Letters To The Editor
SPOKANE COUNTY
Marlton scores no points with me
Aren’t we all happy that George Marlton was appointed county commissioner so that he could help Steve “Cornbread” Hasson settle with the Gypsies?
They sent a county employee to negotiate with their friends, the Gypsies. And boy, did he get along well with them. I would imagine offering them more than a million dollars helped that cozy relationship. But hooray! In steps the Crosby-Harris team to bring political reality.
If this is an indication of what we can expect of Marlton, I say no to him in the upcoming election. I want a commissioner who will represent the best interests of the county, not someone who wants to pay off people who stole from my friends and neighbors. Joanie Warme Spokane
Hasson should lead, not carp
Once again, county Commissioner Steve Hasson has made the paper by making a statement that was less than thought-out.
When he took the job as county commissioner, he knew he would be listening to all the county departments that would come before him with their budget shortfalls.
As a county commissioner, it’s not his job to whine like a child when the sheriff’s office comes before him with a legitimate request for funds. Having him state afterwards, “Law and justice officials come with their hands out every summer,” is not right either. It shows poor judgment and is highly inappropriate.
I must remind Hasson of the sheriff’s dangerous staffing level. Ideally, the Sheriff’s Department would like its deputy-citizen ratio to be about 1.7 to 1,000. But it’s struggling at .88 to 1,000. Not only is this unsafe for the deputies, but the citizens also are receiving poor service.
Commissioner, let’s not make ridiculous statements to the effect that the Sheriff’s Department needs to learn to live within budget. You’re the leadership; you need to provide a decent budget for the department to live within. If you had, these people wouldn’t have to sell two helicopters, double-bunk at the jail, provide fewer jailers and release inmates earlier. Think before you speak, Steve. Thomas L. Oliver Spokane
Hasson, Harris what a waste
Well, it only took county Commissioners Steve Hasson and Phil Harris a month to figure out that the hiring and spending freeze they had instituted for everyone else should apply to themselves.
What poor examples of leaders. If they were in the military, they’d have no problem in a war putting their soldiers on half K rations while they ate steak.
I also was surprised to read in a recent article that they need their secretaries to take dictation all the time. Are they really computer-illiterate in an information age? I would like to know where in the private sector a person could apply for a $55,000-a-year job with no computer skills without being laughed out of the interview.
Why not reduce their pay to $35,000 and use the remainder to hire the receptionist? Why are we paying so much for these two buffoons?
Now, while trying to cut costs, they still want to expand their role - and the county’s costs - and take over the Spokane County Health District. Of course, first they will appoint a “citizens” committee of their cronies to agree with their recommendations.
These men are not here to fix the system; they are what’s wrong with it. They have an agenda to increase their power and political ambitions, not serve the citizens of Spokane County.
These two men show lack of character, lack of leadership and lack of any common sense. I wish people would vote next time on a person’s abilities and qualities, instead of on their political party affiliation. Jim DuBois Spokane
Hasson does listen to his mother
I was not at all surprised to read that Spokane County Commissioner Steve Hasson wants to abolish the county’s successful pet licensing program (“Hasson slams volunteers who license pets,” Aug. 16).
At a previous commission meeting, Hasson voted against increasing license fees for unaltered pets, even though numerous county residents spoke in favor of the proposal and no one spoke against it. I distinctly remember hearing Steve say he could not support cat licensing because his mother is adamantly opposed to it.
Somebody, please, remind Steve he is not in office to represent his mother. He is there to act in the best interest of the county.
He seems to have forgotten. Kerry Masters Liberty Lake
We’re being taxed to death
Sales tax, business and occupation tax, property tax, excise tax, clean air tax, aquatic weed fee, application fee, arbitration fee, aquifer protection fee - the list is endless. The general thinking of the system is that if we overspend, just tax it to them. Expect a raise in your utility bill next January. The city already is crying it’s broke.
Try taking a cut in pay, boys, and live like the rest of us. D.J. Pickett Spokane
End the slapstick; elect Roskelley
Anyone watching what transpires in the Spokane County commissioners office couldn’t possibly think that Steve Hasson, Phil Harris and George Marlton have demonstrated the ability to lead county government. The political antics of Larry (Hasson), Curly (Harris) and Moe (Marlton) resemble slapstick comedy straight out of a Three Stooges movie.
