In praise of urban renewal

In a Facebook post, Jennifer Drake writes:

After what has been a relatively quiet Cd’A City Council election cycle, it’s time to make our voices heard. There is a last minute effort underway to spread lies and diminish the character of several candidates, specifically Dan English and incumbent Ron Edinger. This misguided and unethical campaign is being spearheaded by the ironically named Responsible CDA PAC. It is deeply rooted in one cause: vilifying urban renewal and anyone who supports it.

Urban renewal deeply divides opinions, but the facts are clear for those who are willing to acknowledge them. The Kroc Center, library, education corridor, McEuen Park, downtown and midtown revitalization, and much of our public art owe their existence to our urban renewal districts. To claim that this is an irresponsible use of tax dollars is an opinion, and I believe a horribly misguided one. But to claim that city residents pay “14% more in property taxes” because of urban renewal is an outright lie.

This community has many facets, but multiple candidates of the last several years have run based on the sole issue of urban renewal. Toby Schindelbeck now says he wants to abolish urban renewal, eliminate all funding for public art, and create new tax structures that are completely at odds with reality. He has only lived here for a few years but he believes he has found the issue that can get him elected without any regard for the history or true nature of our town. Steve Adams also wants to abolish urban renewal and has spent his first term on the city council saying “no” to nearly all of the things that make this community exceptional and vibrant.

The election is this Tuesday, November 3rd. PLEASE VOTE. You are a stakeholder in this community and it is our responsibility to keep it heading in a positive direction.

DFO: I agree with Jennifer. For too long, we’ve allowed the CAVErs (Citizens Against Virtually Everything) to denounce urban renewal for political gain. Urban renewal has been the engine driving the upgrade of the Coeur d’Alene waterfront. This city should be glad that we have such an economic tool to improve our standard of living. The CAVErs, not urban renewal, deserve to be denounced.