Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Assessor: Follow-through is crucial

Now there will have been four studies made of the Spokane County Assessor’s office by the Washington State Department of Revenue. The requests were made by Ken Wynne, John McBride, Charlene Cooney and me, George Britton, retired assessor. Each wanted an outside opinion regarding staffing, equipment and space needs.

The DOR has a responsibility to oversee county assessors and county treasurers of Washington state. They make certain the property tax laws, rules and regulations are being followed as mandated by state law.

The DOR has a deep interest in how well the assessor is doing his or her job. Unfortunately, the Board of County Commissioners doesn’t share the same interest until a property tax or assessment problem becomes their problem.

Studies made by the International Association of Assessing Officers indicates an assessor in a county the size of Spokane with a modern computer system should have a staff of 65.

It’s a constant battle for the nuts and bolts operations of the county to get what they need from the commissioners to perform the functions required of them by state law.

When the DOR completes its study the assessor must follow the recommendations of the report. It may mean a realignment of personnel, additional personnel, additional equipment, etc. Next and just as important, the commissioners must also follow the recommendations of the report with regard to any help they can give to the assessor’s office. This could be any of the items already mentioned or possibly others. If this support is not then forthcoming, let’s not spend the money and time. George Britton Spokane

Harris true to his word

The Spokesman-Review is attacking Spokane County Commissioner Phil Harris for doing what he promised he would do during his campaign.

He said he would downsize government, make it more user friendly and reduce costs for the taxpayers.

He also said he would get tough on crime. He’s a man of his word. Many of us appreciate what he is doing. Renee LaReice Spokane

Leave well enough alone

In a recent news article, Commissioner Phil Harris was quoted as saying he has “too damn much integrity … to vote for anything that would hurt our community medically, physically, whatever.”

This “damn integrity” seems to allow him to support takeover of the County Health District without understanding the financial implications (a $300,000 increase) of the public health issues involved.

I suggest Mr. Harris develop some real integrity and leave the Health District the way it is, governed by a board of city and county representatives including all three commissioners. Ridding this body of its other members would surely politicize its operations and jeopardize public health. C. Sharman Spokane

Commissioners say grass smoke’s

OK Our county commissioners have helped the air pollution problem in Spokane. Yes, they voted to do nothing about the air pollution which results from the burning grass fields.

We in Spokane have to drive with special fuel in our cars for six months out of the year in an effort to eliminate air pollution, but we have to tolerate grass burning.

Grass burning puts out very small particulate matter, which is probably worse than the pollution coming from any local industry. It’s very, very bad stuff. Secondhand cigarette smoke doesn’t begin to compare to it.

I have a 9-year-old asthmatic and must keep him confined to the house during burn time. Even then, every year during this period, he has problems with his asthma. It takes several weeks after the air clears to get him healthy again.

Our eyes burn and water, and many people with respiratory problems have trouble. But listen to the grass burners and they’ll tell you it’s not unhealthy to burn the fields.

Restaurants, airplanes and public buildings are smoke-free, but the air we breathe during these weeks is badly polluted and our county commissioners vote to let it continue.

The grass burners tell us it isn’t really bad for anyone. The cigarette makers tell us that smoking isn’t really bad for our health.

Do I trust our commissioners to do the right thing? Sure, about as much as I trust the cigarette companies. Terrell Wright Mead

Valley has been dragooned

The back page of the regional news on Aug. 6 is a full color promo regarding the upcoming election on city-county consolidation.

This wasn’t the first shot fired in support. The first shot was to spend whatever was necessary (it turned out to be $34,264.78) to remove a major obstacle, the incorporation of the Spokane Valley with its lucrative tax base! Lloyd T. Bradshaw Spokane

Leadership approach, pace awful

Spokane is a wonderful place. We first lived here in 1961-1966 and in the past two years returned to make it our home. We’ve lived on both the West and East coasts, so we’ve seen a cross section of business people.

Through the years we’ve observed city governments and the things they do, but for the life of me, I don’t understand this City Council. Does anyone understand?

With all the educated and experienced people living in Spokane, why does the city need to spend $45,000 of taxpayer money to get some “expert” to show or tell them what to do? For the past year and a half, I’ve followed closely what they’ve been doing. It upsets me.

In 1963, there was talk of making Division a one-way street. Finally it happened. Thirty-two years later. Should we stand and give them a round of applause? Does it take that long to make a decision, or weren’t there any “experts” available to give them advice or tell them how to make a decision?

