Letters To The Editor

VALLEY INCORPORATION

Let this be the end of it

I’d like to compare the recent Valley incorporation vote to baseball: three strikes and you’re out.

I, like many others in the Valley - you can call us the majority - are fed up with these people pushing their agenda every other year. It’s been said before, but if they are so excited about city government, there are many local cities that they can move to.

Regarding endorsements by many local officials for this proposal, I suggest they wake up and see which way the wind blows. I even read an endorsement by the 4th District Democrats for this proposed retirement home for out of work politicians. Myself, my neighbor and several other people I know are registered 4th District Democrats and we all voted no for this proposal, so I don’t know who they’ve been polling.

As for Sen. Bob McCaslin, the one who started this legislated harassment for taxpayers, may I suggest that he resign. I hope he doesn’t even consider running for reelection.

John Pardee Veradale

Was that last no loud enough?

The voters have spoken again! Joe McKinnon, Larry Wendle, Dick Behm, et al, are you listening?

The citizens of the Valley again voiced their strong opposition to the formation of a new city. How many more times are you going to waste the taxpayers’ time and money flogging this dead horse?

Forcing the county to hold a special election, at considerable cost, was an insult to the voters’ intelligence. The economic impact on the public was obviously not considered amid the gerrymandering and political maneuvering to get this lone issue on the ballot.

If you folks are so disenchanted with the county government, run for office and fix the system we have. Stop trying to shove untold numbers of new politicians and bureaucrats down our throats. Duane J. Ries Spokane

Next time, buy lot and build city

I have a solution for the Valley incorporation proponents.

Buy a vacant lot in the Valley, build your homes there, incorporate the boundaries and give it a name.

Elect Steve Hasson as mayor and “Bubba” McCaslin as garbage director, and buy a couple of garden tractors for street maintenance. Hire Terry Mangan and his police dog as the police department.

Hold a few parades, give out a few keys to the city and play politics all you want.

How gratifying to see that the majority was not taken in by those who want to incorporate. If they are concerned about taxation without representation, let’s hold a giant tea party instead of putting this issue back on the ballot next year. Jerry D. Hamilton Spokane

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

You got your heroes and your zeros

I was struck by the irony of two unrelated stories appearing on Sunday’s front page.

After reading of the Opera House appearance of G. Gordon Liddy, where he was described as a “hero” by several audience members, I read about Jessie Moore, who has taken foster children into her home for 22 years.

I learned, as I hope all your readers did, who the real hero is. Linda Wyborney Wilbur, Wash.

Can’t afford Cooney’s bungling

I believe that County Assessor Charlene Cooney should be fired. After reading the first article The Spokesman-Review wrote on this fiasco, I became so angry I couldn’t see straight. I called the City Council and the county commissioners to complain.

The second article reaffirms my belief that Cooney is totally incompetent and shouldn’t be allowed to continue in her present position.

If the computer program is so difficult, why wasn’t the staff properly trained?

It appears that the computer overinflates property values, so it’s safe to assume that everyone’s property tax should be reduced by at least 50 percent.

What information did the property owners fail to give? When they assessed my property, they asked only one question: Had I made any improvements? Then, my assessment notice was mailed after the deadline to appeal, so I couldn’t appeal my taxes.

The City Council and county commissioners should have seen this coming. With so many complaints and appeals, they should have suspected something.

The entire assessor’s office should undergo an independent audit and everyone’s property taxes should be recalculated. I also believe I shouldn’t have to pay for Cooney’s incompetence by paying higher property taxes next year to make up for money that would have been available if the assessments had been done correctly.

I for one plan to vote no on all levies and bond issues. I can no longer afford to pay for the mistakes of incompetent people who obviously don’t care and whom I can no longer trust. Rosey Deal Spokane

Quit beating up on Packwood

Sen. Bob Packwood is about to be put through the wringer again. Highly respected by many of his colleagues, Packwood must relive all of the slander and ambiguous innuendo the media so frivolously toss around.

