Letters To The Editor
IN THE PUBLIC EYE
My son is innocent
I have been reading the newspaper and wanting to cry out the innocence of my son, enduring the heartache of what people are saying.
No one knows the story of my son, Jerry Boot, and of Kevin Boot. I hope the truth prevails. Whatever happened to innocent until proved guilty? I know the truth, and I know my son Jerry is being considered guilty before being proven innocent.
When I hear people say they want my son to do life in prison, I fall apart.
I know and see what my son is suffering. He really liked Felicia Reese. He didn’t want to kill her. He also was and still is a victim of Kevin Boot.
Jerry and Kevin are cousins by adoption laws only. My son did not know Kevin on a personal basis. They had just met. Kevin pulled him in with him that terrible night of horror.
My son begged for Felicia’s life. He said to me, “Mom, she didn’t deserve to die. She was a wonderful-hearted person.”
I feel people should not only know Felicia’s pain and the pain of her family, but my son Jerry’s pain and mine.
My cry is for justice. My son is innocent. He is a victim and a witness of a terrible crime, not a killer. And he’ll live with the memory for the rest of his life. Marilynn Boot Seattle
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
While I’m certain that one letter cannot begin to offset all of the negative publicity given to County Commissioner Steve Hasson, I believe a reality check is long overdue.
At least 90 percent of Steve’s detractors don’t know what he is really like or what he does. Proof of this is the constant reference to cornbread and window jumping.
Steve is a hard-working public servant with strong beliefs. He is not afraid to speak out and the fact that he holds nothing back, even his human side, gives some people fodder for inane attacks.
A lot of us remember why he was elected and reelected: he gets the job done. What a crime it is that he happens to have a personality as well.
I’m glad he is my brother and a Republican. Robert M. Hasson Spokane
SPOKANE
Government despite the people
The seven intellectual dwarfs of the Spokane City Council made it very evident on Jan. 30 that if you don’t live in the confines of Spokane you are nothing. Your rights don’t matter, your safety doesn’t matter, your wishes don’t matter, you don’t matter.
In attempting to show council members that they would be making a mistake in requesting that the Boundary Review Board remove the Yardley area from the proposed city of Spokane Valley, residents of both the Valley and Spokane used a tactic that, unfortunately, seldom works with this august body. They tried logic and, sure enough, it didn’t work.
Two prosperous property owners in the affected area used a different form of persuasion, apparently with better success.
In words dripping with contemptuous condescension, the mayor and councilmembers Barnes, Crosby, Numbers and Holmes assured the concerned citizens that the city has no intention of annexing the Yardley area “at this time.” They just want to “protect the interests of the taxpayers of Spokane.”
Yeah, right! Councilman Brewer, at least, was forthright. He wants to annex everything east of the Cascades to the Idaho border. He, in effect, told us all to go to hell. No thanks, Mr. Brewer, I’ve been to one Spokane City Council meeting and that’s enough.
I must apologize to Councilman Chris Anderson for including him among the “seven intellectual dwarfs.” He was a true gentleman and the citizens of Spokane Valley will not soon forget that. Ed Meadows Spokane
Library policy misguided, futile
It is time Spokane taxpayers realize that a city library concept is as effective as a city-only Sears store.
You can’t prevent non-city residents from registering as a resident at grandma’s address or a friend’s to obtain a free library card. Nor can you prevent a non-city resident from borrowing a city resident’s card. Additionally, thousands of city residents move outside city limits every year. Do they turn in their cards when they move?
If county residents want the city library benefits, let them share in the financial burden of millions of dollars in bonds. All we have to do is enact a cease and desist order for the city library system. Then the county takes over and we have one equally-funded system.
Sound too simple? This is what we elect commissioners and council people for, to solve dilemmas such as this. All that is required is a referendum enacted by our elected leaders. Citizens should not have to put in the tremendous work and time required for the initiative process. The only solution is too obvious.
We don’t have a city coliseum, nor should we have a city library system. Allan LeTourneau Spokane
Teens making a difference
Right on, (Staff writer) Rebecca Nappi! Teens do have a lot to offer our society. The Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council’s (GSSAC) Teen Advisory Board members are proof of that.
These teens have been meeting twice a month since September, planning substance abuse prevention activities for our community, such as a drug-free dance celebration for adults held last Friday night (a gracious thank you to those who supported this first-time event) and a youth conference and rally to be held during Drug Free Washington Month in April.
