Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Bus pass rescues son’s summer

I want to pass along some parental summer advice.

Summer’s here - that dreaded time of year when our son calls every hour or so to try to negotiate a ride to go shopping, meet his friends or just get out of the house. Although my husband and I want to be good parents, it’s a rare occasion when we can break away from work to play chauffeur.

In summers past he would mope around the house, watch television with curtains closed and blame us for his lack of social life.

This summer we decided to try something new. Although it’s only a few days into summer vacation, it seems to be working. We got our son a Spokane Transit Authority summer bus pass. Now if he calls it’s only to ask for permission to go somewhere or to “borrow” some money.

I hope this helps other parents get their kids through summer. Sue White Spokane

Hasson pedals un-Republican idea

Spokane County Commissioner Steve Hasson wants to take old, unclaimed and discarded bicycles and paint them fluorescent orange. They would then be used by anyone in the city to get from place to place.

I must remind Hasson he’s no longer a Democrat but a Republican. Sharing bicycles, indeed! Didn’t they do that in the Soviet Union? Look what happened to them. Didn’t Capitalism win the Cold War?

What will this do to the free market? Has he thought of that? What about the effect on automobile manufacturers, not to mention gas stations and bicycle retailers? Perhaps, he’s turning into one of those kooky, clean-air humanist-environmentalist-pantheists.

Talk to fellow Republican County Coroner Dexter Amend. What kind of diseases might be spread by people sharing bicycle seats?

Next, they will put a mark on everyone in Spokane. This will allow you to ride the bikes. In fact, you will have to ride the bike. I am sure that it’s in the Bible somewhere, isn’t it?

Seriously, Hasson, it’s a great idea. Keep this up and we might even let you be a Democrat again. John L. Griffith Spokane

Bolster, don’t take over, health district

Many of us on Whitebluff Prairie in the Great Northern School area continue to believe that the county commissioners should not control the Health District. We agree with Commissioner Phil Harris’ suggestion of giving positions to health professionals and lay people.

I have worked with County Health on rural environmental issues for more than 15 years. Its people have been professional, helpful and responsive to local problems that include ground water availability, proper septic tank installation in the basalts, well contaminations and raw sewage violations.

Given the complexity of these problems, it is in everyone’s best interest that at least two trained health professionals sit on the health board.

We further ask that commissioners adopt the special panel’s sound recommendation and drop plans to take over the Spokane County Health District. Mary Benham Whitebluff Prairie Coalition, Spokane

Fine way to make bad air worse

I understand the plan to burn over 20,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil at the URM facility at N7511 Freya is coming up for final approval.

Spokane is in a valley. The North Freya area is very unique as it’s almost a valley in a valley. The foothills start at Esmeralda Golf Course, run north of URM and then curve to the west at both ends, making a strong land barrier that stops any air flow coming from the west from moving to the east.

Contaminants accumulate against the hills and sit there. We have an inversion when no one else does. In the winter, the fog flows west to east until it comes to the hills north of Francis, then flows south to the golf course area and spreads over the neighborhoods. This incinerator will do the same thing.

When Kaiser was built north of town the pine trees on Beacon Hill started dying. They had to correct their stack emission, but “safe” amounts are still being emitted.

Dust can be seen around our street lights, even late at night, year-round.

This is a low-income area and many families use wood stoves. The air is filled with the smell of smoke during cool weather.

Our family started having respiratory problems within two weeks after the city’s incinerator started up.

Now they want to add another “safe” burning project to our city’s air. I invite all who favor this project to move their families into this neighborhood for the 1,600 hours of burning they have planned for us. Loretta Spence Spokane

Grass smoke: First, make all else right

Spokane County bluegrass growers have followed the regulations and paid for burning on all their acres. Several thousand acres are being burned in Washington without permits and without following any rules. This is very unfair to Spokane County grass growers.

There are also thousands of acres of wheat stubble being burned in the state of Washington. This is not only illegal, it is a very poor farming practice.

Let’s be looking into these practices before we stop the bluegrass growers from burning their fields. Howard Hartley Spokane

Prosecutor should reorder priorities

Re: “Prosecutor asks county for money” and “Family doesn’t want charges in fatal wreck” (Region, June 19):

Perhaps the prosecutor’s office wouldn’t need additional funds if it would concentrate on violent crime rather than family tragedy. John Hodde Colville, Wash.

