Letters to the Editor

SOCIALISM: Never thought it would happen! 

The new wave of Socialist Democrats is appalling. One report suggested that young college people were all in for socialism. Apparently, they were never taught history or just ignored the fact that 100 million people were killed under these idiotic ideas.

They really believe that it will improve their lifestyle. Taking from the rich, total government control is the answer, everything is free.

If these youngsters want to discount history, how about just the history in their young, uninformed world today.

Let's take just three countries that exist today, China, Russia and Korea. The top three leaders, Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un. Talk about kings who rule with an iron fist. Just these three counties have murdered at least 80 million of their own citizens. How is communism working for these poor people?

Oh no they say, it will be a different kind of socialism. Do they think they will have religious freedom, be able to challenge the government, freedom of speech, certainly not hate speech.

Apparently, these people live in a bubble and have had no real-world experiences. Life is good for them, until they get what they want. Then it will be too late, the freedoms they enjoyed will all be gone.

They don’t even recognize the freedoms they had, which were earned by other young veterans who saw the writing on the wall.

GEORGE SILVA
Coeur d'Alene

COEUR TERRE: Bait and switch

Phase 2 of the Coeur Terre development goes before Planning and Zoning on July 14. Back when the initial development was approved, we were promised a new traffic study at each phase. As council sought to mitigate the concerns of uncontrolled growth and pedestrian safety, this was a logical solution.  

Well, here we are at Phase 2. The Traffic Impact Study (TIA) submitted with the developer's request is using the same data set from Phase 1, which was collected in March of 2025.  

I’m sure the developer would say that 15 months is not long enough to make a difference, but we all know different. Conditions have changed significantly over that period of time.   

How many new homes and apartments on Seltice and the Rathdrum Prairie have come online over that period of time? Would anyone argue that Atlas traffic is only 2.3% higher than in March of 2025 (this is the TIA assumed growth rate)?

And how about pedestrian traffic? The new Faith park on Nez Perce is likely doubling any foot traffic on the Atlas Bike Path.  

Those of us who live along Atlas know that adding thousands of trips a day through Coeur Terre will mean significant congestion. A new traffic study will acknowledge this and hopefully give the city the means to require upgrades to infrastructure on the developers' dime.  

We need Planning and Zoning to step up and request we get what we paid for. To borrow a line from a popular column, it’s just common sense.

KEVIN McCLELLAND
Coeur d'Alene

MAH JONGG: More places to play

It was great to see the article on American Mah Jongg and what they are doing at Mix It Up Home to teach and play the game. The article may have left the impression that that is the only place in Cd'A to find a game, but there are several other groups locally that play at different days, times and locations.  

Several groups play at Lake City Center. Two groups play there every Tuesday and Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. One plays American Mah Jongg. Our group plays Wright-Patterson Mah Jongg. The cost to play is just $1 each time for members of Lake City Center and $2 for non-members.

Our Wright-Patterson group welcomes new players; we have started offering lessons and practice sessions each Friday or you can come and watch on Tuesdays to see how the game is played. A small fee may be asked just to cover expenses (photocopies of instructions, etc.).

If you already know how to play, feel free to join us; see if you like our group and style of the game. If you don't know Wright-Patterson but you do know the basics of Mah Jongg, you can pick up the W-P rules and hands by watching or practicing a couple of times. If you'd like to learn, call Lake City Center at 208-667-4628, leave your name and phone number with them and we will contact you:

WRIGHT-PATTERSON MAH JONG GROUP, Lake City Center
Coeur d'Alene

GOLF COURSE: Many questions to answer

Lakeside (aka Architerra and a myriad of other companies) is a big player in North Idaho and Eastern Washington (and beyond too). The Coeur d'Alene Press announced on July 4th that Lakeside has "acquired" the Highlands Golf Course and reiterated the press release wording on how 'nothing will change and new energy will be created. Now, what is next for the Press? How about some honest investigative journalism going forward on this subject?  

Here are the questions to start with:

1.  How long ago did Lakeside open escrow?

2.  How aware of this transaction were the city officials in Cd'A and Post Falls?

3.  How will this acquisition impact the planning and approvals for the 600+ acres of "Coeur Terre' not yet approved or annexed into any city?

4.  Have the officials of Post Falls been negotiating with Lakeside about the annexation with the golf course (or other use on that land) in the mix? After all, the movement of traffic west out of Coeur Terre is a major problem that could be relieved by major modifications to the course and new roadways being created (Highland area homeowners might not be too thrilled though). 

