Letters To The Editor

Sun., Oct. 27, 1996

SPOKANE MATTERS

River Park prospects exciting, good

I am excited about the proposed River Park Square and parking garage projects.

When the garage project is accepted by the city we will get a 20-year doors-open commitment from Nordstrom and the Cinemaplex; construction will begin and we’ll have a beautiful River Park Square, an atrium enclosing Post Street and parking for 1,304 vehicles. Not to mention the obvious attraction to many old and new retailers.

This will not only be a beginning for the revitalization of downtown, it will also be a catalyst and stimulation for the Davenport Arts District, which will include continuing to renovate the Davenport Hotel, construction of the Davenport Parking Garage on First Avenue and renovation of the steam plant.

Having a downtown won’t take away from malls. It will be a destination spot for residents and visitors alike. It will spread the wealth.

Also, I would like to thank the Cowles family for the investment it’s willing to make in our city. We are very lucky to have a family whose genuine interest in, and financial contribution to, Spokane allow them to initiate the River Park projects at a much smaller profit margin than any other developer would accept.

Our City Council will soon make decisions about this project. I urge you to call council members and voice your support for a revitalized downtown. Mary Anne Brown Spokane

Sweet deal, but for whom?

Improving Spokane’s core area is vital. But here’s how I perceive the parking garage purchase proposal now being considered:

I own a piece of land with a building on it. I want John Doe to buy, renovate, enlarge and maintain the building at his expense on my land. He will then pay me a large sum of money for 20 years while using the building. At the end of that time, I will own not just my land, but the building, the addition and all future revenue. John Doe has had the privilege of paying me huge sums for 20 years and ends up owning nothing.

Despite all the glorious rhetoric, that’s the deal. If I were a lending institution, I wouldn’t loan a dime for a building on land not owned by the borrower. If Spokane citizens go for the proposal, there is a swamp near Las Vegas I’d like to talk to y’all about. Doris M. Nusbaum Newman Lake

Pupo’s decisiveness laudable

Hurrah for acting City Manager Bill Pupo. In reference to Carolyn Frances Lair’s resume lies and his resulting termination of her, Pupo did the only thing he could do.

Our society will forgive most anybody for most any infraction except for being a poor sport or cheat. I have been in a position of hiring and firing and the one infraction that always resulted in a firing was a lie.

I am ashamed of Lair’s supporters, who were willing to overlook her outright discrepancies on her resume once they came to light. How could anyone look to her for direction with the same eye?

Pupo wasted no time reviewing this situation and acting. This is the kind of person we need. Hire Pupo as our full-time city manager and be done with it. Scott Griffith Spokane

‘Chic’ acquired at hurtful price

A couple of items could be added to the recent story about the Cooper George Apartment Building.

First, the present ownership raised rents dramatically. That huge increase forced many residents, including a blind friend of mine, to find other housing. Housing in Spokane is not easy to find.

It was nice to learn that “chic” has once again returned to the Cooper George. Michael T. McGuire Spokane

Bigger story in two realities

One-third of the Oct. 14 front page, virtually all page 6 and one-third of page 7 were devoted to Amway Corp. and its local success story, Ron and Georgia Lee Ron Puryear. You write of their dream home on a golf course, jet plane, boats, furs, cars, motor home, million-a-month income and four-acre compound with a 26,000-square-foot “palace” and 10-car garage “for holidays and family gatherings.”

By contrast, six inches of page nine is devoted to a homeless man named Larry Browne, who “swigs a bottle of cheap wine, sleeps in the weeds and eats his meals at the House of Charity.”

It’s unfortunate these stories could not have run side by side on the front page because they are indicative of one of the worst aspects of our socioeconomic system - grossly inequitable income distribution.

The Puryears manage to get by on an estimated $1 million per month while the House of Charity scratches to raise $30,000 to house an average of 49 men through the winter. Few would begrudge the Puryears the benefits of their success. But the conspicuous consumption espoused by Amway as “recruiting by example” should not be held up as a model to those who are concerned for the less fortunate in our community.

Perhaps material possessions are the “fluff that just makes life a lot of fun,” as Georgia Lee is quoted. We suspect Browne and others who sleep in the weeds, with no material possessions, might have a different view. William and Frances Corrigan Spangle, Wash.

