Letters To The Editor

GANGS

We must stand our ground

This is in response to the March 15 article, “Gang graffiti meeting draws huge turnout.”

When people unite, whether for good or evil, you have a gang. I believe the good gang will win this war. Thank God so many people are willing to fight for the freedom these punks are so blatantly trying to rob from them.

My son and his wife were at this neighborhood meeting, and my husband and I were baby-sitting the two most important reasons they were in attendance: their son and daughter.

Fifteen years ago, my husband, myself and our three sons moved to Spokane from a once quiet and peaceful suburb of Los Angeles. Our quiet town became infested with the gangs of that time which, in reality, are no different from the gangs of today. We moved away because no one was willing to meet the problem head on. And yes, we were scared. The bad guys eventually won that fight, at our expense.

Now it seems there are very few places left to hide. We must unite and fight for what is ours so as to make a safer and much less fearful place for our children and grandchildren to grow up in.

This quote by Thomas Edison is very fitting: “There won’t be change until the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.” Nan Harmon Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Libraries should not exclude

On behalf of the Washington Library Media Association, Northwest region, we would like to encourage the use of public libraries for all citizens. If citizens must pay for the privilege of checking out books, a double standard is created and the gap between those who have and those who have not becomes ever wider.

Historically, the public library was created to ensure that everyone could access books. It has, by design, been free and open to all. The poorest person has always been as welcome and as entitled as the richest. The library is a place of refuge for the enjoyment of books, an opportunity for anyone with determination to be educated and a symbol of democracy.

If a library board feels it must charge for the ability to check out basic reading materials, it does a disservice to the community. Sharing materials is the premise of the library and the reason for its existence.

City and county systems have in the past been exemplary in this respect. It is a shock to many of us that the door has been closed so firmly on this sharing. We ask that the dialogue to develop a workable solution to serve patrons in both the city and the county be allowed to continue, and that both library boards take part.

It is incumbent on all of us not just to talk about the “best of worlds” but to work to attain that goal. Pauline Bresnahan and Janet Ray Washington Library Media Association, Northeast Region

Teenager’s story heartening

It was refreshing to see something positive about teenage people on the front page of the March 16 Spokesman-Review. Rachel Konrad’s article tells that there are good young people. Teachers and parents who support and show confidence do, in my opinion, a lot more than broad condemnations of all the teenage citizens.

I am a customer of Jason Lawrence. I found him to be very knowledgeable, thoughtful and considerate. I just happened to pass by his store on the day of his grand opening and was very impressed with his knowledge and demeanor.

Good luck, Jason, and continue your plans for schooling. You are a credit to your parents, your school and fellow teenagers. Richard B. Hopp Spokane

Many animals need good home

Recently, I visited the Humane Society’s animal shelter in Spokane. I was very impressed with the quality of care provided by the volunteers and the employees. The vision of getting these animals good homes seemed to permeate the kennels, the puppy room and the cat rooms.

However, the amount of stray, abandoned and just dropped-off animals was very disturbing. These dogs and cats are in desperate need of loving homes. It is a shame to see these wagging tails through the iron bars and not be certain that some day someone will rescue them.

Let us not forget that the Humane Society does its best to encourage citizens to welcome these animals into our lives. We can take the next step by adopting these best friends. Julie Perron Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Community assets threatened

Once again, the Community Colleges are scheduled for budget reductions by the governor and the legislature. One of Spokane’s greatest assets are the Community Colleges of Spokane. CCS provides quality and scholarly education for over 23,000 students per quarter and also provides valuable assistance to the social and human care services sector of our community.

CCS is involved in preventative programs designed to assist and strengthen the children, youth and families of our community and they do it exceptionally well. For example, CCS runs the Head Start program for Spokane County and has the largest parent cooperative program in Washington. Its Displaced Homemakers program is a model which the entire nation should follow. CCS has special programs in parenting, services to the elderly, issues and coping with death and dying, foster parenting, gerontology, early childhood education and development, and education in dealing with chemical dependency.

In partnership with the theoretical orientation and classroom education, many CCS students are actively involved in a myriad of volunteer activities with community human services agencies. The learning that takes place can be lifelong for the students while their service to the community is an invaluable asset. CCS programs significantly and positively impact member agencies of United Way of Spokane County.