Almost a year and a half ago, Oregon’s junior senator was fighting for his life. While allegations were flying, Sen. Packwood openly admitted some of his past behavior was inappropriate and asked for a hearing so he could make his case in public.

Nearly all of the allegations against Packwood are from the ‘60s and ‘70s, when sexual politics and correctness in the office were very different.

Packwood long ago altered his behavior, yet he still suffers the wrath of the media, which sell many newspapers with splashy and leading headlines.

Of the six public accusers, five claim to have been kissed - all of those from 1980 or before and none of them complained at the time. One even continued to volunteer for six more years.

Packwood isn’t perfect but he’s a good man and a great senator. This scrutiny is baffling. Why haven’t the media looked into the other side of this story? The majority of these allegations are frivolous and peculiar at best. At worst they are slanderous.

Ironically, Packwood was a champion of feminist causes when being one wasn’t popular, particularly as a Republican.

I’m certain many good people won’t run for office because they see the slanted media scrutiny of Sen. Packwood.

I hope The Spokesman-Review will be objective in its coverage of this most effective legislator. David Elton Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Being a no-show has its rewards

As a responsible, tax-paying citizen of Spokane County and a concerned health professional, as well, I am mad as hell. Why do we pay county commissioners $60,000 a year to attend Spokane County Health Board meetings even though they don’t?

Check the public records, as I did. Commissioner Steve Hasson attended maybe one meeting during the past 12 months, when meetings are held at least once a month.

How can we stand up to this irresponsibility? Arnold H. Wexler, M.D. Spokane

Consultant’s service beside the point

I was very pleased about the decision to not close Fairchild Air Force Base. However, I’m still disappointed our city leaders chose to hire a consultant to ensure Fairchild would not be closed.

I have associated/worked with almost all of them over the past 10 years. I have the greatest respect for their knowledge and abilities. Their decision regarding this situation baffles me.

I’m sure as much was done to represent the Spokane community to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 1993, when the effort was made on a volunteer basis, as would have been made this time, had the base been on the list.

More importantly, base closure is determined by importance of mission, not on economic impact to the community, which is all Gen. Allen could present and is all the volunteer groups presented in 1993. Mission importance is the military’s responsibility. Base closures elsewhere have resulted in far greater impacts on their communities than would be the case if Spokane were to lose Fairchild.

I attended a meeting in which Gen. Allen claimed the economic impact on a community would be a major factor in base closure deliberations this time. I have a problem accepting that. With all the bases that have been closed in the past and all those to be closed this time, logic tells me mission importance is even more critical now and economic impact is even less important. W.J. Hiatt Spokane

IN THE PAPER

Dining review had an off taste

What is it with Leslie Kelly and Salty’s? She reviews Milford’s Fish House (Weekend, May 12) and can’t resist a negative dig at the “flashy Seattle-based seafood chain.”

This “chain” consists of three high-quality restaurants in Seattle, Portland and Spokane, working hard to bring a fine dining experience to Spokane.

In the same issue, Kelly gives an upbeat report on Cucina! Cucina!’s new menu. Doesn’t she know that they’re a flashy Seattle-based chain, too, with far more restaurants than Salty’s?

I happen to enjoy all three restaurants and wish them all much success so that I can keep enjoying a wide variety of dining in Spokane.

I just wish Kelly would expand her thinking and quit adding to Spokane’s reputation of having a paranoid inferiority complex to Seattle. Remember, Nordstrom is also a flashy Seattle-based chain, and it hasn’t hurt Spokane to welcome it. Shelly Kuney Spokane

Junior parade given short shrift

There are many positive things happening in our community involving our young people. The Junior Lilac Parade is one event which brings together young people, all of whom have worked hard to prepare for such a great event. Too bad The Spokesman-Review chose to give it such limited - almost no - coverage. Janet Falee Spokane