Letters To The Editor

FAIRWAYS VS. NO-FAIR WAYS

Roskelley just doesn’t get it

Who is this John Roskelley guy and what is he really after? He wants to raise the fee for golfing, but does he want to improve the golf courses with the extra funds? No! He wants them for improving our public parks.

Since a portion of the green fees already go to the public parks, why would we want to levy an additional 19 percent tax on an infinitesimally small portion of our citizenry? This sounds like a local version of redistribution of money.

Roskelley defends this punishing act by conjuring up some incomplete facts. He points out that when we had a tournament at Meadow-Wood, it was closed to the public for two days, costing us $12,000. What he purposely omitted was the fact that 11,000 spectators came to the tournament and spent $350,000, which went into our community.

Roskelley doesn’t want you to know that because he can’t stand for anyone to enjoy themselves. Here we go again. Michael Wiman Spokane

Cost parity should include golf

Regarding golfing fees being raised, I have a very good suggestion.

Every year we hear the City Council talk about raising our utility rates, garbage rates and other rates, comparing Spokane’s supposed low rates to other cities’.

Certainly, since they think we all can pay more, shouldn’t the same mentality be used in regard to golfing fees? If the other cities charge more, why shouldn’t Spokane?

Lastly, in regard to golfing not being a sport only for the wealthy: How many times do you see the young, struggling families of Spokane out on a golf course? Rebecca Wagner Spokane

Investigate high existing golf fees

Staff writer Anne Windishar (“Golfers can afford fee hike,” Opinion, Dec. 11) sure sounds like a typical socialist - take money from the masses and give it to the governing bodies.

She might do all golfers a favor if she would put her talents to finding out why it costs $11.35 each time a round of golf is played. Looks to me like an audit is in order. Maybe a private company could do the maintenance a lot more economically. Ken Bryant Spokane

Plan makes it game for the wealthy

In response to County Commissioner John Roskelley’s proposed increase of greens fees for the county courses, I must take exception to his narrow-minded statements.

Roskelly wants greens fees to be greener. He states that golf is a recreation for the wealthy.

Obviously, Roskelley doesn’t play golf or hasn’t been to a golf course in quite some time. Many people, including seniors, working class people and kids, are not wealthy and must save all year long so they can play the game that they love. If greens fees continue to rise at the rate Roskelley proposes, golf will then become a recreation only for the wealthy.

I am not opposed to the county’s Citizen Golf Advisory Committee’s recommendation of a $1 increase in greens fees. But why must golfers be expected to pay for improvements in our parks and swimming pools when so many others use these facilities as well?

Maybe Roskelley should consider another way to raise these funds. Why not charge a fee to mountain climbers to climb our local mountains? That would be just as fair as expecting golfers to raise the funds for these improvements. Chris Radford Spokane

Why drive visiting golfers away?

Recent publicity associates the quality of golf and its nominal cost in Spokane County with the possibility of significant fee increases. The following questions seem reasonable.

One of our county commissioners views golf as “a recreation for the wealthy.” If this is true, how does a fee increase of 18.5 percent (proposal to add $2.50 to $13.50) improve that situation? Or, is it that golfers are rich, so they won’t miss a large increase?

Why should public parks be subsidized by golfers, all of whom are taxpayers?

If sophisticated, computerized cash machines are desired, what benefits and advantages offset their extreme cost? Why should there be changes, if any, in the longstanding ladder fee principal that encourages students, provides an advance cash reserve and offers golfers an opportunity to economize with multiple play tickets?

Golfing, for me, on the public courses of Spokane and Spokane County, has included pleasurable rounds with people from 15 different states, plus Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, England, Scotland, Denmark, Chile and Japan.

Should Spokane encourage travelers to spend their food, lodging, fuel and entertainment money at other destinations? LeRoy Hook Spokane

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Scabs gain from others’ true grit

After reading the article on the scabs at Boeing (“Strikers vent rage at workers who cross lines,” News, Dec. 9), my blood boiled.

I walked a picket line for two weeks against a local supermarket. Many of us who went on strike were divorced and single mothers. It was no picnic, but we believed what we were doing was right. Through our efforts many young workers received fair wages and benefits.

I wonder if Pattie Diacogiannis and her fellow workers who crossed the picket line ever considered how many people in the past walked a picket line so that she could enjoy making $17.60 an hour for packing parts.

There would be no need for unions and strikes if employers were fair with their workers. Whether it be Boeing or our local Broadview Dairy, profit and greed at the expense of workers gave birth to the unions. The price to pay for belonging to a union is loyalty - something which Ms. Diacogiannis knows nothing about. How they can take money and benefits, made on the backs of their fellow workers, is beyond me.

