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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Make good use of next election

By definition, our form of city government in this River City is “weak mayor, weak council and city manager.” How appropriate - our Lilac City’s government team meets that criterion with more than flying colors, except for the guy on the left side of the council chambers with a Scandinavian last name.

The Spokesman-Review illuminated the ineptness of Mayor Jack Geraghty, the elected City Council and our Spokane management team of Captain Roger Crum by asking citizens to become accountants and balance the budget.

I’m confused. I thought Geraghty, the council and Roger Crum were elected or hired and paid to keep the red ink from flowing.

First, the council members needed a psychiatrist consultant to point their heads in the right direction, then a consultant (who was fired by another consultant’s review) to lead us through the Red Sea to establish citizens’ priorities. Now they’re using The Spokesman-Review to have taxpayers make financial recommendations to right this sinking ship!

My logical head is spinning. I wonder what a private corporation would do with these so-called leaders or managers. Easy answer: They would be kicking rocks down the road - canned, dismissed, booted! You have that chance next month during the election.

It’s like taking care of a baby’s diaper; there must be a change. Jonathan Swanstrom Sr. Spokane

‘Noogies’ aren’t the problem

As I read the Aug. 10 edition of the “Roundtable,” I came across a letter by George Springer. The writer asserted the hiring of security guards in Spokane school districts is “… another power play by our school district for more money …”

Mr. Springer, life at school has evolved since the era of the “noogie.” I can honestly say “noogies” are the least of a student’s daily worries. Life at school today consists of worrying about looking at the wrong person at the wrong time and getting threatened for it. No, they don’t threaten “noogies”; they threaten to cut you or shoot you. Yes, Mr. Springer - as in shoot, with real bullets.

If you think I’m joking, I encourage you and anyone who shares your opinion to spend some time with young adults and listen to what goes on in their lives and see the things they have to deal with. I’m confident once you become educated about what’s happening in the world of today’s young adults, you won’t complain about “spending your money” to offer them a little security.

Remember, these young adults are our future. Investing in them is hardly a waste of money. Stacy Fletcher Spokane

Oust purveyors of sleaze

Spokane is an all-American city I’m proud to call home. My relatives from California and Minnesota frequently remark on the beauty and “small-town atmosphere” Spokane exudes.

However, when they visit, I cringe as we drive down Sprague Avenue, hoping they won’t notice the myriad strip joints and adult entertainment centers so in abundance there. Deja Vu, Erotique Boutique, Ms. Kitty’s and XXX Paradise Bookstore are just a few of the cesspools that infest Sprague Avenue alone.

Such garbage belongs in the gutter. Why is it allowed up out of the gutter to pollute the Valley’s main thoroughfare and threaten the normal, healthy way of life the majority in this city hold dear? Why should the majority be forced to put up with the negative and often dangerous side effects brought about by the patrons of such facilities and the attitudes they convey?

As British author J.G. Ballard once said, “A widespread taste for pornography means that nature is alerting us to some threat of extinction.” Wake up, people of Spokane. The alarm is blaring. It’s time to heed its message and save ourselves from the destructive influence which has crept into the very heart of our city and country, a force which can and will cause only harm now and in the future. Julia Selden Spokane

Ignore professionals’ advice

The 43 citizens making up a cross section of doctors, lawyers, academicians and ex-politicians who were opposed to the county taking over the Spokane County Health District may be suffering from a bad case of mommy-ism. Cut the umbilical cord before it’s too late.

What’s this group’s problem? Loss of income? Loss of treatment? Loss of mommy dear’s political power? Or simply loss of ego? What?

I see the list of white-collar citizens, but what about the union and blue-collar workers? Where do they come in? The answer is the county commissioners, who represent all of the citizens.

Let’s sit down and talk to our elected officials and stay away from the narrow-minded, mean-spirited group led by “mommy dear.” George Currie Airway Heights

WASHINGTON STATE

Measure preserves property rights

There’s no shortage in this state of organizations dedicated to representing the interests of various species of animals or plants. Unfortunately, in courtroom battles involving land use and environmental protection, the interests of mainstream Washingtonians typically are underrepresented.

Every intrusive land use or environmental regulation upheld in court results in the creation of a legal principle that acts like a building block upon which another antiproperty legal principle can be erected in yet another case.

