Second chance for open mind?

I hate it when I’m wrong. Can’t stand all those “Geez, what was I thinking?” ruminations; I despise that feeling of stupidity.

But, one has to step up to the plate some time.

A while back I was one determined puppy on the subject of Spokane Valley becoming a city. The Valley incorporation proponents were agile in their game; never letting the subject drop despite its failure at the polls three times.

They’re a hearty breed. Similar to the present administration in Washington, D.C., our fearless incorporation proponents, nestled in the other Washington, used the successful formula of capitalizing on fear when all else failed. Conspiracy theories of being hoodwinked by the evil Spokane city and tagging its council as a pack of wolves drooling at the Havana Road boundary line spread quicker than the Dishman Hills fire in July.

By 2003 Spokane Valley became a city and since that time the council members and their successors have exposed that political maneuver for what it was – fear. We shook in our boots at the thought of losing our independence, feared being overtaken by a city known for council meetings that resembled war of the worlds and became frightened of the unknown. I guess we’re lucky they didn’t decide to wage war on Spokane or we’d be in a never-ending conflict like that other far away place.

But what am I saying? This isn’t about politics … well, it is, but home-grown politics where kissing babies and eating hot dogs at Valleyfest are good for publicity. Where putting one’s cigar out in a flower planter can ignite a fire and where, much to my chagrin, I was totally off the mark.

Sally Jackson was against incorporation from the get-go. Her recent letter to the editor (Disincorporation isn’t dead – Aug. 3, 2008) reminded me I should have bent an ear toward the no-incorporation stance. But fear, as we all know, can consume even the most level-headed and I fell into the oh-my-god-they’re-coming- to-get-us mentality with ease.

Five years later our leaders are still squabbling over the Appleway couplet (aka Sprague/Appleway Revitalization Plan), spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on useless surveys and pushing the envelope on a city center even though their constituents have refused delivery.

For the record, I like the couplet; it serves a vital purpose. Keep to the plan or put it to a vote. The city center is a unique concept so put it to a vote. Lastly, enough with the surveys.

The City Council mirrors the incorporation proponents’ hearty breed status but overconfident is their calling card. Their campaign slogans should’ve been, “We know what’s best so leave us alone and (cue Stevie Wonder here), ‘Don’t you worry about a thing.’ ”

OK, that’s not fair. They put in lots of hours and spend many long evenings steering our city in the direction they think it should go. After all, elected officials are sworn to uphold the integrity of our city and carry out the wishes of its residents.

Unfortunately, our council has systematically whacked that weed to smithereens while arrogantly tromping through a questionable agenda field and woe to the average citizen who has a different opinion.

The city of Spokane Valley is now tipping the embarrassingly silly scale and it’s a shame. At one time I supported the council and this new city, but the council has created a political road riddled with distrust simply because they’re ignoring the community they’ve been elected to serve.

As Jackson pointed out, the promise of no new taxes was a hoax. Too many have appeared before the council and written letters to its members, but Appleway remains a stalemate; disapproval of a city center has prompted the council to spend more money on yet another design while they meet behind closed doors or, better yet, invite the public to meetings but won’t allow comment. All of this whispers deception.

When voices aren’t heard, apathy sets in allowing our heroic City Council to take matters into their own hands under the guise of we know all, so “Don’t you worry about a thing.” Spokane Valley residents had better get used to walking softly and carrying a big wad of money because we’re going to need it.

I hate it when I’m wrong but if the disincorporation folks begin anew, this time I’ll be listening.