Take heart, strikers, it’s the most wonderful feeling when it’s finally over and you’ve won. Even after all these years, I look back on those two weeks with fond memories. Of course, we had our scabs, too. But my co-workers, and strangers from other departments who joined us, made it all worthwhile. In my book, these kind of people are the salt of the earth.

As for the scabs, the author Jack London was right when he gave them that name. I can think of nothing more repulsive. Anita Stallinga Spokane

Good for workers who’ve kept faith

I am the wife of a Broadview Dairy striker. I’ve watched, listened and read in the newspaper about the strike, and I can’t believe what has happened.

My husband was dedicated to his job. He got up at 1 a.m. and worked 12 to 14 hours a day. He also worked when he was sick, and had only two holidays off each year. The dairy changed names three times and he lost his well-deserved vacation time.

Don Barbieri should be ashamed of himself to try and cut our wages, get rid of our pensions and change our medical benefits.

I’m proud of the workers left on the picket line, fighting for what is theirs and their families’. A lot of the workers who crossed the picket lines wouldn’t have their jobs today if it hadn’t been for the union. Shame on them.

I’m proud to say my husband is fighting for what he believes in and has worked so hard for. Jan Cottier Spokane

HEALTH AND SAFETY

DARE makes kids’ lives easier

Being a kid is hard at times. DARE helps kids like me to be individuals who are trouble-free and drug-free. Not only do we need DARE, we need more programs like it.

DARE teaches us to say no and be proud we did. It teaches us that we don’t need drugs or alcohol. Maybe when you were a kid it was fun and games, but try walking around scared a bully will try to get you to do drugs or he’ll beat you up. DARE makes you more confident about yourself.

I think Roger Crum is wrong and he should find cuts in other places. Throwing DARE away would be like simply crumpling up a nice portrait of your best friend.

Please help save DARE. We need this program. We are the future. Travis L. Springfield Spokane

Rebuff of letters reveals attitude

I’m writing to you on behalf of all the children who are currently enrolled in our DARE program, and the children who were looking forward to becoming students of the DARE program.

I attended the City Council meeting on the proposed budget cuts. I was one of the people who spoke in behalf of our children and their DARE program. I have to admit I was appalled and outraged by the reaction of the mayor when I presented to the council hundreds of letters from the children. The response was something to the effect of, “They had plenty of letters and didn’t want or need any more.” These children spent time and lots of effort preparing these letters to better help the City Council members understand why the DARE program is important to them and why they should save the program the way it is.

Since when can the City Council refuse to hear or accept what the people have to say about an issue that’s at hand during a public hearing? It states right on the Public Forum and Procedures that the City Council meeting is established for the purpose of receiving direct input from the citizenry. It also states that the mayor shall make every attempt to allow all who wish to speak a chance to do so.

I would think the letters would be expected as input. I guess the City Council isn’t interested in children, but more on saving the almighty dollar. I wonder if the headlines should read, “Mayor ignores children’s letters to save DARE?” Art Paine Spokane

Restaurants don’t handle smoke well

“Should we ban hamburgers at some point and require fat-free restaurants?” Donna Tikker, director of the restaurant and hospitality association, should wake up and smell the smoke. We don’t have a choice, that’s why restaurants have menus.

If the offending, still-smoking restaurant has installed efficient smoke eaters and had well-defined smoking areas, there would be no issue.

Last week, my husband and I took two of our grandchildren to a well-known pizza parlor, known for its play area and children’s birthday parties. We were forced to move and eat our lunch by two Neanderthals who who lit up cigars two tables from us.

We will be looking for smoke-free establishments in the future. Jeanne Ash Spokane

WASHINGTON STATE

Simple steps would boost housing

Affordable housing is a concern for many people in Washington. Proposed solutions always seem to require higher taxes and more bureaucracy.

Any program should assist everyone. It’s unfair and unjustifiable to provide assistance to a family earning $15,000, but not to a family earning $15,001 because the second family earns too much.

Any program that helps middle- and upper-income families move into nicer homes helps put more homes on the market and increases housing availability to everyone.

There are two simple ways to improve the housing situation. One is reduction of property taxes. Michigan drastically reduced property taxes to benefit its residents. Washington could do even better by eliminating property taxes completely. This would also allow the elimination of the administration and overhead for this burdensome program, and save more tax dollars.

The effect to homeowners would be similar to eliminating one mortgage payment every year. Renters could have lower payments or rent from a landlord who does pass on the savings. This would also help businesses, and give our state’s whole economy a boost.

Another step would be to exempt homes from sales tax. Other states do this, why not Washington? Financing an additional 8 percent because of sales tax can add $10,000 to total payments over the 30-year life of a $50,000 mortgage.

Washingtonians are among the most heavily taxed people in the country. Two simple steps would lighten our tax load, decrease the size of government and improve the availability and affordability of housing for all. David H. Wordinger Medical Lake