Naturally, I don’t know all the facts, but if this way of operation continues, and it takes that long to accomplish things in this city, we will all be dead and gone 50 years before anything gets done.

Where has good old common sense gone? Can’t we make decisions with all the good people who live here?

Somebody, please, help us. Let’s grow up. Phil Larson Spokane

OK to target my type

Carla K. Johnsons Aug. 10 article on School District 81 stated, “Concern that minority students be targeted has surfaced,” said Vickie Countryman, chairwoman of the district’s Affirmative Action Council. This is in reference to the new anti-truancy program in District 81.

Why would anyone object to any student being targeted? Don’t they want the kids in school?

As an unauthorized, unofficial spokesman of the Irish-American, Catholic, white, male population, I request you target my minority group in this anti-truancy program. That way they they can be kept in school. Thus, hopefully, they will learn that which will make them successful and productive citizens. Patrick W. Carroll Spokane

IN THE PAPER

Paper making costly mistake

Spokane is the commercial center of the Inland Northwest. The east slope of the Cascades is only three hours from Spokane (by road). I, and many of my neighbors, make shopping trips as often as once a month to Spokane.

I’ve purchased cars, appliances, repair parts, building supplies and much more during these commutes. I find the availability and prices are such I can often pay for the trip with the savings over local prices and have a fine meal in the process.

Are your advertisers aware your paper is reducing their market by significant amounts? You’re doing a disservice to your advertisers and your readers by abandoning circulation in this growing section of the state.

It’s no alternative to suggest postal delivery of the paper. We read a daily paper for timely news and advertising. We’re not interested in history! I subscribe to one paper by mail that typically arrives tattered, five days after issue!

It’s unfortunate for the future of The Spokesman-Review, the management caliber of the circulation department doesn’t match the dedication and capability of your editorial and production staffs, and try to find a way to hold position in this market. Bill Kraemer Chelan, Wash.

Paper no-show at compost affair

Where was our local newspaper? All other media covered the happenings at the Colbert compost facility on Aug. 8. In the past, your paper has reported in the North Side Voice that this facility smells bad 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

Tuesday, we had a large crowd visiting that didn’t find it to be the case at all. They toured the facility, ate hot dogs and talked about the facility. They visited the neighborhood that continually complains and found residents outside enjoying their area.

Members of the City Council spent time at the facility and were not offended by the smell. They even ate their hot dogs standing next to the compost.

We need coverage for the other side of the story - those who think this is a good facility. Paula Davis Colbert

LAW AND JUSTICE

Many are failing the children

This is about the Spokane County Commissioners’ crime concerns.

I’m aware there comes a time when parents can no longer run their child’s life or make them do the responsible thing - when the child is an adult and responsible for his or her life and choices made.

I want to know where the crime of missing parents who don’t pay child support falls in the importance of crimes. When does the missing parent have to work? Why should the active parent be the only one who has to work?

I work over 50 hours per week to support my children, with no child support because their father has chosen to not work or works under the table so the Office of Support Enforcement can’t collect child support ordered by the court. This has gone on for over six years. I not only question this for myself, but for the many mothers I know work hard because of deadbeat fathers.

When will other family members have to become responsible and inform OSE where these people work, so there can be some assistance to the children, who are the ones who suffer?

What’s possibly worse is when the father, by choice, is not active in the lives of his children. What about the grandparents? Are they too “busy” to acknowledge their precious grandchildren.

These people will wake up someday and realize they’ve missed some of the best years of their grandchildren’s lives by not participating in a wholesome manner. Katrina Harris Spokane

Death penalty a capital idea

Re: to N.G.Hannon’s Aug. 4 letter (“Desire for death penalty sickens”): The death penalty should be broadened.

Susan Smith killed her children, period. No matter what the excuse, she killed. In fact, murderers, rapists and child molesters are incurably sick.

Is it a lust for violence and revenge when you put your rabid animal to death? No, it’s considered humane. There is no excuse for rape or child molestation. Murder for taking another life is the law, with but few exceptions.

Murderers are sick but they must be held accountable for their actions without being allowed to put the blame on everyone else or their environment. Many people have had an abusive childhood and they don’t commit murder or other crimes.

The most humane way to deal with murderers, rapists and child molesters is to put them to sleep with as little suffering as possible. Then they can’t come back and prey on innocent victims again.