There is always a need for humor in government, but a comedy of errors recently displayed by our three commissioners/stooges represents a travesty to the people who live in Spokane County. There is a need to review what works and what doesn’t, but a meat-ax approach to cutting people and programs from county government is not the solution.
County government desperately needs a vision to get some sense of direction. I have no confidence that Larry, Curly and Moe can do the job. However, there is hope. Vote for the unified charter or put a strong person in office this fall who will resuscitate county government.
John Roskelley has the intelligence and leadership qualifications to bring county government back to the people. Don Winant Spokane
SPOKANE CITY GOVERNMENT
City Council abdicates
Monday, Aug. 14, is the day the Spokane City Council pronounced representative government in Spokane dead.
Individually and collectively, the council has acknowledged extreme dangers inherent in a deadly combination of narrow tunnels and tripled traffic attendant to construction of a 790-unit housing project in scenic southwest Spokane. This misbegotten project is known as Mission Springs.
The council has told Spokane citizens, through its actions (or lack of action), that it is powerless to stop this death-dealing cancer because unelected city staff members insist upon ignoring the dangers and embracing the development and developers.
Spokane citizens deserve better. Spokane citizens deserve a council with the courage to stand tall and firm against blackmail through threat of litigation and intimidation by unelected city staff members.
Representative government can and should be restored to Spokane. Ron McArthur Spokane
Council session a civics debacle
On Aug. 14, I attended my first Spokane City Council meeting. I was interested in the Mission Springs issue and wanted to hear the testimony on both sides.
I listened intently as many articulate and impassioned residents of the Thorpe Road area spoke on the issues. The testimony was to the point concerning the public safety of the two tunnels on Thorpe Road and the potential problems of adding a 700-plus-unit apartment complex right next door.
Council members appeared to have their minds made up prior to the testimony. Mayor Jack Geraghty was impatient and rude to one speaker as the time neared 11 p.m.
I believe the council is paid to listen to citizen comments and complaints, and I was not aware that city government stops and citizen concerns become invalid after 11 p.m.
When the final vote was taken, I was shocked at the outcome. The citizens who spoke gave overwhelming testimony and evidence mixed with pleas of reason, and yet, the council based its decision on an outdated traffic survey from 1991 that even states that the tunnels are “narrow, obviously undesirable and present a significant traffic constraint.”
Our City Council has given developers another victory and another defeat for citizens with common sense. The next election should be very interesting. Mike Wunsch Spokane
CRIMINALITY
Parents responsible for teen crime
The question has been raised: What is to be done about teenage crime in the city of Spokane?
There is really only one solution: Parents should be parents.
If their parents had been responsible, those two girls (who were shot and killed) would have been home in bed where they belonged at 2 o’clock in the morning, instead of sitting on a porch. If his parents had been responsible, that 15-year-old boy (suspected in the case) would have been home in bed, without an assault rifle.
If every child’s parents in this city were being responsible and doing their duty, there would be very little teenage crime. Douglas McLeod Spokane
Strong family averts wrongdoing
I followed the news of the recent tragedy in the shooting spree in Hillyard, and the uppermost question in my mind is what could cause such a tragedy to happen. A town hall meeting was held to discuss the matter.
I feel the problem stems from the home, the lack of love and sharing in the activities of the home.
I know a family in which both the mother and father work full time. Their young son had a Spokesman-Review paper route, and the father would get up each morning early and go with his son on his paper route. They also are active in baseball and go to a health club often together. Their life also is centered around the Lord and church activities. We need more love and praise in the home. Lloyd Garrison Otis Orchards
LAW AND JUSTICE
Work release not for all criminals
As a Colfax resident, I often see inmates around town, unshackled but supervised. I believe, in many cases, work release can benefit both the inmate and the community, depending on the nature of the inmate’s crime.
Jail is supposed to be punishment. In “Jail work program targets bad seeds” (Aug. 13), (staff writer) Eric Sorensen refers to an inmate convicted of incest. He received only a six-month sentence for sexually molesting two family members. As part of his punishment, he is being allowed to leave the jail, unsupervised, drive 15 miles to work and then return after his shift. In jail, he claims he gets bored watching television, reading books and playing cards.
