Letters To The Editor

Wed., Dec. 31, 1997

SPOKANE MATTERS

Dotson’s cafeteria will be missed

Goodbye, Jim Dotson. The cafeteria you owned and managed for 24 years was the place many of us gathered to discuss issues or share friendships over a cup of coffee. Your breakfast and lunch specials as well as the IOUs will be missed.

We will remember the infamous 1993 labor strike as you remained neutral, staying open in order that everyone could continue breaking bread. History will show how you won the fight to keep your cafeteria a “free zone” from courthouse security weapons checks. All of law enforcement, elected officials and most attorneys in Spokane at one time or another were customers.

Most important, even with your visual impairment, you still recognized who we were by the sound of our voices. You were always the gentleman.

On Dec. 23, your business closed for good. A lot of friends will be sad.

With respect and best wishes to you and your family, we bid you farewell. Thanks for all your years of service. Rick R. Mendoza Spokane

Show council who’s in charge

Congratulations to the people of this great city of Spokane for the job they started back in November. But it is only half done.

What we have to do is gather around our new mayor and support him, or else people like Rob Higgins, Phyllis Holmes and the other City Council members who really don’t respect our opinions will have their way. And their way is basically the way of the greedy landowners in this town, who would just love to get every tax break without caring about the little guy. That’s all they care about.

So I urge you to support Mayor John Talbott. Go to the City Council meetings. Most of all, let the City Council know it does not run this city; the people run this city. Gary Michael Dennis Jr. Spokane

Mayor, editor’s efforts worthy

Kudos, first to Jack Geraghty for the good fight for downtown and the demeanor and intelligence with which he handled himself as our mayor.

Second, to Opinion editor John Webster. He is fair, his points of view are timely and clearly stated. Thank you both. Patricia L. Bories Spokane

Nine years? Au contraire

I was surprised to read on the front page of the Dec. 28 Spokesman-Review that I will be retiring “before July,” after being police chief in Spokane for nine years.

The fact of the matter is that I have been police chief in Spokane for over 10 years and I will have been chief of police for 11 years at the time I retire, which will be in July. Chief Terry Mangan Spokane Police Department

HIGHER EDUCATION

Time for new leadership at Gonzaga

Well, Gonzaga University did it again! Harry Sladich showed us what Christmas is all about: Thanks, Fitz, for your 20 years of dedication to Gonzaga University. Merry Christmas - you’re fired.

Sends a nice message from a Christian school, three days before one of Christianity’s most holy days. Sorry, no forgiveness here.

But, the timing is right. The students are on break until mid-January, eliminating any conflicts. Maybe they won’t notice that Dan Fitzgerald is gone when they come back. The staff is gone; no one to answer questions.

Columnist John Blanchette is right; Fitz does deserve better. Dan Fitzgerald has done more for GU than all on the board of trustees put together.

The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) has a long history of being the best in education. So let them run the school. Today’s board of directors just doesn’t understand the Jesuit mission.

My four children have all received a Jesuit education at different institutions. Although it was a hardship, they are better citizens and better educated because of it. Don’t let the non-Jesuit board ruin Gonzaga.

Acting President Sladich, please start acting like a president. Resign, and take the trustees with you. James W. Blaine Jr. Spokane

Jesuit way seemingly forsaken

As a product of Gonzaga, undergrad and law, I am disappointed in the decision reached by the University concerning Dan Fitzgerald.

Compelling Fitzgerald’s resignation, under a cloak of secrecy, and taking six months to reach this conclusion, demonstrates a flawed decision-making process.

My Jesuit influence inspired confidence that Gonzaga would treat Fitzgerald with the respect and compassion that he earned in his years of distinguished service to the university. If Fitzgerald made a mistake by not accounting for certain funds out of a misguided (or accurate) belief that if he submitted the funds to the university, they would not reappear in his budget, then so be it.

People, though well-intentioned, make mistakes. When mistakes happen, they must be judged in relationship to the positive impact that an individual has on the university as a whole. It seems the university could not see past Dan’s “breach of trust” and weigh it against the good he has accomplished.

This apparent unforgiving and non-conciliatory attitude departs from the Jesuit ideal.

My legal training inspired confidence that, when announced, the decision would be supported by facts gleaned from the university’s investigation, as well as logic and reasoning. Rather, a gag order, the terms of which are undisclosed, leaves us to speculate concerning the true reasons that underlie Fitzgerald’s resignation.

As an alumnus of Gonzaga, I am embarrassed by and disappointed in the process used and the decision made by the University.

It may well result in adverse consequences far beyond those anticipated by Gonzaga. Gary N. Bloom and Daniel P. Harbaugh Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

No defense for Clinton

Re: Richard M. Menke’s Dec. 19 letter, “Clinton’s doing well; get off his back.”

Either Menke is so enthralled with Slick Willie that he is failing to admit the truth about our president or he is misinformed.

The Clinton administration is one of the most corrupt in our nation’s history. Unfortunately, the American people as a whole don’t seem to care, therefore Congress, while still holding hearings, refuses to lower the boom because the members are afraid voters will retaliate against them, not Clinton.

When Clinton raised taxes, it wasn’t on the rich. It was on the average working stiff. Clinton’s definition of someone who is rich is someone making $35,000 to $100,000 per year.

When Menke claims Clinton has lowered the deficit, he fails to mention that this isn’t because Clinton cut the pork out of government. When interest rates go back up, the deficit will race to new heights, something Menke, his children and grandchildren will have to pay off along with the rest of us.

The good news is that Clinton leaves Pennsylvania Avenue for good in two years. Justin B. Childers Spokane

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