Conference of benefit to youth

A big thank you to all who took part in The Way of Wisdom Charismatic Conference Oct. 18-20 at Gonzaga Preparatory School. It was a tremendous joy for everyone involved to share all of our gifts and prayers with other members of the community.

Special thanks to all who helped bring the children together for the youth track. As a teenager growing up in today’s world, I know how easy it is to fall off the track. We live in a scary place. Sometimes, it feels like evil will overpower and take away our hope. In desperation, we cling to anything to feel secure and loved. Oftentimes, whatever we’re hanging onto only hurts us more.

That weekend, some adults and leading youths brought the children something to cling to - the family of Christian faith, and in it the security and love of a friend we will have for a lifetime. Nell Gunning Youth Track core team, Colbert

SPOKANE COUNTY

Elect watchdogs, not lap dogs

Spokane is growing. What big city would you like it to resemble as it grows? Las Vegas? Los Angeles?

We have to think seriously about managing growth if we want Spokane to continue to be a wonderful place to live and raise our children.

Our county commissioners exert enormous influence in the growth of our city and county. Take a look at the campaign contributions spent to elect the county commissioners.

Both Lila Howe and Kate McCaslin are being funded by developers, contractors and real estate agents. Do you think they will be interested in managing growth to benefit the common citizen of Spokane County?

Incredibly, McCaslin was executive director of the contractors’ association. And Howe thinks it’s OK to build her house levered out over Deer Lake, thumbing her nose at local zoning regulations.

Electing either of these candidates will guarantee more strip malls, fewer parks and the gradual conversion of our lovely city into a contractors’ heaven and a citizens’ nightmare.

John Roskelley and Ron Hormann have solid backgrounds and experience as advocates for county citizens. They will owe no allegiance to the developers and contractors who will be trying to influence their decisions. They will speak for all of us. Dan Simonson Spokane

Bad roads? Blame Hormann

I find it ironic that Ron Hormann calls our transportation system a “crisis” when, as our county engineer until about a year ago, he was the person responsible for transportation in the county.

Clearly, our road and traffic problems were not created overnight. They have been brewing for years. If Hormann actually is the leader he claims to be, he should have helped us avoid the crisis we have in our roads.

Hormann had his chance. We don’t need more of the same from government. We need new ideas and new leadership. That’s why I’m voting for Kate McCaslin for county commissioner. Janine Love Spokane

Hormann has the skills to excel

Ron Hormann, candidate for county commissioner, is the type of manager to get the job done and cut through the fluff.

For once we have the opportunity to elect someone with proven managerial skills that include everything from budget to personnel and equipment management to long-range goals. He is always a quiet gentleman, but not afraid to stir the waters if necessary to resolve important issues.

I’ve been privileged to know and work with Hormann for 30-plus years and to have served on various transportation committees with him. He is my choice to lead our community into the 21st century and address issues that include growth management, solid waste utilization and valley urbanization.

Let’s not pass up the chance to elect someone we can trust: Hormann. H. Red Riebe Spokane

Hormann will stress growth quality

If you’re concerned about Spokane’s urban sprawl, traffic congestion, community safety and infrastructure, vote for Ron Hormann for county commissioner.

Unlike his opponent, Hormann has a long history of distinguished community service in engineering and community planning, including his time as a Spokane County engineer from 1987 to 1995.

During a time when Spokane’s population and associated problems are growing rapidly, Hormann has the integrity and commitment not only to lead our community toward positive change, but to listen to our concerns and get things done.

We need sensible, skilled and honest county leadership to help us plan for our future and protect our quality of life, clean air and clean water. Vote for Hormann. Guadalupe Flores Spokane

Sanifill plans menace West Plains

The Sanifill Landfill in Airway Heights was initially permitted to handle inert materials and later expanded to a “limited purpose” landfill. Now, Sanifill wants to expand to six times its present size.

By spending millions on “unrequired liners,” Sanifill doesn’t fool anyone. The company intends to expand the types of waste it will accept.

Are people aware that the Department of Ecology has relaxed regulations for hazardous waste? What guarantees exist that as the government relaxes its regulations, Sanifill won’t aggressively solicit dangerous wastes for its landfill in Spokane County.

Do our government officials realize that this location is on an aquifer that satisfies all federal requirements for designation as a sole source aquifer?

The Environmental Protection Agency tells us that all liners will eventually leak. Whatever is in that liner will go into the ground water.

Do the words “Superfund” or “Colbert” ring a bell?

