COEUR d'ALENE - State Sen. Mary Souza will host a town hall meeting on urban renewal Thursday, Sept. 17 in the community room of the Coeur d'Alene Public Library.

The forum, which runs 6:30-8 p.m., will also feature Rep. Kathy Sims, R-Coeur d'Alene. Souza, R-Coeur d'Alene, told The Press Wednesday that she wanted to hold the open forum before herself and Sims return to Boise for another meeting of the Legislature's Urban Renewal Interim Committee on Sept. 21.

"It's really important that we hear what people have to say," she added. "All of the money is public taxpayer money so I think we need to listen to their thoughts and their suggestions for change."

Souza said the town hall meeting won't have a strict structure. Instead, she said it will be an opportunity for anyone in attendance to speak their mind about urban renewal in the Lake City.

"I do think it's important that they have a place to talk to us about this because this has been going on a long time in Coeur d'Alene," Souza said. "I'm open to hearing whatever they have to say."