Letters To The Editor

Fri., April 28, 1995

SPOKANE MATTERS

Drive carefully, for the children

On April 9 my friend’s 6-year-old daughter, Melissa, was on her way to the corner store to buy Easter candy when she was struck by a car. Melissa later died.

The story was so devastating that it touched the hearts of everyone who heard or read about it. The greatest tragedy of it all is that I am quite certain it could have been avoided.

Parents, and all drivers in Spokane, the streets of Spokane are not a race track. Take your time and relax on your ride to wherever you may be going. You aren’t going to get to your destination much sooner if you’re going over the speed limit; statistically, only a few seconds or minutes. Try to follow speed limits and obey red lights.

When you observe children on the sidewalk or curbs, be extra alert and cautious. They might be excited or not well informed or used to traffic safety laws. They might not know where the busy streets are here in town.

Slow down if you have to. It’s worth it. The life you save could be one you love.

Parents and guardians of young children, stress to your young ones how important it is for them to stop on the corner and look both ways and to listen for oncoming traffic. Teach them about two-way traffic in streets that are two and four lanes. Teach them traffic safety rules. This knowledge could save them from the same fate as little Melissa.

Melissa will be greatly missed by a lot of family and friends. We all know she’s in a much better place, and she’s probably a guardian angel. But we’re all still mourning our loss.

Thanks to everyone who tried to save Melissa. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. Kristen R. Stiles Spokane

Condo would benefit downtown, too

I agree, it is a make-or-break time for our town. Yes, Seattle has economic vigor; maybe that’s why we don’t see much of our tax money working here.

And yes, a healthy core is an economic engine as well as a centerpiece for civic identity. That’s why the proposed $80 million redevelopment project would be great for our town.

So, I have a problem understanding why the Ronalds’ condominium, restaurant and retail shops with observation decks that will offer a very unique building with an awesome vista is being condemned.

The only reason I have heard to stop the Ronalds’ project is that it will block the view of the river from the library. When in the library, most folks have their nose in a book or are studying.

The Ronalds’ project will create jobs and upgraded housing downtown, similar to what exists in Portland and Seattle. Those living there would most likely shop at Nordstrom and The Bon. It is a win-win situation.

Either praise the two projects or condemn them both. Hopefully, there isn’t any favoritism. Ronald Rogalsky Spokane

Downtown scheme will do me in

In response to your April 18 editorial, “A do-or-die time for downtown”:

I’m one of probably fewer than 10 people for which this proposed business improvement district may be the proverbial last straw. My home is within the proposed area. It is not a business; it has been my home for more than 30 years.

My gross wages are less than $15,000. I work two jobs and cannot afford an automobile so I use the bus. That means I leave before 8 a.m. and don’t get home until after 8:30 p.m. I already work nearly three weeks a year to pay my property taxes on my beloved, but very fragile 100-year-old home.

I’m a single parent helping my son through college. I have worked steadily since I was 17 and have never taken a dime of welfare or unemployment or any public money. I am proud of my independence.

But this business district tax may finish the job because I’m already drowning in taxes from every level. What about we few who will not only not benefit from this tax but have no way to recoup it by passing it along? Why does this district extend so far north and encompass a lot of little businesses that aren’t making it as it is, yet it only goes to the railroad tracks to the south?

Until this issue came up, I didn’t realize how few of us residents are left. I guess that makes me a dinosaur, and we know what happened to them. Sharon Armstrong Spokane

Time to roll back property tax

Thumbs up for Tom Jamison’s “Property taxes are out of control” (Letters, April 20). He certainly has a clear picture of things as they are.

When do all these tax increases stop? I hope a Proposition 13-type initiative gets on our ballot soon because I will sure vote for it.

Since 1959, our property taxes have doubled, doubled and doubled again. This is way beyond reason. How long can we the people of Washington sit back and accept this treatment? And we’re not even considering the high price we pay on our vehicle license, which is another unreasonable excise tax.

I, like Mr. Jamison, won’t vote for anything that will increase my property tax. Ethel Helm Cheney

IN WASHINGTON STATE

Tell legislators of colleges’ worth

Our economic prosperity is dependent upon any person seeking training and education to qualify for a good job or advancement being able to access the community colleges.

Spokane has benefited greatly from its community colleges and their continual upgrading of programs to provide quality and diversity.

The ability to attract Boeing, the SeaFirst bank card processing center and Harper’s are just three of countless examples in which the colleges have worked with local business developers to provide specialized training for employees.

Our legislator’s receive continual pressure from the state universities for increased budgetary support. But the truth is, most high school graduates would receive far greater benefit from having more-affordable access to our superb community colleges.

