by Travis Mateer
Five years ago I wrote a poem about sidewalks, the Missoulian published it, and the ripples of that seemingly innocuous action have been spreading out ever since. Now, with a new effort to do the same thing, and some of the same people getting ink doing the same complaining, I’m starting to wonder…why should I care? (emphasis mine):
“Is this the crisis priority that everybody on council – incumbents, the candidates, all the mayoral candidates, our new mayor – wants?” said resident Kathleen Kimble. “Everyone has said the top priority crisis is affordable housing. Taxing people out of their homes is not a good thing to do. At this particular time, this isn’t the top crisis priority.”
Who is Kathleen Kimble? She’s a longtime Missoulian who once worked at the newspaper, and her husband is a politically active Democrat. Also, they are both old and on fixed income, which was a key part of their complain-campaign five years ago when Kathleen appealed directly to Mayor Engen, who intervened on her behalf. From the link (emphasis mine):
Edith Street resident Kathleen Kimble received a cost estimate of $38,882 for replacement and installation of sidewalks on her corner lot. She said that amount should have raised red flags within the Development Services department, and they should have had internal conversations among city staff before sending the letters.
“Any thinking person should have looked at the first number that popped up that was huge, and should have talked to somebody,” Kimble said. “I’m 66 and my husband and I are both on Social Security. This was something that was going to permanently, and until the day I died, alter my life.
Writing that poem certainly altered MY life because it was the main catalyst for my departure from the non-profit sector. Inspired by the uprising against Tax Increment Financing, I put in my notice at Aging Services on January 3rd, 2020, and decided to try and have a more direct influence on local issues as a journalist and activist.
While I’ve had an influence, I underestimated this town’s ability to not give a shit, especially if the messenger is a flawed human with no fucks left to give regarding the sensitivities of others. Should I take a hint and try to care less about the dead bodies I’ve been investigating for the past three years?
When family members experience a tragedy they ALSO want to have some influence, often times for the selfless reason of keeping a similar tragedy from happening to someone else. Well, next month I’ll be writing about one of those efforts to have an influence on Montana state law after Rebekah Barsotti went missing and was found dead in the Clark Fork River.
Here’s the Facebook post asking Montanans to support Rebekah’s family because something bad happened and now they want Montana to change because of it:
I have taken considerable risks to bring attention to this case and the stresses associated with what I’ve gone through ensured the upending of my own life. Now, these sad family members who want Montana to change think going to our lawmakers will help them make a difference. Do they not understand that changing the law doesn’t matter when the ENFORCERS of our laws are corrupt?
After December this site will no longer have fresh content six days a week because this town isn’t worth the risks I’ve been taking to raise the alarm about what’s happening here. I have a book to edit, and other locales to spend time in with people who actually appreciate my talents, so that’s what I’m going to do.
To the remaining supporters behind the scenes giving me critical encouragement when I desperately need it, thank you! I would not have made it this far without that support.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned. I’m not done yet!
