cajole, debate, and ultimately fight for the right of our citizens to access the public lands that they own - as hard as I can.

This isn’t going to be easy, and it isn’t going to be quick. But some things are worth fighting for.

Public access to the public lands that we all own as taxpayers is definitely one of them.

DFO: Thanks, Mike; your service to this community is very appreciated. Ditto for the service provided by Mayor Sandi Bloem, City Attorney Mike Gridley and the majority of the City Council for pushing for a decision on Sanders Beach. No one could know that the state Supreme Court was so clueless. For the first time in years, we have a City Council that considers the little guy when the movers and shakers come calling.