Letters To The Editor

Sat., Dec. 21, 1996

BUSINESS AND LABOR

First, WWP serves itself

Re: “Utility bills estimated” (Dec. 11). Did ratepayers subsidize the repairs after Ice Storm ‘96?

All I’ve heard from Washington Water Power Co. is that customers won’t be charged for the repair work but that WWP and its shareholders will bear the cost. Officials have said power bills will actually be lower than normal because homes went without power.

Well, it seems someone is pulling the tinsel over my eyes. I received a high-voltage shock to my empty wallet when my anticipated lower bill was 20 percent more than last year’s. News reports say I’m not alone.

Multiply 17,891 customers “estimated” by WWP with a conservative $50 overcharge and you have an $894,550 advance payment to WWP.

Joyfully, Santa says we will receive a refund next month (without interest, of course). But this still looks like a quick, cheap way for WWP to make sure it has more presents under its tree. The Grinches (a.k.a. executives) likely didn’t consider (or care) about the financial burden the outage already has had on many people.

As a small business owner, if I were to overbill my customers 20 percent, promising a no-interest adjustment next month, I’d be looking for a lot of new customers. We don’t have a choice here, though.

WWP can easily factor in the average degree days difference on our bills, but it forgot (?) to factor in the average days out of service.simply taking three to four days’ reduction, our bills would have been a little more realistic. Esse A. Vaikonpaa Spokane

Please, no Spokane chainsaw massacre

I was born in Spokane. Last May, my family chose to move back here because this city is the best place we’ve ever seen.

In Port Orchard, where we lived for 10 years, Puget Sound Power & Light constantly and indiscriminately hacks away at any trees that come anywhere near its lines. The utility’s trimmers given absolute authority by local governments. They don’t even ask homeowners if they can slice away part or all of their trees.

We had a big, beautiful hawthorn that was at least 50 years old on our property. One branch’s tip overhung a line. Did they cut off that tip? No, they cut the entire section of tree that hung over our fence, shaving off almost half of one side. This kind of thing is more than common. Despite their efforts, the power goes out to huge numbers of people all over Western Washington many times a year. It doesn’t do a bit of good.

I was at a grocery store here on the second day of the power outage and couldn’t find candles, wood or kerosene. “Don’t you guys know it’s cold here in the winter?” I joked. “Hey,” the woman said, “our power never goes out like this!”

Citizens of Spokane and Washington Water Power, don’t go crazy and start cutting down all the beautiful trees. Chances of another storm like this happening are very slim. It’s been 60 years since the last one. You’ll be so sorry if you let WWP go chainsaw mad. Once they have Puget Power-type authority, you’ll never see a lovely, tree-shaded street in this city again. Teresa Keene Spokane

Motor Works shows the better way

When I read the article about the little company that shared 30 percent of its profits (“Engine shop greases workers’ palms, News, Dec. 14) it really made my heart fill with joy. It is about time that employers show how much they appreciate their workers. After all, where would a company be without them?

We all have to work for a living. With the cost of living as it is, every little bit counts, especially at Christmas time.

I am so proud of Motor Works for what it has given to its employees that I would go to it for its product without a doubt, just knowing that this company really cares.

The company has shown that by sharing its profit and by just hiring people with no experience. I think all companies should do what Motor Works has done. Maybe if they did, they wouldn’t have so much turnover in employees and so many unhappy ones.

We all know that the Northwest is a great place to live. This is one of example of why.

Keep up the good work, Motor Works. I know I am not the only one who is very proud of your company. Sherry Fenton Otis Orchards

Workers are not the problem

In response to staff writer D.F. Oliveria’s Our View editorial of Dec. 14:

Wake up and slap yourself, Oliveria, you have the cart in front of the horse.

We in labor all understand “how to fall in love and keep romance alive in our job.” It’s management’s job to stimulate that. How out of touch you are!

Until corporate executives who continue to swallow all the profits and appoint midlevel managers who suck up, this degeneration in the workplace will never stop.

The 15 steps to lowering stress - give us a break. How about 15 steps to competent managing, like eliminating favoritism and pre-judging employees on their personality, along with decent wages, benefits and working conditions?

Your last sentence was close, but it should have read, Ultimately, however, the employer holds the key to workplace happiness and fulfillment.” Ed Ellenz Spokane

Fur business ethical, prospering

If someone doesn’t want to wear fur, that’s their business and I respect them for it. But they shouldn’t spread vicious lies about the fur industry.

For 23 years I was a fur farmer, raising 3,000 mink per year, and I was active in the fur breeders’ association. I never witnessed or heard of cruelty to mink and fox like recent letter writers have stated.

Raising mink in filthy pens is unheard of as the stains would render the pelt practically worthless. Pens are raised off the ground to keep them clean and beneath cover to prevent weather exposure that can fade the fur. The animals are nourished well. They have plenty of straw to keep them clean, dry and contented.

The animals are killed using a very quick and humane method. Never are they skinned alive.

The Canadian government has signed statements from people paid to stage cruelty situations by certain animals rights groups.

As for faux fur, don’t tell me you can’t tell fake fur from real. Besides, faux fur is not biodegradable and by its own origin pollutes the ecosystem.

As for wild furs, trappers are only taking the excess. Like hunting, too many beaver, muskrat, coyotes, etc., have to be harvested.

No, the fur industry isn’t dead. It’s a business of supply and demand for a world commodity. Last spring, fur sales were so good there was no carryover inventory. Buyers from China, Korea and Russia are eagerly looking over our market potential. Tony Delgado Loon Lake

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