Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Symphony deserves double funding

What a disgusting statement Dan Hansen’s March 7 article makes about Spokane’s attitude toward culture (“County won’t give $17,000 to Symphony”).

Like it or not, the commissioners theoretically represent Spokane. I hope that attitude is the county commissioners’ and doesn’t reflect the county’s attitude as a whole.

We’ll finance marketing the area’s golf courses, whose rates are well known to be extremely low, and market the fairgrounds, which everyone knows is the “in” place for culture. I’m not critical of either, as I occasionally golf and certainly attend activities at the fairgrounds.

Spokane needs more cultural activities, not fewer. Do we want the Symphony to disappear? We need to stand up, applaud, encourage and assist in the financial aspects as necessary. The Symphony brings dollars to the cash registers of local restaurants, motels and hotels, shops and other businesses.

We shouldn’t give the Symphony $17,000. We should give it $34,000! Joseph Reger Spokane

Survey aimed in wrong direction

Staff writer Anne Windishar is correct in her editorial when she points out, “Problems aren’t solved in a vacuum,” (Our view, Feb. 24).

Any real solution to the teen pregnancy problem won’t be realized or even helped by an eight-page, $10,000 sex survey sent to 5,000 Spokane County homes.

It’s argued that with this newfound knowledge, education programs will be tailored to fit Spokane’s needs. What do you imagine we could learn from these 5,000 households, that could help reduce the teen pregnancy rate?

We need to gather knowledge and information from people in organizations working with these troubled teens. Armed with real information, not just opinions and bogus biases, we may be able to do something. Dick McInerney Spokane

Fiscal policy discourages thrift

Across-the-board budget cuts often cost taxpayers more in the long run.

Departments will make sure they have spent all their funds for fear of future budget cuts. A department that saves money will have its budget surplus raided to be spent elsewhere. Some reward.

There is a better system. Unit supervisors should decide how to save money, with any excess funds forwarded yearly to their next budget, without fear of cuts or surplus raiding. After one year, a percentage of surplus funds can be returned to the general fund by the unit’s supervisor. Merit awards can recognize the efficient, yet effective, unit supervisor and division managers.

I am sure we have the accounting expertise in this community to effectively change our inefficient spending habits. All we need is a plan, then action with commitment. Craig Coppock Spokane

Don’t make Tacoma’s mistake

When the downtown core area comes alive, everyone benefits. Spokane is the capital of the Inland Northwest and we must do all we can to keep it that way. Our downtown is important to all of us.

We need to understand that Seattle and Portland have revitalized downtown areas, and the results are stunning. It was not done in Tacoma and that city will live with the results of its mistake forever.

Fear not for the future of malls such as NorthTown. They will flourish in concert with a revitalized downtown, Dave Sabey’s comments notwithstanding. Spokane’s future is bright and promising. In order to ensure that future, we need to project a positive image. Nurturing our downtown area will go a long way toward ensuring that future. Maurey Hickey Spokane

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Police not there to be abused

Front page news: Man sues police for assault. What nonsense.

I am a taxpayer who does not expect to pay people to die, be abused or get assaulted for me. Anyone, at any time, who abuses, assaults or attempts to kill a police officer - a person I pay to keep the peace - must expect the situation to be dealt with quickly, effectively and, if need be, painfully.

The “bad guys” have got to understand that these people are my representatives and I don’t think their role should be one of sitting duck.

As for your printing that one of the officers was seen smacking his fist with his hand, I hope the whole video can be televised and an understanding of the situation will develop from it.

Lastly, I won’t be visiting the establishment involved. Any business that needs help, gets help and then is involved in demeaning the help received must understand that the next time they need help, things might be handled differently. I understand this and would not feel safe in such an establishment. Steve Shafer Mead

LAW AND JUSTICE

Study strikes out

The study on the “three strikes” law misses the point (Spokesman-Review, March 7). The study says there is no evidence the law reduces crime at all.

But, if the person who is sentenced for a third violent crime is in jail, he doesn’t murder or violently abuse anyone again, does he? Beverly Gregor Curlew, Wash.

We have a sieve that leaks death

How many more of our friends and family members will die at the hands of predators before we change a criminal justice system that doesn’t work?