5.  Have any non-financially benefitted citizens of Post Falls or Cd'A been asked for their input?

6.  Will the new owners get a new tax assessment to reflect the market value paid by Lakeside (unlike the 1,040 acres of Coeur Terre, there is no agriculture exemption for this, is there)?

7.  How will the decision on the Huetter Bypass or alternate North/South arterial be impacted by this?

8.  Is there any way for the residents of Post Falls to make sure the golf course stays as it is, and doesn't become something decidedly different: a nine-hole course, miniature golf course, high-density housing, or something else? Or is this now simply choosing the least terrible alternative of many terrible offers?

Let us see open and honest reporting and all city officials operating in the open. Property rights do not mean the elimination of the existing rights of hundreds of residents.

HOWARD BURNS
Post Falls

NOISE: Permitting a 'gateway drug'

I can't help but respond to Marcie's letter in the Sunday paper about noise always being a part of downtown. She seems to have misunderstood what the issue is. 

Of course there is traffic noise downtown, as well as the noise of people enjoying themselves shopping, dining, walking, etc. What we all who live downtown object to is the noise created by illegal activities, such as modified mufflers, needlessly revving engines, backfiring engines, blaring radios, and skateboards on the sidewalks. These sounds are disruptive to those who are dining and visiting downtown, as well as those of us who live downtown.

Permitting illegal activities like these to continue is like approving a gateway drug. Other illegal activities will follow, as it seems those who we elect to enforce our laws don't care.

JOAN C. WOODARD
Coeur d'Alene

NOISE: Accepted and unaccepted

We have lived in downtown Coeur d'Alene for almost nine years. We were fully aware of acceptable downtown noises. These include police and fire sirens, cruise boat whistles and occasional "Bands on the Boat," float plane takeoffs, music in City Park, street sweepers, fireworks, parades, street fairs, Car d'Lane, etc. 

The unacceptable downtown noises come from motorcycles, cars and trucks with illegal modified exhaust systems. Inconsiderate drivers of these vehicles often deliberately rev their engines on Sherman, Front and Lakeside Avenues and Northwest Boulevard to irritate shoppers, outside diners, businesses and residential and hotel occupants. Persons with hearing aids who are dining outside receive a particularly harmful blast in their ears. 

Outbound Northwest Boulevard is a particularly noisy street. Vehicles often accelerate at dangerous speeds well exceeding the 25 MPH limit. These drivers speed out of downtown generating extremely loud vehicle noise, with most likely the deliberate thought of "in your face downtown residents, shoppers, businesses, and Cd'A Police!"

JOHN E. DEUS
Coeur d'Alene

TRUMP: Doesn't belong on Rushmore

Recently the news media has reported that President Donald Trump wanted his bust carved on Mt. Rushmore. The immediate response was that there wasn't room for him, or anyone else. 

The carvings were finished in 1939 at a total cost of about $1,000,000. Some $900,000 by the U.S. government and the rest by people's donations. The reason for these presidents' carvings was a spontaneous desire by the American people to commemorate the accomplishments of these founding fathers.

So, your performance as President needs time for comparison by the public with other U.S. Presidents. The Mount Rushmore presidents' carvings were finished some 154 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I would suggest that you try harder with what's left of your second term to live up to the standards commemorated by the current Mount Rushmore presidents' images.

MARK WEADICK
Coeur d'Alene

SSPX: Vatican decree is invalid

My family attends Immaculate Conception Church. We do so because its priests of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) remain attached to Rome and its centuries-old Catholic Mass, teachings, doctrines and sacraments that have been handed down from the Apostles. It is not a “break-away” group for not changing as the “conciliar” church did after the Second Vatican Council. That council created a “Protestantized” Mass, revised sacraments, and “pastoral” documents that promoted the right to profess false religions and new teachings that the Catholic Church is no longer the unique “ark of salvation.” Christ taught that He is “the Way, and the Truth, and the Life” (Jn 14:6), not that His Church is only one option among other paths.

That Vatican decree is mostly (if not completely) invalid: the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) cannot reverse a papal action granting the SSPX confession and marriage faculties; using “schismatic” — rejection of papal authority (confused here with disobedience) — to issue a penalty is not allowed without identifying individuals, providing opportunity for defense, and then judged in a decree. Decrees binding communities require legislative authority not held by the DDF. Footnotes cannot create canon law. Supplied jurisdiction always validates sacraments.

The SSPX is not “excommunicated,” but it’s obviously interfering with Vatican operatives’ plans.

KEVIN E. KIMPTON
Post Falls