Study current issues and become involved

The Spokane Valley is a wonderful place to live.

In order to ensure that the Valley remains a great place, I'm proposing that we make a collective New Year's resolution to become more informed, involved and active in our community.

As a community, let's be prepared to take advantage of opportunities. Let's deal with issues before they become problems. Let's make wise choices and decisions.

In March, Valley residents will have an opportunity to vote on incorporation.

Do most of us know what this means?

Are we aware of the opportunities that forming a new city would bring our way? Are we aware of the consequences?

Do we want to have our own city? Or would we be better off to remain an urbanized but unincorporated part of Spokane County?

I'm not here to tell you whether you should vote for or against the new city.

I would like to suggest that you would be doing yourself and your Valley neighbors a very big favor if you would take the time to really study the issues. Think about the things that are important to you - and then find out how incorporation would affect those things.

The Valley's voters must arm themselves with information in order to make an intelligent, knowledge-driven choice at the polling place.

In addition to incorporation, there are several other upcoming issues that will ultimately affect how we live and work here in the Valley.

For instance, how many of us know that the Valley Couplet might be extended eastward beyond University Road?

When the couplet opened, it brought significant change to traffic flow in our Valley. This change has brought some very mixed reactions.

A lot of commuters like it. Sprague Avenue business owners generally don't.

As county transportation officials begin to consider the possibility of extending the couplet, hearings will be held.

We need to weigh in with our opinions and concerns before those orange cones start popping up around University and Sprague.

And while we're on the subject of transportation, remember that there is a light rail project in the planning. This line, as proposed, would run through the Valley, carrying commuters between downtown and Liberty Lake.

We know it will be expensive to build. Would this be a boondoggle or a wise investment in our infrastructure?

Civic commitment and plenty of community involvement have brought many positive projects to the Spokane Valley.

Even though there are some who criticize our seemingly rapid development from a sprawling, rural landscape into an "almost city," the truth is, our Valley is becoming more than just a rest stop between downtown Spokane and Coeur d'Alene!

I firmly believe that community involvement is the key to successful growth.

It takes more than a meeting table surrounded by planners and architects to build a community.

Look for opportunities to get involved, to have your voice heard. Play a role in the future of our Valley.

Debate, dialogue and even disagreement are the cornerstones of community planning.

Civic pride and careful planning have brought us local improvements such as the Argonne underpass. Drivers no longer have to sit and read novels while waiting for a slow-moving train. Now, the underpass carries smooth-flowing traffic beneath the tracks.

That's progress!

Citizens who made sure their voices were heard brought us the Evergreen interchange, so that getting to and from the Spokane Valley Mall,- which has emerged as the commercial center of Valley - is now a whole lot easier for all of us.

The way I see it, now is the time for Valley residents to start becoming more actively involved in the community.

We are standing at the brink of an exciting future.

Change is coming. Let's guide that change during 2002 with informed citizen input.

Copyright 2002 Cowles Publishing Company
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