Letters To The Editor
SPOKANE MATTERS
Prosecutors underpaid, overloaded
Remarkably, the City Council is seriously considering pay raises for the city’s top managers and not for its city prosecutors after having designated law enforcement a priority.
According to Mayor Jack Geraghty, the proposed 3.25 percent cost of living increase for certain city managers is a “matter of fairness” (Spokesman-Review, March 29, “Pay raises back on agenda”).
It is my understanding that we at the City Prosecutor’s Office have not received a cost of living increase in at least three years. To add fuel to the fire, we are some of the lowest, if not the lowest, paid prosecutors in the state. Entry level prosecutors for Spokane County are at a salary that exceeds our starting wages by close to $5,000 annually. In addition, the County Prosecutor’s Office has a larger staff that can adequately investigate cases, contact witnesses, prepare for trial and respond to motions and appeals.
But that’s not all. Not only do we earn less than our counterparts at the county, we earn less than those employed by the City Public Defenders Office, which, incidentally, represented arguably fewer than half of all defendants charged with crimes in violation of the Spokane Municipal Code.
It is a sad state of affairs when city management places community safety at the top of its agenda, when in truth it has sunk to the bottom. Jared Garth, assistant city prosecutor City of Spokane
Spokane Scholars to be honored
About four years ago, several Spokane citizens decided that it was time to reward K-12 academic scholars. As a result of their efforts, six young people from Spokane County received $3,000 each to attend a college or university of their choice. They were selected on the basis of demonstrated academic performance.
Previous beneficiaries of the Spokane Scholars program have gone on to greatness. All still are enrolled and are excelling in their academic programs. They have recognized the support Spokane has provided them to honor excellence.
On April 24, at a banquet at the Ag Trade Center, Spokane Scholars again will honor young Spokane County people who have demonstrated excellence. Our goal is to fill the facility in honor of our wonderful students.
This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Alan Page, chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, who first became known as the man who dominated the NFL defense as a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
Additional financial support for this event is needed. Because we want to keep our talent here, Whitworth College, Spokane Community College, Spokane Falls Community College, Washington State, Gonzaga and Eastern Washington universities add an additional $1,000 scholarship if scholarship recipients attend a local college or university.
Be there on April 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Ag Trade Center to support academic excellence. Our wonderful young people will thank you. Terrance R. Brown, CEO Community Colleges of Spokane
Measure cost in terms of kindness
I find it sad that anyone is willing to make an issue regarding the cost of adopting a pet from the Humane Society versus SpokAnimal CARE.
The bottom line is unconditional love. That is what you get from a pet, whether it costs $9.50 or $74.81.
The main concern should be to help the animals and all organizations that are dedicated to that very cause. Jennifer Ward Spokane
WASHINGTON STATE
Senn should seek cooperation
Dottie Butler applauds Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn as a consumer savior who refuses to “kowtow” to insurance companies. Yet in Ms. Butler’s own letter (Roundtable, April 2) she describes the health insurance marketplace this way: “It’s a jungle out there.”
My question is, who made the jungle? If Senn is doing such a wonderful job protecting consumers, why are they having such difficulty finding quality coverage at affordable prices? Senn has had three years to create an insurance system that works. Is the marketplace any better today than it was four years ago? Absolutely not. It is demonstrably worse, and it happened on her watch.
Ms. Senn’s predecessor knew what Ms. Senn never will concede: the best regulatory approach is one of cooperation, not confrontation. To best serve consumers, the Washington insurance commissioner should create a healthy environment for companies so more carriers, not less, will come to do business here and help keep prices affordable through free-market competition. Instead, we have a myopic regulator who refuses to admit that it’s the high cost of medical care, not insurance company profits, that cause high premiums. We need to elect a new commissioner this November who is willing to work with insurance companies. Ms. Butler calls that kowtowing. I call it common sense. Ron Hauenstein Spokane
IN THE PAPER
Values: One page speaks volumes
So this is how we make heroes: Emblazoned across the front page of the April 4 Spokesman-Review are the headlines “Unabomber suspect in custody,” “A great place to hide” and “Suspect a genius in mathematics.” With these are a massive sketch of the suspect, a map within a map and two sidebars. Two-thirds of the page is dedicated to the story of an outlaw.
