Letters

Politicians not spending responsibly

Re: City Council doles out funds (Aug. 28 Valley Voice):

Here we go again folks – politicians taking our tax money and giving it to “social service agencies.”

•$5,000 to the Spokane Valley Arts Council – what is that?

•$15,000 to Project Access – never heard of it.

•$11,000 to Spokane Valley Partners – why am I paying my hard-earned money to some “partners?”

Then they dole out the big money to “economic development agencies.” Total bill so far $156,000 – might not sound too expensive to some people, but how many potholes could that have fixed? The politicians who allocate this money are the same ones who advocate spending millions of dollars to revitalize U-City Mall which their constituents do not want.

How about using this money to make the lights turn green when we drive down our arterials so we don’t hit red light after red light? How about saving it for a rainy day? I can guarantee you that soon our Spokane Valley City Council will cry that we are out of money and if we don’t raise our taxes, they will have to cut our police force, our firefighting force, or our school money. Happens every time.

I say vote them all out, and hope someone with fiscal responsibility will replace them. That’s the person I will vote a raise for.

Howard Danielson

Spokane Valley

Reader’s view from 1950s needs updating

It is sad Sally Jackson (Vocal Point, “Council ignores wishes of citizens,” Aug. 30 Valley Voice) is still living in the ’50s when the population of the Valley may have been 10,000. A community of over 80,000 citizens needs self-government. One must wonder if Sal just can’t stand small government.

It is strange that for two previous efforts to incorporate she was in the forefront to incorporate as one of the Democratic Party leaders rightfully supporting incorporation. One has to ask what personal slight caused her to become so anti-Spokane Valley city; a complete reversal of a history of support for Valleyites having their own city?

The measure of a good citizen is to work with the majority after the election to do all you can to make the best of that majority decision. There is no argument that all government needs citizen involvement to keep it on track. To constantly bash good intentions by folks that work hard to inform themselves to help make thoughtful decisions is to be a rainmaker.

I urge the citizens of Spokane Valley to stand tall and have pride in their city. It is a great place to live and work and no amount of bad-mouthing by 1950s revisionism should rain on your city. I urge you to work with your city government; you have a lot to be proud of.

Terry Lynch

President, 2005-2008, Spokane Valley Business Association