Sanifill is owned by USA Waste Services, a Dallas-based waste conglomerate with billions of dollars of assets and annual revenues in the millions. Its concern is increasing stockholder returns, not the health and safety of the people of the West Plains.

Neighbors and landowners are right to be concerned about this latest fiasco in the sick joke that is garbage in Spokane. Pete Denison Spokane

INITIATIVE 670

We already have best term limits

If people advocating term limits would spent as much time advocating that we vote out the entrenched power structures in Washington, D.C., we wouldn’t need term limits. We could use the term limit function we already have: the ballot box.

In fact, two years ago, voters did elect many new people, ousting incumbents.

Consistently overlooked by term limit advocates is the fact that Initiative 670 actually contains a dangerous call for a U.S. constitutional convention. There can be no limits on a constitutional convention. We cannot know who the delegates might be.

Because of the Washington, D.C. firm U.S. Term Limits, at least 14 states have an almost identical initiative on the ballot this year. Each state’s initiative contains the same call for a U.S. constitutional convention. Are we to believe it was the result of a grass-roots activity?

I long ago got the feeling we were being suckered into believing we needed something besides our intelligence at the ballot box. Since U.S. Term Limits was involved with the last attempt to inject term limits into Washington state law, perhaps it is an entrenched power structure, too.

Read about I-670 in your Voter’s Guide. Avoid the possibility of a U.S. constitutional convention. Retain the right to vote for the candidate of your choice. Do not allow all the bureaucratic complications of I-670 to become law. George Durkee, chairman Wash. Citizens Against Tampering With our U.S. Constitution

Initiative 670 booby-trapped

Fellow citizens of Washington, while my intentions were good, I find I’ve done you a serious disservice. I am one of the people who circulated the petition to put Initiative 670 (for term limit ballot labeling) on the ballot. While limiting term is a good idea, this initiative is not the way to accomplish it.

Hidden in the text is a call for a constitutional convention to write a term limits amendment. This presents a real danger to our American way of life. By simple parliamentary tricks, the floor of any such convention could be opened up to any issue and by any format.

The U.S. Constitution, as it is written, is the surest defense of the rights and liberties we are blessed with. To open it up to the possibility of radical changes is a process that cannot be allowed.

Rather than changing the Constitution to suit our “modern” views, we need to elect leaders who will obey and enforce the one we have.

I apologize for misleading many of you. In my zeal, I thought I was doing the right thing. Please take a stand for the Constitution and vote no on 670. William C. Schumacher Deer Park

3RD LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Moyer’s bad record behind nastiness

Sen. John Moyer has gone nasty with his and Washington state Republican TV ads and mailings containing preposterous, misleading statements about his opponent, Lisa Brown.

Brown has been a consistent and effective advocate for welfare rights, health, family and child issues, as proven by endorsements she’s received from agencies and organizations in the above areas and by a loyal following of friends and acquaintances.

Moyer’s lack of character shows when he finds it more important to use negative TV ads and mailings than to deal with issues.

Moyer’s campaign contributions reflect his real ideology. Large contributions from insurance, business, for-profit health care, timber and pharmaceutical interests are rewards for his voting record. Moyer does not represent the well-being of low- and middle-income people in his district.

A good example of his two-faced behavior was his April 1995 votes for a “takings” bill, Initiative 164, at the behest of the Republican Senate bosses, in spite of a prior promise to Spokane residents that he would vote against it.

Vote for Brown, a legislator with a proven record of honesty and of working for the public. Owen Berio Springdale, Wash.

Moyer helped Heart Institute

Sen. John Moyer recently came to the rescue of The Heart Institute of Spokane. The institute, a unique organizational entity , was denied a pharmacy license because it didn’t fit into any of the recognized organization categories of pharmacy licensure within state law.

Moyer led an effort to pass new legislation that helped the institute and other organizations comply with state and federal laws, ensuring our ability to bring innovative, cost-efficient services to our communities.

Since its inception, The Heart Institute has broken new territory in its efforts to bring the best, most efficient cardiovascular services to the people it serves. On occasion, this has required changing long-held beliefs about how things should be done, even to the extent of challenging the state’s bureaucracy.

All of us associated with the institute appreciate Moyer’s vision, insight and willingness to seek new and better ways of doing things - and his ability to move roadblocks to their implementation. Michael D. Nowling, president The Heart Institute of Spokane

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