Incarceration isn’t supposed to be fun. Although he hasn’t committed a “serious” offense, through his sick, selfish acts he took the innocence of two young girls. While he serves only six months, those girls must live with this the rest of their lives.
In addition to committing an unforgivable crime, he fled the county, faking his own death. What guarantees that he won’t flee again?
Inmates convicted of lesser crimes should be allowed to work at such jobs as clearing noxious weeds. However, incarceration is supposed to punish criminals. Why should they be allowed to leave, unsupervised, to earn a wage?
I strongly encourage Whitman County to re-evaluate work release inmates. I hope Spokane County will continue to carefully evaluate employing a similar program. Danielle Allert Colfax, Wash.
Weaver settlement wrong
Our government is getting soft, as evidenced by the Randy Weaver settlement. With our federal deficit in the trillions, what’s another $3.1 million? Maybe Uncle Bill (Clinton) can send him an IOU. What about the deputy U.S. marshal, William Degan, who was killed? Is this settlement fair compensation for his death?
Only in America can you win the lottery without buying a ticket. Henry Lin Spokane
Officers asked for trouble
I have a few comments on the Aug. 13 article on Bill Pogue’s daughter (“Daughter tries to save other lawmen.”)
I lived in the area during the incident and trial. Your article failed to mention the people who testified about the severe harassment they had experienced at Bill Pogue’s hands.
I also had a very good friend in the Idaho Fish and Game Department. I was told quite plainly that harassment of people was an ongoing game to the officers. It was seen as a semi-game to see who could gather the worst citizen complaints.
I don’t condone what occurred, but when government officials step outside the law in the performance of their duties, citizens are within their rights to protect themselves. Jeff Turner Deer Park
PEOPLE IN SOCIETY
Scrutinize Christian assumption
Ira Lee White’s Aug. 14 letter states the U.S. Constitution declares our nation to be a Christian nation.
This assertion raises a number of questions. Specifically, where in the Constitution is this declaration made? What is required to qualify a nation as Christian? What are the basic requirements for a document or person to be considered Christian? Are there uniquely Christian values or rules not found in other beliefs or philosophical systems? What values make a Christian different from a Muslim, Jew or deist? John W. Nugent Spokane
Racial slurs common, wrong
Euro-Americans (Caucasians) have a very mean side.
They complain about Afro-Americans, saying they don’t work or want to work, saying they’re lazy and shiftless, sell drugs or are in gangs. You know, the usual, typical, stereotyping Euro-Americans are famous for.
When Afro-Americans do get work in the city or county of Spokane, whatever it may be, Euro-Americans think it’s OK to use racial slurs or jokes to Afro-Americans or any other group. It seems they think they have a Godgiven right.
Well, no one has that right. What does it take for people to realize the color of a person’s skin doesn’t give anyone the right to hurt a person’s feelings with slurs and jokes? There’s only so much a person or people can endure.
Ignorance is no excuse! Eileen K. Thomas Spokane
Guests and chaos: Speak for yourself
We try not to buy into the “chaos of modern life” Rebecca Nappi talks about in her Aug. 18 editorial on house guests. Neither adults nor children in our home have schedules that “rival those of corporate executives.”
Our friends and family members are our top priority. Our relationships bring us the most joy and fulfillment of anything in life.
When we moved back to Spokane three years ago after a four-year absence, we feared our friends and family would never visit because of the long drive to get here. We were wrong. Much to our surprise and pleasure, we’ve had a constant stream of guests. Although it’s tiring at times, we’re so happy they come. Each visit is special.
We don’t worry about fancy meals or how to entertain our guests. Just a big bowl of pasta and sitting around talking late into the night are so enjoyable.
This summer, my sister and her family drove up from California and stayed five days. By the end of the visit, she and I had resolved some differences that had built up over the last 10 years. Now we are closer than we’ve ever been. This new relationship is a precious gift.
I remember, as a child, the excitement of having visitors. After playing hard all day, I’d fall asleep to the sound of conversation and laughter filtering up from the warm kitchen. My kids will have similar memories, and they’ll have the security and comfort that comes from a strong network of loving friends and family. Mary Farrell Spokane