I urge you to contact your local legislators and Gov. Mike Lowry and insist that no reductions be made to this valuable community resource. Our voices will make a difference. Cuts to the community colleges that result in loss of programs will invariably diminish us all sooner or later. Jose C. Pena, president United Way of Spokane County

GOP no friend of families

Thank you for running Molly Ivins’ “Newt & Co. concocting idiotic policy” (Opinion, March 15). Since when did a $200,000 salary become middle income in this country? My family makes around one-fourth of that and I thought we were living fairly comfortably. How many Spokane residents make $200,000 or more anyway? And the Republicans think they need tax cuts?

The Republican policies are designed to placate the rich. Isn’t this obvious by now? They also say they’re for family values but their every policy and cut is designed to destroy families. They plan to cut dollars for school lunches, prevention programs and day care. They don’t like family leave or health care and don’t want to support adding police officers to help cities like ours with growing crime and gang problems.

Those of us who work with children who have been abused or neglected know what cuts in these programs will do to the future of our cities. No prevention programs means little or no treatment for the child who was raped. It already can take up to a year to get that child into treatment. Without treatment that child will go on to become your worst nightmare - the gang kid first and the incarcerated criminal later.

Our system does need reform. But what the Republicans are proposing will damage fragile families beyond repair.

We need to be willing to pay small amounts for prevention now. If we don’t, I guarantee we’ll pay later through increased hopelessness, violence, and millions of dollars. Cris Salsbury Spokane

Blacks should embrace conservatism

While Leonard Pitts may be right when he says that blacks won’t or can’t be conservative (“GOP can’t reach out to blacks,” Opinion, March 12), I firmly believe that being conservative would be in their best interest.

Mr. Pitts is quick to point out certain civil rights legislation that modern liberals have pushed through Congress, but he seems to have forgotten the dozens of bills which have hurt the poor more than anybody else.

He forgets import quotas which have raised prices on food and gasoline. Since the poor spend a larger percentage on these items than anybody else, this has been devastating. Not to mention the hundreds of regulations that have been placed on every industry which has made employment and purchasing products much more difficult for the poor.

Earlier in the week there was an editorial about all of the good that bureaucrats do. The author claims how all of our lives have been helped by regulations which make children’s clothes fire retardant. What about the poor single mother who can’t afford pajamas for her children? Don’t you think she would rather be able to buy them than be sure middle class children won’t catch on fire?

I am of the firm opinion that blacks, who have a larger percentage of poor people than whites, would be better off not just being conservative but liberal, in the classical sense. Adam Simpson Pullman

Block grants will mean hungry kids

Several recent letters have taken The Spokesman-Review to task for information published concerning the impact of congressional proposals to block grant and cut federal child nutrition programs. Those of us concerned about the block grants’ impact on hungry children are accused of spreading misinformation.

Block grant proposals are detrimental to the future well-being of all of our children. First-year funding under the “school based nutrition block grant,” which includes school lunch, breakfast and portions of child care and summer meals programs, would be $104 million less than funds projected by the Clinton administration for program support under the current structure. Washington would lose a minimum of $1.75 million the first year and $12.1 million over the five years of the block grant.

I don’t find a 4.5 percent increase anywhere in these figures.

Also missing from block grants will be significant administrative cost savings. Funds set aside for administration in the school-based block grant total $134 million, compared to $124 million under the current program.

Of even greater importance are the fundamental changes the block grant legislation will make in a structure that works for America’s children. Gone are standards ensuring that all children benefit from nutritious meals. Gone is the structure that provides additional funds to community schools in times of recession or in the case of expanded school enrollment. Gone are assurances that school districts must not discriminate against poor children in the way meals are served.

Block grants for child nutrition programs will put more children at risk of hunger. Linda Stone, chairwoman Wash. State Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition, Spokane

All tax cuts not created equal

When Republicans start shouting about tax cuts, we need to study carefully who will benefit and in what proportion.

A nonpartisan analysis by the Joint Committee on Taxation reported those with incomes below $50,000 would get peanuts. Those with incomes of over $200,00 would get thousands.