Think what a great deterrent the death penalty would be. Taxpayers wouldn’t have to spend our tax dollars keeping these criminals alive and we’d save millions.

Come on, America, it’s time to wake up. Capital punishment needs to be broadened and implemented. We need to rid our society of these predators so we can safely walk the streets and allow our children to play.

We all need to be held accountable for our actions, with no excuses. Bruce Royeton Spokane

Los Angeles decision heartening

Isn’t America great, when a Hispanic woman in Los Angeles County receives a judgment by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department of $60 million on a civil rights violation?

The city and county of Spokane are getting a deal for $40 million. In the Los Angeles case, there was only one Hispanic woman compensated. There are 23 plaintiffs in the Gypsy civil rights case.

It will happen because with punitive damages, the sky’s the limit. The district court and Washington Supreme Court ruled it was illegal. You can’t change time or what happened.

This was a punishment in Los Angeles County, so other counties would learn and benefit. You don’t violate people’s human rights! Jimmy Marks Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Republicans remarkably consistent

History reveals numerous examples of corruption and ineptness during the Republican administrations of Ulysses S. Grant, Warren Harding, Herbert Hoover, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. Greed for money and power was the motivation.

Led by the $4.5 million dollar buyout book deal of House Speaker Newt Gingrich, it’s clear the present Republican Congress will add to the infamous record.

Greed for money and power is an occupational disease infecting most politicians. More reprehensible in today’s Republican contract is its vengeful attack on all Americans unable to hire lobbyists for their protection.

The Republican contract will eliminate or emasculate summer youth jobs, low-income energy assistance, funds for the surgeon general, education, environmental protection, meat inspection, Head Start, Medicare, Medicaid , student loans (hurts student and parents), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Social Security, public broadcasting and military retirement benefits for enlisted personnel and officers. It’s a noose that snares virtually all Americans except the few hundred thousand super rich whose taxes will be reduced!

If shortage of money is the excuse, why spend $38 billion for B-2 bombers the Pentagon says are not needed or wanted?

It’s frightening to think what this Republican Congress would do if a Republican was also president.

Kevin Phillips, a Republican campaign adviser and former assistant to the attorney general, recently said ” … Republicans have a long history of hurting the average person.” They are proving that today, and will continue as long as the average American voter permits it. Arch Jaecks Wenatchee

Austin qualifications superior

Recently, at Democratic Party headquarters, two candidates for state representative from the Spokane Valley asked for my support. Both were the same age, with stable family backgrounds. Both have worked regularly with the Boy Scouts. End of similarity.

The man had never handed out political leaflets, registered a voter or attended any party meeting. The lady worked actively in local and national campaigns in Spokane and Missoula.

The man told a longtime union organizer he had never heard of the Davis-Bacon Act. The lady helped organize a union in the Atlantic City hotels and was proud to be a union member before she bought and ran her own small businesses.

The man has never sat on any board as a public service. The lady is on the Riverview Youth Center Board to help youngsters in trouble and reduce crime.

The man would abolish the minimum wage law. The lady would seek a truly livable wage for anyone who worked full time.

Mary Chey Austin will have my active help in her campaign. Edward F. Sawatzki Veradale

Your guns, freedoms are in peril

Have we heard the truth about Waco? No! Nor did we hear the truth about Watergate or Iran-Contra.

The major difference is the near total indifference mainstream media have shown in the Waco hearings, while Watergate and Iran-Contra received gavel-to-gavel coverage.

Without C-Span it would be very difficult to see the Whitewater or Waco hearings. It was quite obvious Rep. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., did everything he could to derail and destroy the intent of the Waco hearings. It appears he was quite successful in shifting blame to the National Rifle Association and militia.

The NRA is we the people, probably the single most outspoken supporter of the Second Amendment.

Hopefully, what little information has come forth will whet the curiosity of the American public to get the facts.

Did I miss the autopsy on the dead Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms agents? Were any killed by friendly fire? Why were the weapons not allowed to be inspected by any other than BATF or their designees.

The killing of many Branch Davidians and law enforcement people can’t be justified regardless of how evil David Koresh may have been. The gassing and burning of innocent children, due to the possibility of child abuse, is absurd. The ultimate in abuse is to gas and burn these kids. There are many unanswered questions.

Beware. Don’t allow the likes of Rep. Schumer to disarm the American public, as he would like to do. The handwriting is on the wall. We’re becoming a police state, and at breakneck speed. Gary and Virginia Tucker Oldtown, Idaho