Plan for intelligent growth

I was at Jay Inslee’s town hall meeting July 30 and was rather disappointed. Interesting things about statewide and national politics, but what was really missing was how the state was going to help with the East Side’s inevitable growth. This area is relatively affordable, gorgeous, has a number of good universities and has a lifestyle that will attract many. The growth is going to happen, but I see no real planning or support.

The closest that came to addressing it proved the problem. When reading questions, the Spokesman-Review editor asked questions from people whose lives here ranged from “entire lives” to “30 years.” No more recent immigrants to the area had questions read, and I know we were there. In addition, when it was pointed out that 65,000 people are coming to the state every year, and Jim Camden suggested some of them come here, most of the audience booed.

Holding your heads in the sand isn’t going to do anything other than ensure a lack of planning makes our lifestyle worse as that growth happens. What’s needed are cities, counties (Spokane and Kootenai) and states (Washington and Idaho), working to support intelligent growth.

David Teich

Spokane Valley