At the bottom of page one you inserted the story about Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown, a man President Clinton refers to as “a real life force.” Ron Brown, a man who died in the service of his country. There were no bold headlines. There were no sidebars or maps and the photograph was the least of all the many pictures you have at hand.
The Unabomber, whoever he/she might be, is a despicable degenerate by even the lowest standards of any civilized society. But who would think so after a quick glance at your front page?
Who, by your standards, deserves the headline emblazoned across the front page? Ron Brown or an unknown criminal? Who are the hero makers? Marvin Wayne Post Falls
Youth symphony deserves reviews
There is a group of musicians in Spokane that many people haven’t heard of, or if they have, know very little about. This group is the Spokane Youth Symphony, which is made up of Spokane’s finest youth musicians.
Established in 1949, it has been producing outstanding musicians who often go on to attend some of the nation’s finest music schools.
What I don’t understand is the lack of support this fine young group receives from The Spokesman-Review. I constantly see articles reviewing the work of various other performing art groups in Spokane. The weekend before a Youth Symphony concert there is only a small mention of it in the events column of the Weekend section.
This hard-working group includes students who will one day go on to perhaps be members of the Spokane Symphony. Don’t they deserve at least half the recognition the symphony gets? Melissa Mullins Spokane
PEOPLE IN SOCIETY
Bad home means big trouble
Violence starts at home. If parents are abusive, the child will think the availability of weapons isn’t a problem. I wonder where that (Moses Lake) kid got three guns.
Some people resort to violence because no one will listen to them. They probably think if they have a gun, people will listen. I also think drugs are probably part of the cause of many cases of violence. Heather Nielsen, seventh grade Riverside Middle School
Show respect for flag and country
Thank you, Sister Mary Eucharista, for “Enjoy the fruits, pay due respect” (Letters, March 30), a most eloquent response to “I don’t stand for anthem either.” I find it insupportable to witness the desecration of our country’s flag and the callous disrespect for our national anthem. The only message these ingrates send is self-gratification.
These self-righteous hypocrites can find another country where they have the privilege of disrespecting the national flag.
They make a mockery of “freedom of speech.” Their derision is contemptuous to Americans who honor and respect their country. The insolence does dishonor to those who put their precious lives on the line against despotism. Their impudence mocks the sacrifice of life paid by those who died to preserve our liberty.
Their arrogance is void of compassion for the families who will never again be able to embrace their loved ones. I knew a veteran who stood on prostheic legs and sang the national anthem at every game. We the veterans of foreign wars served to stop the injustice and cruelty of despotic governments.
The immigrants that I have worked with, from totalitarian counties, told me how they escaped and how fortunate they are to live in America. How many of us, born in America, have become complacent? How many of us have personally experienced indignities such as gross injustice, humiliation, deprivation and the threat of execution?
There always will be anarchists among us, abusing the doctrine of our democracy, terrorizing our freedom behind a mask that’s no different than a fascist government.
That’s why we veterans stand and defend our flag. Ray Aleman Osburn, Idaho
Writer speaks for ‘sane majority’
When extracts from the Philadelphia Inquirer are reprinted by permission in The Spokesman-Review, I am privileged to sit in with some of the most informed and responsible writers in journalism. David R. Boldt’s recent column is cited here as an example.
Boldt is correct that “America needs religion’s compass,” as opposed to a police club. He takes rare caution not to dismiss anyone with a Bible and a peaceful profession of faith or politics as extremists and right-wing racists.
Boldt takes the same care to assure us that not all news writers and commentators are swaggering, morally bankrupt animals in ivory towers.
