Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Traffic won’t bear another Wal-Mart

We live on the far North Side of Spokane, in one of the three residential areas surrounding the proposed rezone for Wal-Mart on Highway 2. We are strongly in opposition to this large-scale, 40-acre development, since it is predicted to have the same amount of traffic generated as another NorthTown.

We have plenty of big-box retailers to service all of the North Side right now, especially with the coming addition of Fred Meyer and Home Depot stores.

We’re not opposed to Wal-Mart, just the horrendous amount of traffic, noise, and air pollution that the store will bring. Where this kind of development is successful (considering the residential impacts), is in cities like Denver. There, they have a well-designed peripheral circular highway system that transports the populace from home to work or vice-versa, without those people having to drive right down the center of the town, through seriously congested areas, as is the situation in Spokane.

Why must we continually rezone our available residential property? There is plenty of zoned B-3 commercial property available on the far North Side, just East across Highway 2, or off of Nevada. The Highway 2-Highway 395 Y area can no longer support any more big developments.

The Spokane County Planning Department should have requested an environmental impact study on the traffic, noise, pollution and other environmental aspects of this project before even allowing it to go to a public hearing. Lee and Kathy Spencer Spokane

Give Wal-Mart a big thumbs down

Location, location, and location are the three most important things in real estate, I’m told. When I bought a home with a view across a rolling field in north Spokane, I never expected that the location could change, but that’s exactly what might happen if Wal-Mart is allowed to develop there.

My home is yards away from the parcel of land where Wal-Mart wants to build its second Spokane store. If this project is approved, my property and that of my neighbors will be bombarded 24 hours a day by lights, noise, odors and traffic.

My house has been on the market for more than six months. It’s a great house in a great neighborhood, everyone agrees. But no one wants to take the risk that Wal-Mart will be their neighbor. Who can blame them?

I loved the peaceful setting when I bought the house and felt assured it would remain that way because the land in question is zoned residential. Just the threat of this development has reduced the value of my property and made it thus far impossible to sell.

The issue here is the responsibility of local government to protect property values by maintaining consistent zoning policies. We all have the right to expect zoning to actually mean something. This property was previously considered inappropriate for a movie theater, and it’s still inappropriate for commercial development.

Wal-Mart should buy land that’s already zoned for commercial development. The Spokane County Planning Department, the hearing officer and county commissioners should refuse Wal-Mart’s zoning change request for this property. Linda K. Cunning Spokane

Downtown is for buses, not shoppers

Before and during the holidays, all you hear is “shop downtown.” OK, I thought, I will try it.

I headed downtown, taking the Division Street exit, to Sprague Avenue and then west. This was my first mistake.

I got to the STA terminal going west and six buses were blocking the street. Do you think one of them would move? Hell, no. After 10 minutes, I got by.

Then, I made a second mistake by going around the block. Wow - there were about seven buses blocking the street going east. After another 10 minutes I got by.

Then, I looked for some place to park. No way.

After about an hour downtown, never getting out of my car, I left for the Valley. Away from the traffic, no meters to feed.

I know there are people downtown who want to survive, but if they are counting on me to help, downtown Spokane can dry up and die. Mike Thomson Spokane

Suffer bad roads; People have spoken

In your Dec. 28 editorial, you made the point that we need a gas tax to help Spokane pay for its street problem. The people of Spokane have spoken loud and clear. They do not want a tax.

The state has a surplus, yet it wants to refund or reduce taxes.

The problem is not more taxes, the problem is spending. We have to learn to spend more wisely and to live within our income. You should write some editorials about how each one of us has to be responsible for the things we do. Lloyd Schmid Moses Lake

Christmas spirit put into action

Hats off to the mall management of University City Shopping center and the local stores there.

We all know that the traditional colors of Christmas are usually red and green. It feels good to know that they set aside the green that goes into their pockets and thought about the red of their hearts. They opened the mall doors and the warmth of space to the thousands of children and families who were in need at this time of year. Through the assistance of The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund, the money was made available for these families.

It is indeed heartwarming to know of all the volunteers who gave of their time to serve these people, and the ever so many people who donated money.

It all comes together when everyone shares the real meaning of the Christmas season. Let’s hope it continues daily in all of our lives. Lev and Bob Flemming Spokane

WASHINGTON STATE

West is making sense, has more to do

Most people in politics avoid controversial issues, particularly when they include boards that oppose your ideas. But this doesn’t include Sen. Jim West.

West recently suggested an Eastern Washington University merger with Washington State University. Dave Clack thinks the University of Washington should be considered also.

Spokane needs and is entitled to the finest quality higher education available. These are both outstanding schools which also happen to have more research grant money available than all the other institutions in the state combined. The decision should be determined by what’s best for the students, taxpayers and the community. If it is, it will obviously be best for the faculty and staff (re: higher education, ideas that are out of date, turf wars and tenure - no one should be guaranteed a job for life).

Next, West shamed Spokane Transit Authority into a token contribution for local road work. This agency, which gave the word “extravagance” new meaning, has a surplus greater than last year’s rejected road repair bond issue. Obviously, the big buses contribute to the problems. We should commission the sheriff to visit Allen Schweim’s office to get our money back.

While we struggle with our finances, the state has the largest surplus in history and our governor is proposing an 11 cent gas tax. It’s like living in the Twilight Zone.