IN THE PAPER

Column mistreats child rape convict

I would like to introduce myself as the one you described in your June 11 column (Doug Clark, “Judge’s attitude in child rape betrays kids”) as “the close relative who works in the Adams County juvenile facility.” I am better than that; I am Roy S. Love’s sister. He is Roy S. Love to you, not “Bubba,” as you so casually addressed him in your one-sided, kick-a-family-while-they-are-down column.

Have you done the math on this case? The prosecution was asking for 72 months; the Department of Corrections recommended 67 months. That’s a difference of five months, not years like you want everybody to believe. It’s simply five months.

What angers me the most is you did not research or question all the people involved. You have only the prosecution’s side. I urge you to read the police report, the girl’s statements, Roy’s statements and the presentencing report.

The only thing that smells is your column. It truly stinks and shows me that people like you, Deputy Prosecutor Gayle Petrusic and Prosecutor David Sandhaus aren’t interested in justice. You just want to make a name for yourself no matter what the cost or who you bring down.

Our family will grow closer because we have unconditional love and the grace of God, and we will forever have the truth on our side. Birdie A. Love-Fought Othello, Wash.

Attempt at humor failed miserably

I am very proud to be a part of the Daughters of the Nile. While in Spokane I had the opportunity to visit the Shriners Hospital. As you enter the hospital a number of plaques are visible, including one for the Daughters of the Nile, for their contribution of $1,000 to the hospital.

I feel Kim Barker’s article, “The secret of youth” (June 13), was in poor taste, derogatory and a put-down of a very fine organization working very hard for the children. If the intent was to be funny, it failed in my eyes.

Our convention was a huge success due in part to the Spokane facilities and the wonderful service received everywhere in Spokane - with the exception of the article that appeared in this newspaper. Sue Spurzem Helena, Mont.

Drumheller story will make difference

Re: “Seeking suicide sanctuary,” News, June 19. I am a friend of Betty Drumheller. Your article about this beautiful and intelligent woman, who wants each of us to have a free choice in the way we end our lives, was well written. I feel it will help pave the way to a new level of consciousness about dying as an integral part of living. Don A. Hansen Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Urge campaign finance reform vote

In 1994 U.S. voters wanted change. About 42 percent of eligible voters voted, but nobody offered the change we wanted.

Once elected, our lawmakers must spend half their time and energy raising money for reelection. Lobbyists from business interests such as the tobacco industry and health insurance associations give unlimited funds because they want something in return. This is legal bribery, and League of Women Voters and all responsible citizens want to make it illegal.

The unfair advantage of money undermines the influence of individual citizens, and 85 percent of our campaign contributions go to television companies.

House Resolution 2566 is an attempt to lower the outrageous cost of campaigning and make it more fair. The Republican committee chairman refuses to put it up for a vote.

HR373 is a discharge petition to force a vote by the House of Representatives. Our Rep. George Nethercutt has not signed the petition. Rep. Linda Smith of Washington has made it her objective to pass this law, and Sen. Patty Murray is a sponsor of a similar bill in the Senate.

Sen. Slade Gorton does not like the idea and has reportedly accumulated $4 million for a campaign in 1988.

Contact Rep. Nethercutt and ask him to sign HR373 and vote for fair elections.

Most of us don’t know enough about issues to comment. We need all the media to publish upcoming bills and explain their results. For Internet access, http://thomas.loc.gov is a source of information on pending and passed national legislation. Mildred Stout Pullman

Better remind Dole who’s running

Gee, could it be possible that Bob Dole is afraid to debate President Clinton? He won’t do it, but he suggested that maybe “Lizzy” Dole should debate Hillary Clinton.

Hillary? Who is running for president, “Lizzy” or “Bobby?”

I would love to see Dole and Clinton debate. Dole would really be tied in a knot. He doesn’t talk about the important issues people want to hear. All he knows how to do is sling mud and be wishy-washy.

The Republican motto is to investigate every little thing. Sen. Al D’Amato should be the first Republican to really be investigated. Too bad the Democrats don’t investigate Bush and Reagan on their bad dealings - Iran-Contra and the savings and loans.

Remember all the flak over Hillary helping Bill Campaign? Seems as though “Lizzy” is doing the same thing, taking over. Jean Layton Spokane