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

Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

We must all pull together

With 20 years experience in the early childhood field and 22 years experience as a parent, I am responding to recent letters regarding parents abdicating responsibility.

Yes, there are poor-quality child care homes and centers, just as there are poor-quality doctors, lawyers, garbage collectors, postal workers, etc. The Office of Child Care Policy has a team of dedicated licensers - people who each carry a large caseload of licensed facilities. OCCP needs more money and staff to monitor child care centers more often.

Dixie Lee Laehn (Letters, July 1), how long did you work at the center? If it was longer than a week, you already compromised your values. Did you report that center? If so, kudos to you.

Many parents are doing the best they can under highly stressful circumstances. Forty-five percent of Spokane retail and service workers’ wages average less $14,000 per year, with some parents working two or more jobs. They’re in trying-to-survive mode. Each family should be viewed individually.

Let’s carry responsibility a step further. Government subsidies include tax breaks for business, loopholes for the wealthy, Medicare and Medicaid for our elderly. Should they be stopped? Over the past year, I have had the privilege of working with a variety of people in Spokane who care a great deal for their “village.” From the Health Improvement Partnership group to Spokane businesses, many people realize that in order to have a majority of productive community citizens, we all need to care for each other. Barbara J. Giachetti Spokane

Fireworks are business - bad business

Like Jon E. Christopherson said in his letter response to editor Chris Peck’s column on fireworks (July 6), I had to read it twice because I thought it was a joke.

I challenge Peck to speak with personnel of fire departments, hospital emergency departments and people who work in animals shelters. Also people who have lost property.

I also suggest Peck check in the archives of his own newspaper. A few years ago, after one of our worst July Fourths ever, on the front page were statements like, “the whole city sounded like a war zone” and “the heavy smell of firecrackers hung over the city.” A man in Peaceful Valley shot another man in frustration over the noise.

I also think it is arrogant of Peck to think he can speak for the Native Americans and the thousands who flocked to Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and elsewhere. Many people plan camping, swimming, picnics, biking, etc., for their families and find the public displays a great way to end the day.

Many children don’t even know the real meaning of the Fourth of July. There’s more to it than handing your children fireworks - possibly having them help you hang the flag.

I don’t think any of us are fooled. Fireworks are a big business, filling many pockets. The “good old days” are gone. As we become more overpopulated, we will lose a lot more than our “right to fireworks.”

Yes, Peck, you may win, with lobbyists and big money involved. But all of us will lose our quality of life. Frances M. Norton Spokane

ROAD WAYS

Car driver’s attitude tells the tale

I found Mike D. McMorris’ letter, “Bicyclists don’t belong on car roads” (July 30), informative. It gave me some insight into the minds of hasty, rude, inconsiderate and intolerant auto drivers.

It was revealing that he failed to acknowledge cyclists have a legal right to be on the “car” roads. Does he operate a “4,000-pound automobile” with the same oblivious attitude?

In a free society, we must have rules to ensure that people’s behavior doesn’t restrict others’ right to act in a likewise free manner. If everyone truly were free to do whatever they want, no one would have the freedom to simply live.

I can guarantee that far more auto drivers don’t follow the rules of the road. How many auto drivers fail to recognize the legal rights of cyclists, exceed the speed limit and fail to signal for turns or even lane changes? Anytime there’s an auto-bicycle collision, the consequences are far more harsh for the cyclist.

Cyclists don’t cause the most damage to others or our roadways.

The right to share in the use of our roads is among the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of all Americans. It’s that simple. N.G. Hannon Spokane

We can share roads safely, civilly

Contrary to Mike McMorris’ opinion (Letters, July 30), bicycles do belong on the road. If more people would ride bicycles there would be less pollution, congestion and difficulty. There would be better, healthier people.

Narrow, automobile-based thinking has been detrimental to commuting. Spokane could be a wonderful bicycle commuting city because of its close proximity of outlying housing. People should just take advantage of commuting more often by bicycle.

I urge McMorris and others to share the road. Please be aware of bicyclists around you. Do not get into confrontations with bicyclists. Likewise, bicyclists should not confront cars. There is a way to work it out.

When a car needs to go around a cyclist, the driver should maintain speed and move slightly over to the left. Pass the bicycle slowly and safely, and never honk. Doing that just scares the cyclist and causes distraction.

If you see a cyclist disobeying the law, encourage the person by nicely correcting them and letting them know that, like motorists, they need to share the road in a safe manner. Robert A. Fairfax Spokane

Law recognizes cyclists’ rights, too

Re: Mike D. McMorris’ letter and its headline, “Bicyclists don’t belong on car roads.”

First, he’s wrong in his assertion that bicyclists do not belong on the same pathways as automobiles. According to state law, bicycles are considered vehicles with the same rights and responsibilities as motorized vehicles.

Cyclists are subject to the same moving violation penalties as motor vehicle drivers, including for infractions involving traffic flow, traffic lights or signs, speeding, or riding under the influence of alcohol. Officers should implement the law equally. Cyclists who violate the law with impunity jeopardize the right to the road of responsible cyclists.

Second, transportation planners have conducted bicycle safety studies only to find that for transportaion purposes, cyclists are safer on corridors shared with motor vehicles rather than separate pathways. Cyclists who follow the rules of the road are at no greater risk of having an accident than motorists who follow the rules of the road.

Cyclists do bear a greater risk of death or critical injury in an auto-bicycle accident than do motorists. As cyclists, we recognize this risk and bear it as we maintain our right to ride. Sharon L. Sorby Newport, Wash.

Whole system needs diversification

Thankfully, this is not Southeast Asia. We have the freedom to choose to ride our bicycles, whether for transportation, pleasure, aesthetics, health, economic, or access reasons.

Over the last 50 years, we have planned our transportation system to move the automobile from one point to another in the most efficient manner. This transportation system development has been detrimental to other modes of transportation.

We are facing the opportunity to develop our future while redeveloping our current transportation system to meet broader needs than just those of automobiles. After all, would we prefer a system that served our human need for transportation, or do we want to continue just serving the needs of our cars? Guy E. Larson Newport, Wash.

PEOPLE TO PEOPLE

Program hosts French teenagers

We enjoyed former president Jimmy Carter’s recent travel section about article about home stays abroad.

Spokane families may not realize there’s an excellent local program which provides an opportunity to learn about France by hosting a French teen for a month, either July or August.

LEC - Loisirs Culturels a’ l’Etranger has provided quality home stays in the Northwest for six summers. Once new friendships are made through hosting, many local teens have visited France the following year.

Hosting a foreign student provides many opportunities - increased awareness of our global village, enhanced language ability, an appreciation of cultural differences and, for some, the confidence to venture abroad. Sharing daily life and showing a European our local attractions develops a true appreciation for our Northwest lifestyle.

We hope The Spokesman-Review might highlight local international programs from time to time. Look for LEC on Spokane’s community computer bulletin board: http:/ /www.tincan.org/lec. Mary Benham, coordinator Loisirs Culturels a’ l’Etranger (LEC), Spokane