Utilizing a wonderful puppet program, these young people also volunteer their time in grade schools and community centers, to help alert younger children to the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use.
Their enthusiasm, energy and dedication to making a difference exemplify what fine young people they are. They are a great asset for GSSAC and a great joy for me. Linda J. Thompson, executive director Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council
PRIVATIZATION
Challenger’s case has holes
I would like to reply to David Watkins’ statements on privatization of janitorial services (“Privatization? Put it to a test,” Letters, Jan. 24) and bring to light a few facts. As an example of privatization, let’s review one of his current company accounts, the Spokane County janitorial contract.
While working my way through college, I was employed as a janitor for Spokane County. Therefore, I am knowledgeable about janitorial services provided then and services provided now.
In review of Mr. Watkins’ contract, I concluded he should be able to provide cheaper services. His company provides the majority of services once a week that we had to provide on a nightly basis.
Concerning his guaranteed quality of work, let’s just say that compared to past in-house services - and I’ll be kind here - that would be comparing apples to oranges.
One of the great intangibles of in-house janitorial services is control of your own employees; the freedom to make changes in work orders and maintenance schedules as needed, without reviewing the contract stipulations to ascertain the extra dollars beyond the contract price.
Furthermore, I was saddened that he, the owner/ president of the largest janitorial company in Spokane, would publicly belittle and in general categorize ex-public employees as lazy. Why not make public a list of their names, so they may respond in kind to those accusations? The business leaders of Spokane, as a whole, should be ashamed of his biased intentions. Dean E. Schultz Spokane
School custodians know, do more
I would like to explain to David Watkins, president of Allied Janitorial Services, the difference between his “cleaning people” and a state-employed custodian. Although, as a school custodian, I know his is not an uncommon misconception. Few realize that my job involves the safety, security and health of students.
I am a licensed first-class engineer. I carry a first aid card and I must deal with an ever-increasing amount of government regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, health department, etc., and be ready for inspections.
Our custodians go though extensive criminal background checks. One can only wonder what kind of checking Watkins would do on his low-wage personnel before placing them in buildings with students. Or how they might handle gas leaks, water pipe breakage, friable asbestos, intruders, fires and other emergencies. In my years of state employment I have had to handle each of these situations.
My concern is more than a vested interest. I have children who are in school and will soon be going to college. I want to know that the facilities they attend have a safe and healthy environment because they are maintained by a trained professional staff. I’m not willing to risk sickness and injury of my children because he wants to place some untrained, fly-by-night worker who could care less about a dime-a-dozen job.
And that, Mr. Watkins, is the real reason you have such a huge turnover of personnel, not because state workers can’t hack it. Stephen P. Combs Spokane
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Padden, the onus is on you
Thanks to Rep. Mike Padden for his assurance that private charities will be able to assist those cut from welfare if reform bill SHB 1481 is passed. It is comforting to know that children affected by cuts in welfare will have food and shelter.
Perhaps Rep. Padden, as one of seven Republican House members who passed the bill out of the House Child and Family Services Committee, could provide a list of the private agencies lined up to care for people cut from welfare, particularly those that will be able to provide adequate food, shelter and medical care for children affected by welfare cuts.
This list will not be difficult for Rep. Padden to provide. Surely he has carefully researched the consequences of welfare cuts on innocent children.
Rep. Padden’s campaign material states that he is a Christian, so we can expect that he would never support legislation that would allow children to suffer. Ultimately, it will be his actions that define his character.
Rep. Padden, we need to know which private agencies are equipped to help the children who will be affected by welfare cuts. Roxanne Imus Greenacres
Demand vote on Initiative 164
I read Pamela Barcelo’s (Feb. 1) letter, “Send some empowerment to Colbert,” with total sympathy. The Colbert debacle brought back too many memories of the poor planning, ignorance and political arrogance that saddled taxpayers with that albatross known as the Spokane incinerator.
Unfortunately, Initiative 164 isn’t the key to remedying the problem. I-164 is a taxpayers’ nightmare that protects “profiteers rights,” not property rights. Under I-164 a developer who wanted to site a compost facility, stockyard, pornography shop - whatever - could seek restitution from the taxpayers if regulations were to restrict the property from that use.
This legislation creates special rights for special interests and further degrades our quality of life.