This is the same pattern we saw in the Reagan years. Those years saw the greatest assault on middle class income in American history - and perhaps the greatest concentration of wealth in a few hands that we have ever seen.

When Republicans complain about President Clinton raising taxes, they neglect to notice who did not have their taxes increased: the middle class and the poor.

It would help if we would all read the preamble to the Constitution. It says the Constitution was established for all of us, “we the people.” Amazingly, it says one of its purposes is “to promote the general welfare.” Again, it refers to all of us and not just the privileged. And yes, certainly including teenage moms. Robert M. Stevenson Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Choppers snoop in Washington, too

Regarding a story in the March 15 Spokesman-Review about helicopters buzzing cabins in North Idaho: This happens in Washington, too.

Last fall, after arriving at my cabin in Stevens County, a loud green helicopter hovered over me at treetop level, apparently having followed my car to the cabin. I assumed they were doing drug recon and, having nothing to hide, I went about my business. I still felt it was an invasion of my privacy and it didn’t seem very safe, either. W.K. Salisbury Nine Mile Falls

CPS methods, motives suspect

When we first read about Angel Harper, late in 1993, it made us angry that Child Protective Services was so cold and uncaring that it could take a child away from a loving, caring home because her mother is “mildly retarded.” Is the department saying that a person like Angel is subhuman and incapable of loving and caring?

CPS is tearing the heart out of this woman, who has done nothing wrong but is being punished because she is a little slow.

Yet, CPS repeatedly returns abused children to their abusive parents without a second thought about those children, until the children are found dead from abuse.

It doesn’t sound to us as though Angel abused, neglected or harmed her child in any way. All she asks is the right to love and raise her child.

She is being pressured into “doing the right thing.” What is the right thing? Certainly not CPS, which is just wielding its power over an innocent person while other children suffer because they won’t do the right thing. Where’s the protection?

If Angel doesn’t get her baby back, will this set a precedent of allowing children to be taken from loving homes at the whim of CPS? We have read of so much abuse in foster homes. It makes us wonder if CPS has the mental capability of making the right decisions for children.

What does CPS stand for callous, pompous, supremacy? Betty Randall and Hal Moyel Moses Lake

Horse of a different job title

Your recent article about the Cowman’s Classic bull and horse sale needs a little correction. Please add horned and polled Herefords to the list of breeds exhibited and sold. The number entered were indeed significant enough to deserve to be included. The world is not made up of “Black Angus.”

The horses sold were not “work” horses, nor were there any ponies. All were registered quarter horses, to be used as working ranch horses, such as for herding, roping or cutting cattle. “Work” horses are of a large draft breed used for pulling heavy loads or plowing fields. I’m sure neither the seller nor the buyers of these fine working ranch horses were pleased to have them referred to as work horses.

The next time you send a reporter to a livestock event, please send someone who has a little horse or cow sense.

Nonetheless, we cattlemen do appreciate being recognized in your newspaper since we did eat in your restaurants, stay in your motels and shop in your stores for four days. Melette Moore Kahlotus, Wash.

Guatemala ignores human rights

The month of March celebrates and mourns two events of international significance in Guatemala. The celebration concerns the signing of the Peace and Human Rights Accords in March 1994. The mourning brings back the sorrow of the massacre of Rio Negro 13 years ago, when 70 women and 107 children were brutally murdered by the Guatemalan military and civil patrols.

One year later, in spite of vigorous United Nations intervention and U.S.-backed efforts, March 1995 brings the stalling of the peace negotiations. After signing these accords one year ago, the Guatemalan military and civil patrols have proceeded to kill 317 people and to kidnap and torture 193 others in 1994, according to the Catholic Archdiocesan Human Rights office. Another 21 people have been killed to date in 1995, with nine showing signs of torture.

This month also marks the anniversary of the Rio Negro massacre where survivors have constructed a truth monument with the names of victims. Because of the serious threat to future peace talks, the Campaign for Peace and Life in Guatemala has called March a month of national reflection and action against inpunity in Guatemala. May we all pray for peace throughout Latin America. Patrick Copeland-Malone Spokane