Years of bad precedent inevitably will result in a frail social and economic fabric which won’t hold up to the wear of tyranny. That’s why Washingtonians must begin to stop the legal erosion of property rights and restore this bulwark of our personal liberties.

John Adams once said, “The moment that idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the Laws of God and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.”

Referendum 48 is the “public justice” Adams spoke of.

Referendum 48 is great! Keep your property rights. Mike Matson Tumwater, Wash.

Help pass Initiative 45

I don’t like what I’m seeing. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is getting lost in the political shuffle. Initiative 45 would restore the Wildlife Commission powers taken away in 1987 in exchange for a 12 percent budget increase from the general fund.

The old system worked. When I was 17 and a Spokane Walleye Club member, we could see something needed to be done to protect the walleye in their spawning ground. The future of the walleye in the upper Columbia River was at stake. I testified to that fact at a Wildlife Commission meeting. The commission acted by closing walleye fishing in the Spokane arm of Lake Roosevelt during the spawning season.

That was 14 years ago; that fishing remains closed at that crucial place and time to date. This type of public interaction is in jeopardy. If you wish public access to influence our fish and wildlife policies and regulations, help get Initiative 45 passed.

Contact your local sporting group, such as the Spokane Walleye Club or the Inland Northwest Council. Find out what you can do to help pass this important legislation. Rolly Johnson Colbert

BLAME-FIXING

Made himself, Spokane look bad

My husband and I recently moved to Spokane and are more than taken aback by the conduct of Spokane County Coroner Dexter Amend. I’m shocked a man of his education and position of responsibility would publicly display such ignorance and hatred.

His recent statements regarding the tragic case of 9-year-old Rachel Carver don’t reflect a scientific conclusion, but rather, a basic lack of knowledge and fear of the unknown.

To indiscriminately connect the despicable acts against Rachel Carver with a faction of our society Amend personally dislikes, without any proof or reason, is reprehensible. This man obviously shouldn’t be in public office.

Believe me, such an official doesn’t reflect well, or accurately, on Spokane. Colleen L. Owen Spokane

Irrationality, bigotry uncalled for

I’m not sure I believe Spokane County Coroner Dexter Amend is merely ignorant of medical, scientific and even theological investigations of facts on homosexuality. I believe he may need some counseling for his phobias.

He’s beyond ignorance and professionalism with the remarks he made. I don’t believe, Amend, as a public official, should be in a position to promote this form of irrationality, ignorance and bigotry.

Some of the letters published in the paper were in favor of his comments. I don’t believe there’s that much ignorance in this community. I don’t know where in the Bible people were appointed to judge others. I thought that was God’s realm.

From my own historical investigation, I’ve learned homosexuality was easily tolerated socially until the 12th century. It’s only people’s social tolerance that has changed over the last 300 to 400 years to make homosexuality out to be a negative or evil lifestyle. Chris Miller Nine Mile Falls SPRINGDALE

Let’s set record straight

I would like to correct the statements by Marshal Jerry Taylor and Mayor Ernie Gehrke made in the Aug. 9 article, “Town doesn’t want to pay injured marshal.”

Taylor said, “I do have a reserve deputy who I have been training for two years, and he has taken over the muscle part of it and we are working together just fine.” He also stated, ” We still have law here.”

According to my records, Taylor wasn’t on the Springdale payroll until March 1994. How could he have been training a reserve deputy for two years? As for the reserve deputy, the council was approached just last December or January by Taylor to use this man as a reserve at no cost to the town. But just a few months later, we’re over budget on wages for a reserve deputy.

As to his second statement, one of the council members contacted me and told me he had a citizen at his door who had been trying for a day and a half to reach one of our cops. It seems to me that with two officers on the payroll, the people of this town should be able to locate at least one of them over the weekend.

He thinks there is a “vendetta against the marshal.” He was at a special meeting on Aug. 1 and told the council he would need three months to recover from his injury because at that time he wasn’t able to perform his duties. The reserve deputy drove him to the meeting and even opened his car door for him.

As a council member, one of the jobs the people elect me to do is to be responsible with their money and act in the best interest of the town. I don’t think paying an injured officer or having him on duty is responsible to him or the town. I also don’t think a town of 259 people should pay for two cops. Lonnie Anderson Springdale, Wash.