One additional job for West and his peers: redistribute all taxes and fees so that counties and cities receive a larger share, so we can have greater local control over our money. Too much of our hard-earned income still disappears into that black hole called Olympia. Dave Hamer Spokane

Don’t let child care needs go unmet

I still recall, as a young working parent in 1958, the fear of losing my job, which I needed desperately, because I couldn’t rely on dependable care for my children. It was a constant worry.

Forty years later, it’s obvious that working parents face exactly the same problems with child care. Our country has made tremendous advances in technology in the past 40 years, but we’ve certainly made no significant inroads into statewide community plans for providing child care services necessary to keep our children safe.

Sen. Lisa Brown’s article, “Solution to child care crisis isn’t doing the job” (Dec. 29) points out a welfare reform Catch-22 situation: What do parents who are able to get off welfare and find a job do with their children?

Lack of dependable, affordable child care services affects all working parents. How can child care providers keep their doors open? It’s a major community concern when the Salvation Army and YWCA close their child care centers due to a lack of funding support.

Gov. Gary Locke and the state Legislature must be reminded of the severity of the problem. They should be encouraged to provide employers who assist employees with child care needs with tax credits.

Taxpayer money used to fund community child care groups, after-school care programs, evening and weekend care services, and to support care providers with appropriate subsidies, is an investment in our future - our children. Contact Locke and state legislators to call attention to child care needs in our communities. We owe it to our children. Joan M. Foster, R.N. Newport, Wash.

WAR ON DRUGS

Another costly, destructive waste

I, too, have a light in my window that will burn until the drug war ends.

My children missed their father’s presence this Christmas. It has been a year since he was sent to federal prison 2,000 miles from home and we miss him every moment. We have eight long years of separation left.

As in other wars, there are children falling casualty to this one. The Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents estimates that, on any given day more, than 1.5 million children in our country have a parent in jail or prison.

Susan Phillips, the center’s director, contends, “If that many children were touched by any other war, the evening news would show their pictures and humanitarian relief efforts would be under way.”

But this is the drug war, described as “unwinnable” by many public officials, as a “colossal failure” by Ann Landers and “waste and nonsense” by senior federal Judge John H. Kane. And yet, it rages on.

Industry and corporate profits fuel this war, just as they have every other war. We have rising numbers of jobs connected with law enforcement, prison industries, drug testing, prison construction, jailers and guards, to name but a few. Even the DARE program has become a multi-million dollar enterprise.

Meanwhile, my husband will serve a longer prison term than a rapist or murderer. Our children are denied a father. It is time to end the drug war and bring peace to America. Consuelo F. Doherty Kettle Falls, Wash.

Let’s get past hysteria, pandering

Michael Wiman (Letters, Dec. 26), yes, I do remember the “just say no to drugs” campaign of the Reagan years. These were the same years that ushered in a rash of minimum sentencing and sentencing guidelines so barbaric and unjust that today, 87 percent of our federal judiciary is opposed to them.

Clearly, the vast majority of these disillusioned judges were appointed by Republican presidents.

As to blaming Clinton for a failed drug war, no single politician bears the entire blame. Drug war hysteria has been a convenient tool for our presidents, our Congress and state lawmakers as well. War rhetoric and escalation passes freely across partisan lines. Why? Appearing tough on crime gets votes.

Drug addiction has remained a constant in 5 percent of our population since the drug war began.

Drug enforcement dollars have not been “slashed.” On the contrary, drug war spending has increased exponentially each year since “war” was declared over 30 years ago. Last year, direct costs were $15.2 billion while indirect costs are no longer calculable. Clinton is increasing spending for 1998.

These are the facts. What are we getting for our money besides destruction?

Solutions could be found in pragmatism - they will never be found in hysteria.

Public recognition of the facts will be the first step toward reform. At present rates of incarceration, within 50 years, half of our citizens will be behind bars. We had better start looking beyond the hysteria and pay attention to these facts. Our freedom depends on it. Nora C. Callahan Colville, Wash.

OTHER TOPICS

Seniors stereotype doesn’t fit

Although I agree with Bernadine Van Thiel about the faulty perception of senior citizens in our society (Perspective, Dec. 14), I very much resent the implication that those of us who experience physical ailments or disabilities do so because we didn’t choose “wise lifestyles” and that our spirits have been diminished.

Although Van Thiel may not consider us “vital and vibrant,” we, too, contribute to society in spite of our challenges, and should be recognized.

Let’s not stereotype people with disabilities the way seniors are stereotyped. Elizabeth C. Behrendt Spokane

Morrison statement wrong, insulting

The Public Periscope column of Dec. 29 is pretty inflammatory because of the less-than-truthful remarks by John Morrison, chief executive officer of Spokane airports.

The statement, “Apparently all pilots smoke and drink heavily,” is totally lacking in truth. Just light up a cigarette at the “pilots’ table” and you will be told by other pilots to put it out or move to another table.

“Pilots have to build up courage to take off” is a lie that shouldn’t be said even in jest. Roy Hanson knows better than that. I think an apology is in order to the owner of the cafT.

Also, I know of no heavy drinkers and I have never seen a hazy atmosphere among the pilots in the newly remodeled cafT. Jack L. Johnson Spokane