Letters To The Editor

WASHINGTON STATE

Bring on state office complex

I support your recent editorial on the proposed state office building for Spokane. The new state office facility will be developed under a public-private partnership. The private partner, Metropolitan Mortgage, will finance the project so we, the taxpayers, will not have to incur the debt.

The projected saving over the approximately 50-year life of the facility will be about an $88 million of our money.

Won’t it be great to be able to do most of our state business in one area? Right now, there are state offices spread all over Spokane with we, the taxpayers, feeling the financial pinch. This, hopefully, will be the start of continued efficiency in all branches of government. Stephanie Colliton Four Lakes

State complex great idea

So often we do not agree with decisions by our government, but now there is an idea for which we can express great enthusiasm.

The projected new state office complex on the north bank of the Spokane River near downtown will be a winwin for we taxpayers.

Win 1: We will save lots of our money by consolidating state offices in one facility.

Win 2: We will have one-stop shopping when we have business with the state, instead of running all over town.

Let your legislators know that you are in favor of this facility. Robin Dehn Spokane

One-agency approach works best

I find it curious that you printed an Associated Press wire service article, “Oil-spill expert speaks up for state’s prevention agency,” (March 3) which quoted an official of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) as a proponent of an independent oil spill prevention agency, similar to what Washington state has in its Office of Marine Safety.

The article went on to claim that without a highly visible stand-alone agency, existing spill prevention programs would be eroded over time.

The article failed to mention that Alaska has no independent agency promoting prevention. Instead, Alaska has oil spill prevention and response programs in the same government agency, similar to every other coastal state - with the exception of Washington. Rep. Karen Schmidt’s (R-Bainbridge Island) legislation, HB 1510, would accomplish for Washington what every other state has recognized: The best and most appropriate way to prevent and contain marine oil spills is to enhance communication, increase efficiencies and improve integration by consolidating prevention and response functions into one agency.

A merger of OMS with the Department of Ecology will result in better and more effective prevention and response, better trained personnel and cost savings through administrative streamlining. Richard Berkowitz, director Transportation Institute, Pacific Coast Office, Seattle

Stick with caveat emptor

I like (columnist) Doug Clark’s writing most of the time. However, I must take exception to the idea that somehow the good ol’ state is going to protect us from our foolishness (“Law should put hammer down on fraudulent contractors,” March 21). Be it contractors’ licenses - the subject of Clark’s column - or trades such as hairdressers, etc., we don’t need big brother telling us who we can hire or where we can go. Not in the land of the free and the home of the brave - or are we all wimps now? John Hodde Colville, Wash.

SPOKANE MATTERS

Choice is what it’s all about

I was amazed to read John Webster’s editorial on the freeholders’ charter and to see the statement that “some freeholders fear the plan is too sweeping for the voters to grasp.” The proposal to offer choice on the ballot is just the opposite.

Twelve freeholders voted to offer the citizens options on the charter ballot. Those 12 freeholders regard citizens to be truly capable of understanding the charter. The charter proposal includes extensive changes in local government.

The freeholders’ task was to do research and write a proposal. The task was not to decree we know the will of the people before they have been to the polls.

The charter proposal was designed to give government back to the people it is supposed to serve. What better way to begin the process than by having the voters be active participants in the decision for change? If citizens desire sweeping, immediate changes, that would be an option. Yet, if there is citizen concern over an untried governmental structure with questionable cost, extensive amputation of existing government would not have to be instant. The option of change at a regulated studied pace would secure their concern. Citizens of Spokane County would still be regaining control of their government.

The all-or-nothing attitude of Webster and certain freeholders is alarming. I ask them, what do we have to fear from citizen choice? Kathleen Nuffer, freeholder Deer Park

Youth violence: Be part of solution

I am so pleased to have read the recent front page articles regarding positive aspects about our youths in Spokane that I feel compelled to write. The article of March 19 by William Miller is a shining example.

I am so weary of reading about the problem of youth violence in our cities. Miller clearly states some positive actions that we, as citizens, can take to ensure that youth violence diminishes in or own community.

I challenge every adult reader of this paper to examine his or her life. Ask yourself how you can set aside a few hours per week to spend with a youth in this community. What could be more rewarding to a person than giving a child hope, love and compassion? There are no evil and hopeless children in the world. Every human being responds to love and respect.

