Letters

Just a shout-out to the people on Glass Avenue who still put up the Christmas trees for decoration. My dad, Ralph Weimar, and two of our neighbors built all the trees for the street some 50+ years ago. He received a plaque from the city for “Making Glass Glow.” I was so happy to see that this tradition is still alive & well.

Recently I received a letter from my parish office informing me that the Catholic Diocese of Spokane has withdrawn its support of Catholic Charities in the form of its annual Christmas appeal. According to a letter posted on the diocesan website, this is punishment for the charity director's support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

I was pleasantly surprised to read the column by Katie Blair on the difference between equality and equity ("Valuing equity rather than equality is the key to creating a just world," Dec. 14). I think this concept is very important and very rarely (almost never) addressed. Katie has a good if somewhat complex perspective on this vitally important idea and I applaud her decision to do this.

I am writing to thank the Spokane City Council for approving the effort to move forward with fluoridation. This issue turned out to be surprisingly controversial. The council showed a great deal of courage in doing the right thing for children. For that moment, children were a No. 1 priority in our community.

"We're all in this together!" How many times have you heard our elected officials use this phrase, extolling us to wear masks, maintain distance, and keep our businesses closed while we slowly die both emotionally and financially?

Bongo Thompson's "Winter's Tale in Browne's Addition" painted a tragic picture of suffering in the painful story of Gail. Not knowing the core reasons behind her homeless state, she was simply a person in need of shelter that frigid night, and the author might have saved her life by getting her a ride to a hospital. That's an example of compassion we can all applaud.

The article on Dec. 14 by Treva Lind about a woman, Andrea Berndt, who 31 years ago lost her baby to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) reminded me of my own loss of a son from SIDS 56 years ago in 1964. I remember the devastating loss and the pain it caused my wife and me.

The term “Porch Pirates” is truly quaint. I say one free extra dessert to whoever coined it!!! But seriously, isn’t that title as frivolous as calling Spokane’s package thieves: Holiday Hooligans, Seasonal Slimeballs, Gift Grabbers, Footloose Fearmongers, Porch Poachers or simply Delivery Deleters?

What in the world is going on up there at the Airway Heights Correction Center? ("Inmate at Airway Heights dies of COVID-19," Dec. 19)

It will be interesting to view historians perspective when they look back on how we handled the Covid-19 pandemic.

I've read a lot (and heard more) about how much better things are in Idaho during the current pandemic. People there don't have to wear masks. Restaurants, bars, gyms and other gathering places aren't closed and have far fewer restrictions. People in Idaho are free to follow public health guidelines or not.

It is time to say Enough is ENOUGH!

I have an online business, and mail out orders 6 days a week.

Robert Hopkins letter on the evils of studded tires ("Ban the studs," Dec. 13) is myopic and misinformed.

Thank You, Bongo Thompson

My daughter and I walked through Riverfront Park tonight. With the snow lightly falling, I felt compelled to describe how beautiful our park looked in a Letter to the Editor!

I totally agree with the letters from Catherine Shive ("The famous salesman," Dec. 13) and Charles Christian Anderson ("Keep Leonard Pitts". I have a My Pillow, and love it. It puts old-fashioned pillows to shame.

Pundits are saying that Trump may run for President in 2024.

Thank you Dr. Velazquez for your informative note in the SR ("Get the vaccination to get county back on its feet," Dec. 16).