ITD's attitude is a sign of democracy's decay

In response to Gov. Butch Otter’s request for ideas to help fund education and other important services, I forwarded my letter to Daily Bee suggesting that the bypass construction be halted and the moneys being wasted on that debacle be directed toward education.

The governor and the Idaho Transportation Department share a common contempt for the Environmental Protection Act, (remember, he was severely rapped for filling in wetlands on his properties.) So, in due course, I received a letter from Damon L. Allen, our lTD district engineer, telling how “… the Department has sought input from the public on everything from the appropriate location … to engaging the community in a meaningful way in the decision making process.”

Hogwash!

For years, the lTD has engaged in deceptions and evasions in dealing with the public and the EPA. Consider a few of the vast number of egregious acts:

• The first design proposed by the ITD was to be located paralleling the Great Northern tracks. However, after caving in to the greed of some merchants and real estate speculators, that route was never mentioned again, even when required by law, in writing the Environmental Impact Statement. Instead, a crew of surveyors was sent out to stake out a “westside route” through the front yards of properties way out on Pine Street Loop.

• A large crowd came out to the first of several required public hearings. Their comments indicated an overwhelming rejection of the ITD’s proposals. That “mistake” was never repeated. Instead, the pubic was invited to a series of dog-and-pony shows where their comments could be collected and subsequently ignored. Is “divide and conquer” really a meaningful way of engaging the community in decision making?

• The lTD requested proposals from several reputable planning firms to write the EIS, but when all refused to heavily favor the Sand Creek route, the ITD had to do their own skullduggery by writing it themselves.

• The lTD even went so far as to corrupt the English language by calling their discredited project a “Byway.” Most dictionaries define a byway as a small side road not regularly used by people or traffic. If the intent is to give the impression that this particular project is to be a “scenic byway,” does this peculiar concept of beauty include that wall of ugly condos cutting off views of the lake beyond or the degradation of the historic depot?

• The lTD’s first design would have facilitated long distance travel without screwing up local traffic patterns One day we will realize the traffic difficulties caused by the Sand Creek bypass. But the lTD says that the internal traffic of a community is none of their concern.

This pubic-be-damned attitude by lTD is only one manifestation of the decay of democracy resulting in wars, terror financial collapse, subservient legislators, and economic slavery. Shame on the whole bunch.

JOSEPH H. WYTHE

Sandpoint