More jails and punishment for our youths are not the solutions to the problem of violence. If children’s parents have let them down because of alcohol, drug addiction, abuse and/or neglect, then it is time that society - meaning each and every able person - needs to take some responsibility in salvaging the hope of our future. Let’s continue to talk solutions rather than moan about problems. If you aren’t part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. Mary Naber Spokane

Good police effort deserves notice

On March 13, I was a witness when the Spokane Police Department pulled a man from the Monroe Street Bridge before the man could go through with his plan to commit suicide.

I watched four officers inch closer and closer to the man, who had one foot over the side of the bridge. Suddenly, these officers leaped toward the man and pulled him from the ledge before he could jump. These officers risked their lives to save another human being and for that they deserve recognition.

As I watched this drama unfold, I observed several individuals with cameras run toward the scene, which is only a block from The Spokesman-Review headquarters. Noting this, I was sure I would see an article in the next day’s paper about the heroic efforts of the officers. To my dismay, I saw nothing.

I find it ironic that The Spokesman-Review is so quick to publicly criticize our police department and so reluctant to give it recognition for a job well done. I think this type of reporting further separates the police from the citizens. Maybe stories about police abuse sell more papers, but I would prefer to get the news in an objective format.

I think the citizens of Spokane would be better served by seeing when their police department does its job well. Gary Schaaf Spokane

EDUCATION

Cuts for CCS mean economic loss

International trade is an important part of the Spokane area’s economy. The Department of International Development has identified more than 200 area companies doing business outside the United States. An even greater number have the potential to export, but for a variety of reasons do not.

Since wages paid in export businesses, on average, are 17 percent higher than in non-export businesses, it is important to our economy to encourage and help the novice exporter. Education is a key element of assistance.

One of Spokane’s real assets in international trade and training is Community Colleges of Spokane. The colleges provide excellent training in imports, exports, languages, customs, culture sensitivity, doing business appropriately and effectively, how to market internationally, etc. This training is customized and right on target. Several businesses in Spokane have directly benefited from the international assistance provided by the colleges.

The Washington Legislature in session is strongly considering reducing the budget of the community colleges, which could directly affect the colleges’ international trade programs. I urge you to write your legislators and the governor asking that no budget reduction be made at the community colleges.

We need to support Community Colleges of Spokane and protect our future as well as theirs. Robert L. Scott, director International Development, Spokane

Law and justice

Better courtesy than lawsuits

In response to Dave Johnson’s “Smoking parents, remember children” (Letters, March 19), it seems that common courtesy would be effective; an open window would alleviate the “mobile gas chamber” effect on our children. And an occasional timid plea for mommy and daddy to throw away those dirty old cigarettes.

But, to encourage our children to contact children’s rights advocates just because mommy and daddy smoke, is absurd.

Our courts are filled with people suing each other for the most ridiculous reasons. By advocating little Johnny to contact children’s rights advocates is just breeding a new generation of stupid lawsuits. Sure, I’m for children sticking up for their rights, but not to lengths as Dave is suggesting. This would lead to calling on the same groups to defend little Johnny against his parents just because he didn’t do his chores and was banned from watching TV for a week. Let’s get real!

I agree that as parents we have duty to consider our children’s health and feelings in just about everything we do. Basically, we have to treat our children as human beings, not as objects. They, too, are entitled to common courtesy and considerations. Michael R. Teague Spokane

Better tattoos than abortions

In reference to “Kids an easy mark,” (March 22):

So a bill just passed the state Senate outlawing the tattooing of anyone 16 or younger. One woman’s 14-yearold daughter had a dolphin tattooed around her navel. Mom’s afraid it will look like a whale when she’s pregnant.

I wouldn’t worry, mom, she’ll just get an abortion without parental permission.

“This is an invasive procedure which … can transmit illnesses.” I wonder how invasive abortions are?

“Kids are too young to make sound decisions on anything as permanent as a tattoo.” I wonder how permanent an abortion is? “Children should not be touched by strangers in the places some request to be tattooed. It borders on molestation.” I wonder if anyone out there knows what part of the body is manipulated in order to perform an abortion?

“It gives them more adult freedom than they’re ready for.” There is something real twisted and sick about a system of adults who will pass a bill outlawing tattoos to those under 16, but will allow abortions on those same children without parental permission. Kelli Stellmon Newman Lake

ENVIRONMENT

Put ecosystem before profit quest

When Reps. George Nethercutt and Helen Chenoweth speak about forest health, whose health are they referring to? The ecologic health of forests or the economic health of their campaign contributors?