In California, an animal who raped and mutilated a 15-year-old girl is set free to go to Florida to do it again. This time, he killed his victim. In Spokane, a woman is raped by an animal who was sent to prison for life for raping a woman and then dousing her with gasoline and setting her on fire. Does it make any sense to anyone this animal was let out of prison after 10 years for good behavior?

In Atlanta 10 years ago, my friend, Julie Love, a beautiful, petite brunette, ran out of gas one night. As she walked to a telephone, she was abducted at gunpoint by a convicted felon out on parole who was “looking for a white girl to kill.” Over the course of several hours, he robbed her using her ATM card, raped her, sodomized her and, when he was finished using her body, he blew her head off with a sawed-off shotgun. (By the way, he did not go to the local gun store to buy the shotgun.)

How many more of our wives, girlfriends, mothers and daughters must die so viciously before we change a system that does not work? Michael Grimes Spokane

Brand sex offenders

Thanks to Anne Windishar for the editorial, “Police can’t be censors for city.” It addressed the issue of whether residents should know the exact whereabouts of sexual predators who are likely to reoffend.

The word “reoffend” is a euphemism in this instance for the emotional destruction of a person’s life at a very early age. It is reprehensible and should be completely unacceptable to allow these sexual perverts to live among us after one offense. Our law for these people should be one strike and you’re out. But out of what? The cost of incarceration is too much.

Instead, I suggest we look at some of the early laws protecting the citizenry in this country and create a low-cost, workable solution that would immediately warn everyone of this person’s presence.

Upon the first offense, a sexual predator would be branded on the forehead with the letters “SO” for sexual offender. Some might say this is cruel. I say it is merely justice. Let the punishment fit the crime. Bob Wheeler Chattaroy

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Cut welfare, you boost crime

In response to all of the publicity about welfare reform:

While it’s probably true that billions will be saved, have any of the powers that be stopped to consider that the crime rate will soar as never before? Obviously not.

Our jails and prisons are vastly overcrowded as it is. What do you suppose will happen when families are put on the streets with nothing?

As a parent, I can say I would consider resorting to any means available before letting my family suffer. Carl R. Caler Spokane

Do away with political parties

I’m just appalled with our politicians, from the White House to Congress down to state and city representatives.

Democrats say Republicans are doing this. Republicans say the Democrats are doing that. I am sick and tired of seeing these people waste taxpayer dollars to investigate and demean each other. I don’t give a damn who had coffee at the White House or where so-and-so got the money to run for office. My concern is the country’s problems and benefits we face as taxpayers.

As taxpayers, we should vote to abolish all political parties. The people in these parties vote on legislation the way their party votes. They show no concern for what’s best for our country or for the people who voted for them.

If you’re a Republican, you vote with the other Republican senators and congressmen or else, and vice versa. Well, this is hogwash.

To politicians, I say get busy with what you promised to do or get packing because I’m not going to sign your check on election day. Henry Howe Spokane

Democrat gets light treatment

Ah, the dilemma of being a liberal journalist covering the Democratic fund-raising scandal. This is too big of a story to ignore but they just don’t seem to have the stomach to go for the exposed jugular of this administration.

Sandy Grady takes a half-hearted stab in his Friday column, comparing Clinton to Nixon in some respects. Yet he dutifully reminds us that Clinton has a better personality, is far better looking and this is no Watergate. He speculates on whether the Chinese arms merchants, etc., who visited the White House bought a mere handshake or something more sinister.

David Broder thinks the most important question to be answered is what “access” means to Clinton and other politicians. He concludes campaign finance reform is urgently needed. He chides Clinton for blame-shifting.

What a bunch of mealy-mouthed mush.

The point is, when evidence of possible espionage surfaces, when convicted drug dealers pose for pictures with the first family, it is already sinister. The question is, has the administration broken existing laws? Has our national security been compromised? Why do I suspect the press would be a bit more to the point if Bill Clinton were a Republican? John Johanson Coulee City, Wash.

