Letters To The Editor
WASHINGTON STATE
Don’t ignore future needs
What’s wrong with you people? Continuing education of future students is in jeopardy (“Colleges are running out of room, legislator warns,” Region, Oct. 25).
Yet when a state legislator holds a meeting to address the problem, only one person shows up.
People today are closed-minded and too focused on themselves. If something doesn’t directly affect them, they take an attitude or they let the people directly involved do the worrying.
It’s time you wake up and smell the mocha beans. If colleges run out of space, they’ll be forced to further discriminate in the student selection process, leaving future would-be students to the streets.
Who will solve the problem? Nobody, if you don’t support them. If you remotely care about the future of continuing education for all of Washington’s potential students, I suggest you support the efforts of Rep. Larry Sheahan, R-Rosalia.
If a response is what he’s looking for, perhaps he should hold a meeting on the taxes a state-sponsored ballpark will impose. Brian Crow Spokane
Soliz departure won’t fix DSHS
Re: “DSHS head will quit at year’s end (News, Nov. 2).
Sometimes there’s good news in the paper. Jean Soliz, head of the state Department of Social and Health Services, talks about hard times ahead but has done little to manage the department and alleviate some of the simple problems she had control over.
When I retired from DSHS, I pointed out to DSHS administration, the governor, his “ethics” committees and Rep. Jean Silver (who is now on the outs with her own party) activities going on in Region 1, the Spokane area. I consistently alerted the department to specific incidents and situations. These were ignored.
Soliz made such responses as, “Due to the consistent theme of your communications and our subsequent review, I am not inclined to continue to respond to future correspondence regarding these issues and concerns.” Her assistant secretary parroted these words.
Problems Soliz relates in the article are caused by bureaucrats like her and some of her managers. This director was in way over her head and listened to the wrong people, while brushing identified problems aside.
One positive, although temporary, move she’s made in the Spokane area is the appointment of Ben Green. He is conscientious, honest and an effective manager.
Sending Regional Administrator B.O. Nelson to Olympia on temporary assignment delighted many local staff members. What’s going to happen in Olympia and throughout the state with Nelson’s temporary assignment? More of the same? Tom Berg Spokane
CREATURES, GREAT AND SMALL
Thanks for supporting measure
Thank you, Spokane, for approving Initiative 94. This free spay and neuter initiative is very special. We will become a test city for this type of ordinance.
Anyone residing within the city limits of Spokane can use the service: those who rescue animals; the Spokane Humane Society, which takes in all the city strays and owner turn-ins; and those who adopt pets or already them. We need to encourage adoption while we stabilize the pet population. You will be getting back some of your tax dollars to provide this service; one-tenth of one percent of the general fund. Laverne Kettlety Spokane
Greyhounds need help, homes
Please help by adopting a greyhound.
These wonderful dogs are in poor condition after their racing lives. Thus, the adoption fee of $120 is not excessive. Their diet of red meat caused rotting teeth. They need to be spayed/neutered and to have their shots brought up to date - all of which requires a veterinarian’s attention. This care is included in the adoption fee.
It is necessary, even mandatory, to find these beautiful animals good homes. They require much love and attention, but for giving that you would be well rewarded. Actually, they should become family members and house pets from now on.
The fear is that they will be sent to race again at another track, out of state, shortening their lives even more. They deserve better than that and a good rest.
I propose a fund be created to help people who would love to have a greyhound but cannot afford the $120 fee. If anyone agrees, please contact Animal Advocates of the Inland Northwest at 459-8502.
Track people have said they will keep all dogs after the Dec. 31 closing date, but who knows? These dogs need your help. Mary Cosentini Spokane
PEOPLE IN SOCIETY
Ambient violence bad for all
The past few years I have seen a frightening increase in violence. I’m not speaking of rapes or other violent crimes, but an increase in peer fights. I’m a concerned student from Lewis and Clark High School which has for many years enjoyed a popular reputation of being culturally diverse and tolerant to new ideas. However, in that past two years, an increase in threats, insults and fights has tarnished the school’s reputation.
I recently heard a classmate say, “I saw that fight; it was a good one.” Comments like that numb our senses to violence.
The rest of that day, I questioned my lifestyle. I go home after school and I watch a news broadcaster discussing murder or rape. I play a video game where I hack away at faceless villains and I watch as “bad guys” are shot on TV. An environment such as this is not how I wish to spend the rest of my life. This letter is intended as a wake up call. A raised level of awareness towards violence will be beneficial to our community.
I’m not asking for all people to become radical peaceseekers, but simply to contemplate how a horror movie on TV or a bloody game of Doom affects all people, creating a dangerous immunity towards violence. Roy Shea Spokane
Next generation will be just fine
It’s time to compliment our next generation and their parents. The majority are doing right.
Being in the clouds when our priest said he had an “open” date Oct. 31, 1959, we had our wedding at St. Aloysius on Halloween. Neither of us was aware of that until on our wedding night, at a restaurant, the owner asked us if we were newlyweds. I don’t know how he knew. Possibly it was my corsage or the happy, blushing smiles we had on our faces.
We told him we were and he gave us each a piece of candy by our plates, smiled and said, “Happy Halloween.”
For 35 years we’ve celebrated either the evening before or the evening after. On this, our 36th anniversary, we decided to go out to dinner and miss seeing some of the trick-or-treaters’. Never wanting them to be without a treat from us, we left a bowl of 60 individually decorated, wrapped treats on a table outside with a sign visible from the street that said:
“Help yourself - take one! Please save for children coming behind you. Thank you! Joyce & Jerry Courser.”
When we returned from our fun dinner out, there in the bowl were 40 bags of treats. We counted to know how many children had come to visit. The number always ranges from 17 to 50, so I figured 20 this year.
Children are trustworthy and we should look forward to our next generation. The majority are honest, good people. Joyce Courser Greenacres