Because they advocate suspension of regulations that protect our forests from exploitation, I suspect the latter.

Many in the timber industry look to capitalize on the public’s fear of fire heightened by last summer’s conflagrations. They are not concerned for public safety as much as profit for margins available in salvage sales. For the timber industry and its representatives, this summer could be as profitable as the 1980s and its conflagrations of clearcuts.

We have a credibility problem here. Why are the timber industry and U.S. Forest Service suddenly interested in forest health? Their record over the last 50 years shows no inclination to think holistically, to care for all parts of these interactive, biotic systems, to consider what present management practices of our natural resources will mean to the future. Why should we believe them now?

Forest health is a crucial issue, but management should be driven by ecological, not economic, factors. Management must take an ecosystem perspective, and no one industry or agency should be responsible for decision making. Representatives from the timber industry, the Forest Service, environmental groups and others must join together to make consensus decisions on the health of ecosystems. No party should be overlooked, no party should profit. Ecosystem management must truly be a nonprofit venture. Crag Hill Pullman, Wash.

Environmentalists are wrong

Todd Foster’s excellent article, “Taxpayers big losers in logging,” did show both sides of the fire-killed logging bill now before Congress. However, the environmental view is misleading and false, as is the headline on Todd’s article.

The only way this logging of dead timber could cost the public would be if the environmentalists were to throw in so many expensive roadblocks as to make it so.

Sure, there are costs of sales preparation, road building and, in some cases, reforestation. But these are included in the basic bid price of a competitive timber sale. If the anti-sale people’s demands are excessive, i.e. restoring the burned forest to park-like conditions, then the costs are going to be higher than the timber value, in which case there would be no bidders.

It seems obvious the so-called conservationists would rather see nature take its course and leave the dead snags to fuel another fire that would wipe out any future natural reproduction. This doesn’t make sense, nor do the views of the expert economists. I don’t know what Robert Wolfe was doing for the Congressional Research Service during his 12 years but it appears he developed tunnel vision. The timber receipts/cost graph accompanying the article should be an embarrassment to the Forest Service. I doubt it would withstand an audit. Loren Robinson Veradale

Firms out to gut progress of decade

For the past 10 years, slow, incremental changes have been made to improve logging practices on private and state lands. This has involved many parties and it has been assumed by some of us, at least, that to a limited degree some public resources would be protected in the process.

Now, with the change in the state legislative balance, we find that certain members of the timber industry are ready to gut all this work. These are the same people who have been giving you all their glowing “environmentally friendly” radio, TV and newspaper ads over the last several years. Their other agenda is now apparent.

If you think that the small changes that have been made are an improvement, please let your state senator know about it. Senate bill 1286 would make the state Forest Practice Act a toothless piece of paper. John P. Stuart Newport, Wash.

POLITICAL NAME-CALLING

Lib-lefties the real non-patriots

The March 12 editorial, “Militia movement not a patriotic one,” is typical of The Spokesman-Review’s liblefty ideology.

To use the expression, ” … Americans who appreciate the rights guaranteed to all by the U.S. Constitution,” is utter hypocrisy, when The Spokesman-Review continually seeks to disparage the Constitution’s Second Amendment with its slanted “news” reports, brainless cartoons and suppression of all meaningful contradictions of its anti-gun claptrap. Ostensibly, to falsely support its putative lack of bias, only the most innocuous letters defending our Second Amendment are published.

The editorial contends, “Our country has survived more than 200 years because Americans have a respect for the law …” It’s too bad federal agents haven’t learned that yet. The editorial asserts, “Those who believe differently are not as patriotic as they think.”

Given that dictum, Woodrow Wilson, our 28th president and winner of a Nobel Peace Prize, doesn’t qualify as being patriotic as he asseverated, “I believe that the weakness of the American character is that there are so few growlers and kickers among us. We have forgotten the principles of our origin; we have forgotten how to object, how to resist, how to agitate, how to pull down and build up even to the extent of revolutionary practices if it be necessary to readjust matters.”

It apparently isn’t the militia movement that is unpatriotic. It’s all the lib-lefty wimps kow-towing to an authoritarian government. Charles C. Starr Coeur d’Alene