Why feed North Koreans? Is the Clinton administration confused about who our friends are, or is the president taking part in some kind of an international conspiracy against the United States? Is North Korea really a friend? If it’s a good enough friend to spend millions on for food aid, why must we also spend millions keeping troops and equipment guarding the 38th parallel? Bruce Chandler Newport, Wash.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Don’t play games with trains

This past week, with two train-car accidents in the Rathdrum community, wouldn’t you think folks around here would be more aware of the dangers involved when approaching a railroad crossing? Apparently they’re not.

We were traveling on Highway 54 through Athol, Idaho, Saturday afternoon. As we approached the railroad crossing, lights were flashing and the safety arms were down when, suddenly, an approaching vehicle veered around the barrier, crossed the tracks and veered around the second barrier. We looked on in disbelief as the driver, with his family on board, risked his life and theirs.

Then, a teenage girl whizzed through the same barriers on her bicycle just seconds before the train came through.

Anger wells up in me at the senseless actions of these people. Their lives could have ended there, right in front of us. But their families - the mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters - would’ve had to relive their tragic, senseless deaths over and over.

Please, don’t play this deadly game. Your life is too important to too many people. As a mother, a sister, a grandmother, an aunt and a friend, I beg you: Please don’t play this deadly game. Mrs. Ray Mueller Priest River, Idaho

OTHER TOPICS

Animal deaths can serve good purpose

In regards to Fred Glienna’s polemic of March 9 (Street Level), “Rover and Tabby deserve better than a laboratory demise,” he is a man without a clue. The basis of his argument seems to be that it’s better for the animals to be put to sleep and thrown away at the shelters than put to sleep and thrown away at the university.

I ask him, why? When those animals can be put to good use by good students in Pullman, isn’t the greater moral wrong to waste them at the animal shelter? Using those animals at Washington State University, who can know how many Rovers and Tabbys will be saved later on because students received vital, hands-on training early in their careers?

Glienna says we would be selling off a little of our humanity to use the animals for research. In fact, humanity would only be improved. Ryan Grant Cheney

Animals not protected well enough

What has happened to the new animal rights law? Why isn’t it being enforced? Many of us fought hard, gathering petitions, making phone calls, writing letters to Olympia so this law would take effect and be enforced statewide.

Those who wrote in to the Feb. 27 Roundtable stated it well. They get my sincere thanks for coming forward. I’m sure others share my sentiments.

We must do more by putting some pressure on, enforcing the law, enlightening the public and getting involved. Mary Cosentini Spokane

Young musicians deserve coverage

While hundreds of Washington state youths participated in the Class B basketball tournaments in Spokane, thousands of Eastern Washington youths participated in two music competitions: the piano auditions, with over 500 participants, and the Eastern Washington solo and ensemble competitions, with over 1,500 teens from the greater Spokane area participating.

Unfortunately, not a word was written in your paper about the budding musicians.

While I think it is important to recognize our young athletes, it is equally important to recognize the musicians. Organizers of the two musical events have tried unsuccessfully in the past to get your paper to cover the event.

Talented youths, no matter whether they are athletes, artists, actors or musicians, should be given equal coverage in the newspaper. Dina Tanners Spokane

Wrong to inflict waste on tribe

I was glad to see your coverage of how Bishop William Skylstad and the City Council are addressing racism in Spokane. But I still don’t see enough coverage of the proposed nuclear waste dump north of Spokane, which is adjacent to tribal land. This prime example of environmental racism must be exposed and stopped.

Dawn Mining, mostly owned by Newmont Mining, one of the richest mining companies in the world, hopes to make money from importing very large volumes of out-of-state radioactive waste to a site just north of Spokane - a site already leaking radioactive waste into Spokane Tribe land and water. What better way to sneak it by the public than to locate it next to an Indian reservation, where outcry can be squelched from the general public?

But this is not the only issue with Dawn’s corporate scam. For one thing, I thought Washington state had a policy limiting the important of radioactive waste. Also, the state wants to use our tax dollars to make the necessary road upgrades into the site. Dawn plans to ship 9,800 truck loads of waste through Spokane and past two school districts each year. You think we have a bad pothole problem now.

No type of racism should be tolerated in Spokane, especially not environmental racism. Lupito Flores Spokane