Letters To The Editor

Fri., April 18, 1997

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, April 23, 1997: Correction Kerry L. Masters’ letter of April 18 contained a typographical error. The ZIP code for the Netherlands Embassy in Washington, D.C., is 20008.

SPOKANE MATTERS

Kingsley’s work deserves praise

I read The Spokesman-Review’s article regarding the Growth Management Board’s decision on the Critical Areas Ordinance with a smile of triumph until I realized that the reporter didn’t even mention the principal “who,” who fought to protect our environment.

Attorney Robert P. Kingsley donated over a year of his time and energy to bring the lawsuit on our behalf. He worked quietly and diligently out of the media spotlight to achieve a win for our entire community and generations to come. It irritates me to think that if Kingsley had been disbarred or arrested in a gambling raid, the paper would have printed his name.

Kingsley secured our future in a professional and unobtrusive manner. Spokane owes him an expression of gratitude - by name. Thank you, Bob Kingsley. Jan R. Roe Spokane

Make boating safe and fun for all

After recent public debate regarding a possible ban of personal watercraft on parts of the Spokane River, the Spokane County commissioners postponed their decision to see if opposing groups can reach an agreement.

I applaud the commissioners’ willingness to seek resolution of the conflict.

The most reasonable, practical way to resolve conflicts on the water is through boating education and responsible, reasonable regulation. According to law enforcement agencies, boating safety education reduces accidents and bad behavior.

By educating boaters through safety courses, boat launch signage, distributing safety information, handouts at fuel docks and providing water patrol officers, respect and cooperation can be achieved without discriminating against users of one type of craft.

Law enforcement search and rescue teams use personal watercraft to patrol rivers and lakes, search for missing boaters and rescue kayakers, canoers and windsurfers. Most water patrol officers who operate a PWC say many lives would have been lost if these craft weren’t available.

Regarding PWCs, the environment and wildlife, there is no evidence to support the claim they cause damage of any type. Nor is there proof PWCs harm or disrupt sea life or birds. In fact, personal watercraft are much safer than motorized boats because they use no propellers.

Let’s work together so that individual rights are preserved and all boaters can enjoy the Spokane River together. Pete Roundy, member Northwest Personal Watercraft Safety Project, Spokane

Rock crushing not so intolerable

After growing up in an area of north Spokane that once was rural and now is surrounded by housing, I can relate to the old-timers of Green Bluff not liking the idea of us new five- and 10-acre residents stopping rock crushing that goes back as early as 1934 and helped create roads that made easier access for the farmers to the Spokane markets.

Although we are the next closest family to the gravel supply location, I feel we should put up with a little extra noise (four weeks out of every three to five years) instead of having some other community put up with the dust and noise to make gravel for Green Bluff ‘s roads.

If we stop trying to create turmoil over this problem and reach for a positive solution over the rezoning, maybe our children will learn something from this, instead of the bickering that went on at the Green Bluff meeting.

I do, however, feel that the county should begin testing our water wells at the soonest time possible to achieve the most accurate rating of the well, in order to protect both the county and the person with the well. Rick L. Nelson Mead

Project ‘a done deal’ all along

I was saddened to learn that the citizens of Spokane lost another court battle in their attempt to stop city participation in the building of River Park Square.

In my opinion, the fact that Judge O’Conner has decided in the city’s favor against Steve Eugster is that this always has been and always will be a done deal, no matter what the citizens of Spokane do. How O’Conner can find the construction of a parking garage to be an emergency is beyond me.

Further proof that this is a done deal?

We should have been suspicious years ago, when the city announced it was going to build a bigger, more expensive bridge across the river to Lincoln Street, instead of the cheaper, more practical replacement of the Post Street Bridge.

The ironic thing about the planned Lincoln Street Bridge is that it will pretty much ruin the library view that we will be paying up to $2 million to preserve.

I do not appreciate my tax dollars and parking meter funds, which are supposed to go into the general fund, being spent on corporate welfare. Let the people vote! Gerald L. Hetland Spokane

PRIGGEE

Why give racists free publicity?

Re: Milt Priggee’s April 13 cartoon and of the picture of Richard Butler’s arrest on the front page of the Handle:

We are sure that the racist element in North Idaho is very appreciative of your attempt to sustain the image of Idaho as a state that nurtures bigotry from early childhood through adulthood. You have done so much for their movement - much more than they could have achieved without your help.

You could have focused more on the positive efforts of the Coeur d’Alene summit against racism this week. But, even though it involved many more people, we understand your need as so-called responsible journalists to stir up sensationalism.