The colleges’ curricula provide a valuable mix of training and educational opportunities so in demand by employers. Data prove the return on this investment far outweighs its cost, and few government services can make that statement.

I am not advocating increased taxes but rather that our community college system receive a higher priority in the mix of state services than it currently enjoys. It does not have an organized alumni association to lobby; it only has the citizens of its communities.

Please, do your part to let your legislators know how important an accessible community college system for our high school graduates is to our overall economic prosperity. Thomas C. Garrett Spokane

Nice going, Republicans

State House Republicans who call themselves fiscally responsible need to take a few lessons in being legislatively responsible.

The House Republicans submitted a budget that would produce the largest state rollback of spending in the state’s history. They did this with the knowledge that there is a Democratic control of the Senate in the state and a Democratic governor sitting in the governor’s mansion. It doesn’t take a genius to see that there would be serious differences of opinion in this matter.

By doing this, the House sent the Legislature into a special session, at $20,000 a day. With predictions of the session taking over 30 days to complete, this could quickly become a half-a-million-dollar bill for us, the taxpayers, to foot.

Fiscally responsible? I don’t think so.

Looking out for the best interest of the citizens of Washington state? I surely don’t think so.

Trying to make political hay out of a budget that is at best mean spirited and hits Spokane especially hard? Most likely.

Politics is the art of compromise. The two sides must realize they have to work together to accomplish what’s best for not only the people they represent but for everyone in the state.

The Republicans’ taking of such an extreme stand on a budget that has no chance does a disservice to the credibility of our state government.

Not only that, it does a disservice to us, the taxpayers. Ragan Faylor Spokane

GIRLS’ DAY AT WORK

Push to change day just more bias

First, there was a women’s page in this newspaper and opponents yelled, “That’s not fair! It discriminates against men.” So now the page is for men and women. I suppose it doesn’t matter that all of the rest of the pages in the newspaper are primarily male-focused and male-centered. And that the newspaper itself is even called The SpokesMAN-Review. I guess that must be fair.

Now opponents of Take Our Daughters to Work Day are yelling that it’s not fair to our sons, and there is a movement to change the day to Take Our Kids to Work Day. I suppose it doesn’t matter that during the rest of the year we systematically squash the self-esteem and ambitions of our little girls. I guess that must also be fair.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we were living in a society that offers the same access to opportunity for all of its citizens, regardless of their gender? But we don’t. If the opponents of this day believe we do, they’re living with their heads buried very deeply in the sand.

It fascinates me why it is so threatening to this country to have one day set aside for girls that attempts to make them feel special and exposes them to a wide range of business and career opportunities.

But, on second thought, I guess it would be incredibly threatening if a society was founded on not doing either one of those things. Sandra Williams Spokane

Girls’ day sets bad example

I believe that it is way past time for our leaders and the general public of this county to discern the difference between equality and preferential treatment. I understand there is still a need to protect people from discrimination, but it should not mean discriminating against someone else.

In response to the recent outcry over allowing boys to participate in a career day, I believe it to be ludicrous to think that allowing boys to participate would be detrimental to girls learning about and entering the work force. Moreover, including boys would teach our children something that some of us apparently do not understand. That is, by teaching our children equality by inclusion of everyone, we increase the likelihood they will practice equality in their adult lives.

Leaving someone out teaches our children that we don’t have to be fair and treat people equally. Exclusion is not fair or equal and causes resentment, which in turn causes more problems between groups of people.

I believe we should be teaching our children to resolve problems in fair and peaceful ways. I support letting boys participate in career days and believe it would be beneficial to both girls and boys. Brad Brougher Mead

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Liddy, We know what you’re doing

Does G. Gordon Liddy really believe he is not fueling the lunatic fringe when he says that he uses handmade drawings of Bill and Hillary Clinton for target practice because it might improve his aim? I read this in the April 26 Spokesman-Review.

It is difficult to think that any American citizen could be so full of hate and spread it on the airwaves. Helen Rydell Spokane

Congressman’s statements appalling

In his desperate attempt to defuse his former inflammatory statements (“Rape won’t make women pregnant, legislator says,” April 21) regarding the supposed sexual habits of rape victims, Rep. Henry Aldridge, R-N.C., only further shows his ignorance by stating that women who are “truly raped” don’t get pregnant.

Throughout history, women have been the victims of marauding armies intent on subjugating their conquests through sexual assault. These women were often ostracized from their villages and communities once their pregnancy became evident, as they were a living reminder of the humiliation of the society to which they belonged. They were scorned and derided for an act they could not help.

I find it shameful that on the eve of Sexual Assault Awareness Week, Rep. Aldridge would continue to perpetuate the myths and fallacies concerning acts of the sexual violence that are perpetrated against not only women, but men and children as well. Jennifer L. Rascoff Spokane