Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Students’ sleepout a good experience

Ferris Associated Student Body officers slept outside on Nov. 24-25 to collect food, blankets, clothing and money for the homeless.

The students became aware of the need in the Spokane area for various items that the homeless might not have. The officers also became aware of this community’s support, apparent by the turnout of the community and items that were donated.

This event helped the students understand the importance of helping the Spokane community not only during certain times of the year but that every day there are people who need help.

The students also helped a homeless man by providing food and support during his time of need. This was a great learning experience for the students. This experience also helped the students understand that in order to be a successful member of their community, they must contribute back to it in some form of community service.

This event has occurred for the last three years. This year, Spokane police officers came by, talked to and encouraged the students, and told us about their work. They were great.

Spokane media made an excellent effort to cover the sleepout and help us get the support we needed, which was also appreciated. Jim T. Missel Spokane

Bike lane on Addison not safe

I have lived one house away from Addison Street for 18 years and didn’t know anything about the bike path until it suddenly appeared one day while I was at work.

My first reaction to the bike lane was, whose asinine idea was this? As I continued to drive south, in the middle of the road, I thought about how dangerous this bike path would be for a biker. The bike path is painted between a full-width parking strip and the traffic lane. When I turn down a side street, I’m cutting off the bike path, which seems to be almost in the middle of the road.

A biker is not safe with that design - or any design - on Addison. The traffic flow has become too heavy through the years, and Addison is now an extremely busy street. I have witnessed the obliteration of animals due to the volume and speed of traffic; I don’t want a biker to meet the same fate.

I agree with Terry Waldron, who was recently quoted with his concern of “mixing bicycles and cars on an extremely busy street.” I totally disagree with Sandy Smith, chairman of the project, who said, “The bike lane could have a traffic-calming effect, slowing cars on the busy street.”

As I write this letter, I can hear the cars racing by. I seriously doubt any driver will slow down because a bike lane is painted on the street. Ann Braeman Spokane

Buckle down, Talbott, or else

Mayor-elect John Talbott’s got his work cut out for him. Nov. 29 headlines told us of yet another reaming of working citizens by our city government.

Spokane City Manager Bill Pupo is asking our esteemed City Council for raises for 18 city managers, deputies and secretaries. These approved raises will give our eight managers an average salary of $43.51 per hour; our six deputies and assistants $41.06 per hour and two secretaries $18.60 per hour.

With these raises, our underpaid managers will finally be able to pay the landlord on time, buy a good pair of shoes for the children, buy a used car and perhaps go out for a pizza once in a while. Thank God! I was worried that they wouldn’t have the transportation to pick up that free turkey at Christmas.

It’s a good thing our streets were repaired first, that we beefed up our police and fire departments and that we were able to drop our property taxes before these overworked, downtrodden saviors were given their pittance.

The deal is done and we’re just finding out about it. It reminds me of the way all things are done in this town. We citizens are constantly being rocked back on our heels. Projects are debated, decided upon and sometimes funded without our approval during meetings purposely scheduled at inconvenient times. There’s a common thread running through all of these decisions. The victims are always us taxpaying citizens. Your task, Talbott, is to fix these broken wheels or we will get rid of you, too. Michael G. Wiman Spokane

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Fix phone system, then get increase

I certainly agree that US West should not receive a dime of new money unless it’s to be used to improve service and performance. Among Internet users, Spokane has one of the worst reputations because of outdated, poor quality lines and equipment that make it almost impossible to communicate at rates faster than 1.5 kilobytes/second.

I suggest that if US West really wants a rate increase, we should guarantee it gets one after demonstrating a commitment to moving into the 21st century by replacing all the old lines and equipment. Richard E. Grant Spokane

USFS layoff a cushy way to go

Re: The recent article on layoffs at the Panhandle and other national forests.

It’s a little difficult to feel very sorry for those losing their jobs. Most are getting a buyout offer of $20,000 to leave their jobs and some get to take early retirement with a drop in pay of only $1.45 per hour. How many loggers and related trades can expect the same treatment? How many wood products companies can offer the same incentives?

The U.S. Forest Service won’t see any immediate savings due to the cost of bonuses and so forth. How many companies do you know that can defer savings when already out money? The Forest Service says it can’t sell what little timber it is offering. Given the restrictions on harvest timber, no wonder. Mike Grattan Blanchard, Idaho

HIGHER EDUCATION

Merging universities ‘a bad idea’

Combining Washington State University and Eastern Washington University is a bad idea.

EWU provides a quality four-year college program at modest cost. EWU welcomes all qualified students, including those of low income and students with disabilities. EWU is an asset to the community. This asset would be ruined by a takeover by the much larger, more expensive WSU.

EWU has a shortfall of students. This is due to a poor local economy. People who have mediocre-paying jobs cannot afford to send their children to college. Some cobble together a college education with loans and grants. Others just forget about college or leave the area.

Better-paying local jobs will help increase EWU enrollment. A WSU takeover won’t help anything. Greg J. Works Spokane

Keep accessible, affordable EWU

Eastern Washington and Washington State are both fine universities. When I graduated from high school, my higher education choices were limited by my financial resources. This limitation dictated full-time, or nearly full-time, employment along with a full course of studies.

Eastern Washington State College offered a campus close enough to Spokane to find a flexible job, close enough to home to commute, saving the cost of on-campus life, and for a lower tuition than the state universities. Eastern helped me realize a dream that would have been otherwise difficult, if not impossible, to achieve.

Eastern also provided me with a quality education that has allowed me to be successful. That success will allow my children greater choice in higher education, but I would be very proud if they chose EWU.

I am concerned for upcoming students who have few economic options. The takeover of EWU by WSU could eliminate the only choice available to thousands of lowincome students.

Making WSU larger will not be nearly as effective in providing quality higher education on the East Side as competition between two strong schools. We should not mortgage the future of East Side students by eliminating this traditional choice. Dave Koch Valleyford

‘TIS THE SEASON

Remember your paper carrier

They’re up long before dawn every day. In winter’s bitter cold darkness they head off to your home to get your newspaper to your door. Driving on roads often deep in snow and dangerously slippery. Their reward for this is very little.

You get this service for free, whereas people in many cities don’t. Are you grateful for this dedicated service? Do you show your appreciation every year by giving your delivery person a generous Christmas check? It would mean much, this little bit of financial help. More than anything, it will show you care and are grateful. Audrey Sydell Spokane