Most North Idahoans are appalled at the presence of racists in our midst and are ashamed of the image promulgated by the media. Our hope is that your continued efforts to slam North Idaho go unnoticed by the rest of the nation. Norbert F. Riplinger and P. Susie Riplinger Coeur d’Alene

What an inaccurate surprise

I loudly object to the April 13 cartoon in The Handle. Staff cartoonist Milt Priggee depicted Junior Bloomsday runners in Ku Klux Klan headgear.

North Idaho has been working hard to combat its image of racism. My husband Ed and I have lived in North Idaho for 15 years and in Sandpoint for five years. The majority of people we have met are loving, friendly and most decidedly not racists.

I am very surprised The Spokesman-Review allowed this to be published. We are considering discontinuing our subscription. An apology is in order. Tricia K. Florence Sandpoint

Priggee ‘went beyond low’

I have been looking at staff cartoonist Milt Priggee’s editorial cartoons for eight years now. In that time, I thought I’d seen him hit the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows. Even most of the bad ones had a touch of humor in them that I could enjoy.

With his April 13 cartoon, he hit a new low. In fact, he went beyond low. It was a slap in the face to all children living in Idaho, or maybe a kick in the belly.

I guess it’s OK to be a bigot if one is a liberal bigot and hates things and people it’s politically correct to hate. But I can’t see hating the children of Idaho for supposed faults of some of the adults there.

I will give him credit for not discriminating. His slap was directed at all the children of Idaho - white, black, red, yellow and brown.

I’m a parent with two young children and I’d rather my children see a picture in the paper of two naked people fornicating that that cartoon.

It is a sick mind that drew it. Maybe you’d better give him some time off.

Please understand, I like Priggee’s cartoons. Even ones I don’t politically agree with usually are entertaining in some respect. But this one had no redeeming value and could be harmful if examined and understood by any young children living in Idaho. Did he really intend to hurt those children? Michael E. Mayeau Spokane

Quit picking on Idaho kids

I’ve never paid much attention to staff cartoonist Milt Priggee’s sick cartoons in the past, but his effort of April 13 got my attention. He’s finally run out of political figures and ideas to sharpen his wit on, so now it’s time for our kids.

He obviously doesn’t have children, or have anything to do with them.

Several schools are getting complimentary copies of The Spokesman-Review for their current events classes. Could Priggee explain the meaning of Sunday’s cartoon to a 10-year-old Junior Bloomsday participant from Idaho without bringing tears to their eyes or mine?

Priggee, pick on the president, loggers and environmentalists but leave the kids of Idaho out of your graffiti. Nan M. Flannigan Moyie Springs, Idaho

‘How dare you?’

My 7-year-old grandson’s enthusiasm the morning of Junior Bloomsday was just overwhelming, and he certainly enjoyed participating in the run.

The April 13 cartoon (Opinion) captioned “Did you see the kids from Idaho?” insinuates that Idaho children are bigots. How dare you allow this cartoon to appear in your newspaper? Loretta M. Reince Coeur d’Alene

Kids insulted, event sullied

As the parents of a first-grader who participated in the Junior Bloomsday event, we are upset with staff cartoonist Milt Priggee’s inference about the pointed hat garb and Idaho kids (Opinion, April 13). This insinuation is denigrating, insulting and offensive.

The Bloomsday event is an uplifting community event and it has been smudged by Priggee’s poor taste. Exploiting 5- to 12-year-old kids in this manner for his satirical purposes is disgraceful.

Priggee, we hope you have the courage to admit your blunder and apologize to the youths who participated in the Junior Bloomsday celebration. Chuck and Sue Reince Hayden, Idaho

We are not prejudiced

We are fifth-grade students from Wallace, Idaho. We are writing about the Junior Bloomsday cartoon that was in The Spokesman-Review on April 13. We found it offensive!

Most people in Idaho are not prejudiced, even kids. We have learned from our parents and school that all people are equal and that you should treat everyone the way you want to be treated, no matter who they are. We all come from different backgrounds and that doesn’t make us any better or worse than anyone else.

There have been many African Americans and people of other nationalities who have positively helped the United States. A good example would be Vernon Baker from St. Maries, Idaho, who was just awarded the Medal of Honor by the president of the United States for saving other human beings and fighting for our country.

We thought that you should know that there are skinheads and racists everywhere. Just like in school, a few bad people shouldn’t ruin the reputations of all those around them. Lynette Ferguson’s fifth-grade class Wallace Intermediate School