Marshal deserves backing

This may rub a few sores on the rear ends of a few people around Springdale, but, oh well. I’ve never won a popularity contest and I’ve never been accused of being diplomatic.

Since Jerry Taylor has become marshal of Springdale, I’ve noticed quite a few happenings: arrests for dealing drugs, speeding and drunken driving in and around Springdale; some suspected drug dealers have moved away; and no more urinating on the streets in front of the taverns by drunks. I could go on and on about the good things, but why should I? You all know about them, even if you don’t care to admit it.

The night after the City Council decided to suspend Taylor’s pay and took his deputy off duty, I personally observed a person so drunk he couldn’t walk. He was helped into his car so he could drive away. Thank God none of my family was on the road that night.

I’m amazed at the City Council’s lack of intestinal fortitude; the council members waited until he was out of town to hold their so-called hearing about whether to pay or not to pay Taylor because of his injury. If this is the underhanded way the council does all its business, God pity Springdale.

If the council would let the mayor and marshal do their jobs and would support them in their efforts, instead of trying to bring up petty arguments and personal vendettas, Springdale could and would be a town in which anyone would be proud to live. Ray O. “Jake” Colvin Springdale, Wash.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Bartel doesn’t understand

Frank Bartel’s column on politics in the Aug. 13 paper is filled with mistaken conclusions.

Big business and Republicans are closely connected. The truth - during the last campaign, big business leaders from all over our state promoted re-electing Democratic Rep. Tom Foley. He could bring federal money to our state.

Having served as a Republican volunteer worker for more than 50 years, I’ve called on men representing big business many times. Many said they have given equally to both parties. Most said they always support the incumbent because the incumbent usually wins and they have to be in the winner’s circle.

Like our Mr. Bartel, I thought they should support the private enterprise party - Republican - instead of a party that has long promoted creeping socialism. On the other hand, I found the unions supported Democrats 100 percent, including the teachers union.

Concerning Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich’s attempt to talk with senior citizens: C-SPAN showed pictures of the meeting. A group of liberal, fanatical young people filled the area in front of Gingrich. They made so much noise, no one could hear. It’s too bad our local paper chose not to cover this event.

On taxes: The level tax now being proposed by Republicans will be the fairest tax plan ever devised. The level tax plan by Democrats would punish lower-income workers far more. Don Reed Spokane

Needed: third party president

Maybe the only way we can get the Democrats and Republicans in Congress to unite and work together is to elect a third-party president for them to oppose! A.A. Lundberg Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Good thrift store left out

In the Aug. 6 Spokesman-Review, there was some indepth coverage of secondhand stores by (staff writer) Graham Vink. However, he missed one of the city’s best - the Cancer Patient Care Thrift Store, 124 E. Trent. A key feature of the store is that everything earned in it stays here and is used locally to help people with cancer. George McGrath Spokane

Trees aren’t all created equal

I used to think it was counterproductive for land developers to bulldoze off all mature trees before building homes, after which little trees would be planted.

But looking at the picture of the hapless homeowner in Rathdrum, Idaho, (Handle, Aug. 7) I see that planting young trees may have been a much less dangerous option. His remaining trees, leaning rakishly, are the type loggers and sawmills dream of but landscapers have nightmares about.

They grew up in competition with other trees, fighting for a ray of sunshine, trunks tall and spindly with little taper, a few branches at the top. Such a tree is worth little for shade and subject to snapping off or being uprooted in a stiff breeze.

A non-competing tree, even of the same species, is a different story. It grows with lots of taper (indicating a strong root system), with branches from the base to the tip, creating plenty of shade and less chance of mishap in a storm.

If I were an insurance company, which trees would I like to see in my insured’s yard? Helen H. Julian Naples, Idaho

Priggee should’ve experienced war

It’s too bad (staff cartoonist) Milt Priggee wasn’t in the Bataan death march or a prisoner of war in Japan at the end of World War II. Maybe if he had been, he wouldn’t be so eager to cast aspersions on the American Legion and those who made the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan, thus saving the lives of thousands of Americans who would have died had it been necessary to invade the Japanese homeland. I haven’t noticed any of his cartoons about Japanese atrocities.

By the way, Priggee, what have you done for your country? Jim Hudson Laclede, Idaho