Letters To The Editor

AROUND SPOKANE

Don’t forget your neighbors

I applaud recent columns by Chris Peck (Oct. 27) and John Webster (Oct. 23) regarding altruism in our community. Both referred to a recent campaign for Romanian orphans and also referred to those in need within our own community who go unnoticed each day.

Without detracting from the efforts of the volunteers helping children around the world, I can’t help but be concerned about the people in need within our own neighborhoods.

Maybe we don’t like to admit we have problems within our own cities and towns but like it or not, people in Spokane County face life-and-death situations each day: In one year, First Call for Help will respond to more than 50,000 calls from people in emotional crises or in need of information; more than half the homeless population in shelters are children; The Spokane Food Bank distributes roughly 7,000 pounds of food each day; 300 elderly and disabled people every day qualify to receive in-homes meals through Mid-City Concerns; and 5,500 bednights are provided to domestic violence victims each year through the YWCA.

The list goes on regarding the needs of the physically and mentally disabled, troubled youths, families in crisis, disaster victims and others who may not know where to turn for help. All, indeed, are truly our neighbors in the broadest sense.

It’s wonderful to offer our hearts, our time and our pocketbooks to needy people around the world, but let’s not forget our neighbors, the individuals and families trying to survive right here, right now in Spokane County. Jose C. Pena, president United Way of Spokane County

Downtown must be vibrant place

As a concerned citizen, taxpayer and voter I wholeheartedly support the endeavors of the Cowles family and their associates to revitalize the downtown core of Spokane.

A large factor in my decision to relocate here in 1978 was the viable and dynamic downtown, with its unique skywalk system. My wife, daughter and I shop almost exclusively downtown. If it weren’t for Nordstrom and The Bon Marche we would be shopping almost exclusively by mail order, thus depriving Spokane merchants of business and the city of tax revenue.

I’m fed up with Steve Eugster’s continuing efforts to block, through the use of frivolous and costly lawsuits, every forward-looking project that’s ever been proposed in this city. i.e. the Lincoln Street Bridge and the Spokane Transit Center. If Eugster were to have his way we’d be living in log cabins and cooking over wood fires.

It seems obvious why the Sabey Corp. would want to block any efforts to improve the central core. After all, Sabey was responsible for gutting it in the first place with the movement of J.C. Penney to NorthTown and the bankruptcy, whether intentional or not, of Frederick and Nelson. We taxpayers have funded the widening and improvement of the streets surrounding his NorthTown Mall. What Sabey is saying in pilot lingo is “pull up the ladder, I’m on board.”

Let’s keep Spokane vibrant. Keep Bloomsday, Hoopfest, Pig out in the Park and all the other community-oriented events that make this a great place to live. To do otherwise would be irresponsible. J.J. Schifferns Spokane

Reactions to incident ridiculous

Re: the Oct. 26 story, “County manager’s suspension isn’t his first,” by staff writer Dan Hansen.

I worked under Jim Cotter at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds. A fairer, more straightforward boss I have not found. If this town had more like him, with authority, things would run a lot more smoothly.

This whole eavesdropping situation is ridiculous. The conversation mentioned was behind closed doors. Also, this is an environment that sees few, if any, women except in the front office.

Given these circumstances, it wouldn’t have seemed necessarily appropriate for Cotter to have reprimanded someone with risk manager Claude Cox’s status for his choice of words in private conversation.

In addition, I am critical of The Spokesman-Review for headlining such a travesty. Mike Hart Spokane

She was speaking for herself

In regard to my letter of Nov. 2 titled “Don’t fear charter schools,” I wish to clarify that the only intent in using my title as chairwoman of District 81’s Citizens’ Advisory Committee was to verify the depth of my commitment and involvement in my children’s education and District 81. In no way was I speaking on behalf of the committee. For any misunderstanding this may have brought I offer my sincere apology. Nancy L. McLaughlin Spokane

POLITICS

Give us facts not endorsements

How would you like to have the power and influence to affect the lives of hundreds of thousands or even millions of people? Now, how about not having to be responsible or even accountable for the results of your exercising that awesome power? That’s exactly what this paper and thousands like it do on a daily basis, but never with more impact than during an election.

We are bombarded constantly with one reporter’s opinion or another’s in an attempt to sway our vote to their way of thinking. With a self-righteousness that would humble the most fervent religions, editorial writers around the country gather in little groups to determine who they will “endorse” as their choice to be elected for office. Most candidates seek this endorsement only because they are aware of its influence on voters, not for its validity. As history has shown, the media have convinced voters to elect many officials who have turned out to be not only incompetent but an embarrassment, and sometimes even criminal.

I propose that this practice be stopped. Instead of using persuasion, stay with a practice of being accurate, objective and informative. Maybe then we might see an increase in voters going to the polls instead of apathy and indifference created in part by the unsolicited opinions of the media that too often have a disastrous effect on the public’s true needs.

This great country’s people deserve to be treated with respect from a responsible media, not led like sheep to their own slaughter. David Bray Spokane

Opinions enrich our lives

When I first viewed Milt Priggee’s depiction of Helen Chenoweth and religious hatred, I figured well, this will likely prompt many invitations to church to disprove the hatred theory. Contrarily, all I’ve seen is spears of hatred.

I feel that Priggee illustrated his point that religious zealots are notorious for condemning and dividing society with a poisonous venom. It is good that there are moderates around that can actually bring people together in a spirit of love and care for one another.

And good as well, that there are Priggees around to force us to look at ourselves, sometimes to laugh at ourselves and sometimes even cry.

Sometimes, words alone can’t draw the picture. Occasionally we can’t help but see ourselves in a picture. Pictures can provide concise evidence that either convicts us or a tool to better understand each other.

And what of you people who want to express your view and cancel your subscriptions? Next month there may be a more provacative issue and you may have a more passionate desire to express your opinion.

I will cancel my subscription when I can no longer have the opportunity to express my ideas and enjoy the diverse opinions of others. That way we can get a clearer picture of ourselves and the direction we are pursuing and the cooperation to get there. Allan LeTourneau Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Reading goal is absurd

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at the dreadfully short-sighted goal of the current administration to get children to read by the third grade. All of our four children were reading prior to entering kindergarten. We helped them to discover the joy of reading using the timetested, logical system known as phonics (which really does work in spite of the absurd spelling irregularities of English), and had many fun-filled moments using various improvised sound and letter games. We did not need to use a computer, commercial audio-visual package or an outside tutor.

All of our children are doing well in school, and today I was helping the youngest, who is almost 6, as he worked on a criss-cross puzzle of the 50 states.

Am I just naive? I’ve always believed that this is what parents are supposed to do - to teach their children and give them guidance in the basics of life, not to pass this responsibility on to the school system. Since my wife and I did this while only having a high school education, surely there are other parents who can do the same thing, and maybe better. Tom A. Garrett Spokane

Put the blame where it belongs

To the families of Stephen Novak and Christopher OstHomstad:

I read that you have filed suit against the Forest Service because of the hazards posed by the dilapidated mine your sons entered in June 1995 (“Families file $1.5 million claims in mine deaths,” Oct. 30).

Stephen, 28, and Christopher, 22, were taking a risk when they entered the abandoned mine. They were old enough to know the risks they were taking.

Please think about what you are doing. You have filed suit against your friends and neighbors. Go down to your local school. You have filed suit against the children on the playground.

Who is really at fault in the death of your sons? Who took the risk? Do you really think those children on the playground should pay for your sons’ mistake? James A. Taylor Metaline Falls, Wash.