So the new excuse and accusation is that the City Council election outcome is a result of party politics. Nonsense. Mr. Edinger's huge victory is clear proof of something dramatically different. Mr. Edinger is a former mayor and is the current president of our City Council.He recently fell ill and shared that during his recovery he read all of the community comments regarding the proposed McEuen Field plan. I suspect he experienced an enlightened "epiphany."

Mr. Edinger asked for a simple dialogue and discussion with his current council mates regarding the possibility of an advisory vote. He was shunned, rudely disrespected and ignored. All of this took place in full view of the public and voters. A bully attitude has reigned unchecked at City Hall. My own experience there has led me to believe that they are accustomed to getting away with that negative stance. But this time ... no dice!

This is the same City Council Group that allowed a McEuen Plan with Tubbs Hill included. Does that tell you something? Thank Mr. Edinger again for speaking up and removing Tubbs Hill from that wackadoodle plan. I have a suggestion for the entire City Council, current and future. Please bundle up and sit on the bench at the entrance to Tubbs Hill by the moose statue. Open your eyes and ears and look north.

Mayor Bloem explained to the polite crowd at the Coeur d'Alene Lakefront Property Owners meeting that a multi-million dollar parking garage will be necessary to accommodate the future development along Front Avenue.Now, do you hear the lapping of gentle waves on the shoreline? Children playing? Birds singing and the baseball hit the bat? Do you smell fresh pine and rain?

A Monster Parking Garage is ugly, noisy and smelly. An example of that is the garage right next to the proposed site. All previous studies and plans show that the parking should be north of Sherman. Lake City Development Corp. has already purchased and owns land for this exact purpose. Many additional properties are currently available for bargain prices. I have given the city information on some of these properties. I think we want a PARK.....not a PARKING LOT.Sorry future developers, you will have to figure out parking when you build your high-rises along Front Street.

My distaste for the current McEuen plan stems from my belief that it does not honor and revere the location. Tubbs Hill is a special Public Park. I walked the field with an architect who explained the current plan to me in detail. He suggests that the city get a second, independent opinion and the council be very careful that they have a crystal clear understanding of the specifics of the plan. Parking garages ... especially this one ... are very hard to "undo." McEuen could mirror the natural aspect of Tubbs Hill, much like the previous proposed plans. The previous plans were a collaboration between city government and citizens well aware of the downtown business flow. The City Council approved the previous plans and no cry for a public vote was voiced. Why did nothing happen? What stopped the implementation of the previous plans? These were good, practical, affordable plans.

If we continue to allow the current council to bully the public, I foresee citizens chained to the boat launch, which 80 percent of the public wish to remain in place (see survey found at www.savecda.org and other surveys).A compromise plan is needed and the previous McEuen plans fit the description well.

With Riverstone bankrupt, 4th Street messed up and obvious competing needs, certainly the Lake City Development Corp. will not fund another turkey. (Happy Thanksgiving, friends.) Let's get going on an improved McEuen. Dust off the previous plans ... and we could have the neatest boat launch in Idaho, a signature ball field/concert venue. A lighted trail along the base of Tubbs Hill with benches and a surface to roll wheelchairs would be great. And a state of the art kids play area.

I call that the highest and best use for the most people, equal or better to what we have and progressive thinking. Let's go for it.

Julie Clark is a Coeur d'Alene resident who lives on Tubbs Hill.