I am grateful to Boldt for standing out in his efforts to set reason apart from the extremes in journalism and in religion. He vindicates the sane majority in Pennsylvania and in Washington state. Monte McCormick Spokane
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION
Carrot-stick approach working
Last year we had a lot of students writing all over our restrooms. They finally had to close down the restrooms. The kids just didn’t seem to care about our school, and I think that those kids don’t have any respect for themselves if they enjoy destroying our school.
At the end of the school year, I and a few other girls and the nurse and my teacher got together once a week during lunch and talked about some new rules that we could make.
So this year we have an honor level system. If you get into trouble, you get detention for 15 to 30 minutes. Every once in awhile we have activities for Honor Level 1 and 2 students or just for Honor Level 1 students.
I have really enjoyed this school year because of the honor level system. I would recommend this system to other schools. Michelle Southern, age 14 Reardan
Nethercutt lowers boom, badly
Congressman George Nethercutt’s action in forcing the removal of Gerald Tays from his position as superintendent of the Coulee Dam Recreation Area seems a flagrant example of both congressional arrogance and disregard for the wishes and best interests of his constituents.
During the years in which he acted as head of Parks Service forces headquartered in Coulee Dam, Tays has been an outstanding member of the community. Not only did he carry out his federal duties in a manner which obviously conformed with the desires of his superior, he also contributed mightily to community projects.
I, a long-term member of the Grand Coulee Dam Yacht Club, felt that some of the recent changes in Park Service policy as they pertained to lakefront projects were more stringent than necessary.
The yacht club has been advised that it will soon have to remove docks it built, at considerable expense and with National Park Service approval, at Eden Harbor. This despite the fact that the club made them open to anyone who wished to use them.
The harbor docks were a safe haven on stormy days and the Park Service decision seemed severe. Nevertheless, I found it incomprehensible for the congressman to strike at the superintendent rather than discuss the complaints of the commissioners and county officials with national park officials in Washington, D.C. Fred J. Meyer Coulee Dam, Wash.
Know whose hand is in your pocket
Funny doings in America. Since Communism died in 1989, we don’t know who to hate.
Radio talk shows and TV evangelists blame our problems on liberals, unions, seat belts, abortion, Jews, welfare mommies, gays, immigrants, schools without prayer, government, illegal drugs, tree huggers and banning assault weapons.
So, while Americans wallow in spite, huge corporations, as reported by the Cato Institute, are taking over 50 percent off the top of our federal budget as subsidies.
This largesse includes handouts to research foreign opportunities for lower wages - all in the name of free trade. If more Americans knew of these international corporate subsides they’d be furious.
Be assured, those in the Republican congressional majority know, approve and hope we won’t discover it, or that we will forget. Their re-election coffers are being richly stuffed three times bigger than ever before.
Then they righteously demand a balanced budget by 2002, slashing entitlements to seniors, education and the environment, to give their super-rich clients more tax cuts.
Wake up! Corporate welfare handouts alone could balance the budget quickly. So, while Americans tut-tut over who to hate, our pockets are being picked for corporate welfare, by the best Congress the super-rich can buy. Remember in November. Vern L. Klingman Billings, Mont.
Whole Pentagon bears watching
In his April 2 Roundtable letter, “Defense secretary bears watching,” Lee Barton reported that Secretary of Defense William Perry may be conducting personal business with Communist China.
Prior to his appointment, Perry worked as a consultant to the Martin-Marietta Corp. Martin-Marietta and Lockheed have since merged to form Lockheed-Martin.
According to a Sierra Club newsletter, this year the Pentagon will contribute $31 million in federal funds to the personal bonus checks of top officials at Lockheed-Martin. Chris Farnam Spokane
A junket for Chelsea
Rather than the headline, “First daughter can show youth world,” your April 1 article should have read, “First daughter can show world what a tax-wasting country the United States is.”
And a note to the president: Balance the budget before you parade the family around the world on my dime. Dan Barker Spokane