Had I-164 been in effect, the Californian who was driving the Mission Springs project would be entitled to taxpayer compensation for not allowing him to build the 780-unit complex that was going to pollute their air, endanger their lives and destroy their property values.
To add insult to injury, I-164’s corporate-paid signature gatherers misled citizens by saying their signatures didn’t constitute a vote for I-164 but would merely put it on the ballot. In truth, the Legislature has the power to vote into law legislation that was bought and paid for by corporate interests, without ever putting it before the voters.
We need good science, less political arrogance and clear regulations that are enforced. We have an opportunity to achieve that through public participation in the Growth Management Act but definitely not through I-164.
Contact your legislators. Demand the vote on I-164 that you were promised. Bonnie Mager, field organizer Washington Environmental Council, Eastern Washington
IN IDAHO
No guns or drugs in school, period
I was appalled to find out a 10-year-old brought a loaded handgun to (a Sandpoint) elementary school. This is just after a middle school student committed a like offense.
Where is our zero-tolerance policy? This is not a matter for the school board to investigate and punish as it sees fit.
Drugs and firearms are related and the introduction of either to our schools should constitute immediate suspension for at least a year. A real deterrent needs teeth in it. The hardship on parents matters not; they let it happen.
Think of the other children who are in school to get an education and are placed in danger of losing their lives. This danger can be fast, as with a gun, or slow and insidious through the exposure to drugs. I think it would be appropriate for the parents of the children put at risk to sue the parents of the perpetrator, for reckless endangerment or such. Send the message loud and clear: Not in our school!
The school has done its part in the apprehension. Now let law enforcement and the courts do theirs. Get the board out of the judge, jury and prosecutor mindset. Didn’t we learn anything from the actions of the previous board in this arena and the costly lawsuits which resulted?
Enforce a true zero-tolerance policy and predetermined punishment; no exceptions, no plea bargains. Gary W. Carlson Sagle
Magazine article inaccurate trash
As a business selling independent power for remote homes, I was consulted for statistics used in the New York Times Magazine article, “Off the Grid.” The author called for an estimate of the number of people living “off the grid” in North Idaho; he had no time to read the information I offered to send.
Off the grid typically means without connection to utility powerlines, nothing more. I was alarmed to discover the author used “off grid” to describe people he caricatured as “apocalyptic zealots” who refuse all connections to the rest of society. The new technology of solar-produced electricity is used by a few of those interviewed in the article, while others had no power at all.
The beliefs of the people interviewed could have been better described by something other than where they get their electricity. The article didn’t represent today’s typical off-grid family.
I told the reporter that thousands of people live off grid in North Idaho. That was a count of people who live in “renewable energy homes.” Most off-grid people elect to generate their own power from sunlight, because it’s the most economical means to a normal, often middle class American lifestyle, given the prohibitive cost of bringing powerlines to their properties. Many also consider the environmental impacts. Most users of solar electricity have most electrical conveniences folks in town have.
The New York Times Magazine story wrongly taints all these off-grid, renewable energy folks as racially prejudiced gun nuts and “apocalyptic zealots.” Talk about prejudice! Steve Willey Sandpoint
Animals Rodeo animals not abused
I am terribly sorry Deanna Knudsen is being blinded by a myth (“Rodeos abusive to animals,” Letters, Feb. 2).
Rodeo has been around since the 1890s. I am a rodeo participant and I have seen how stock contractors treat their animals, which, in reality, is sometimes better than how we treat other people. I personally went down and spoke with a couple of people from a stock contracting company that are here for the rodeo this weekend.
They have been in business for 12 years. When asked how many injuries have occurred, they stated only minor bumps and bruises, just like the cowboy, but no deaths. If an animal is injured, there’s always a professional vet on hand at every rodeo.
Flank straps do not hurt the horses or bulls. The strap sits on their ticklish spot. These animals are not trained to buck; it’s their way of playing. If they didn’t want to buck, they wouldn’t.
Only about .01 percent of the animals go to slaughterhouses. When the animals retire, they then go to breeding programs.
They do eight seconds of work a week and get spoiled afterward. Animals are just like human athletes; sooner or later they all get hurt. Both receive professional care.
As you can see, the animals are well taken care of. Don’t assume there is animal abuse until you’ve lived the rodeo life. Jeri Williams Spokane