Letters To The Editor

WASHINGTON STATE

Don’t be a sucker - vote no

This newspaper believes billionaire Paul Allen suddenly has a white beard, red suit and sleigh as this ex-Microsoft wizard programs our minds with his slick advertising for this “free” stadium and our vote on June 17.

If you swallow St. Nick Paul’s story, then I believe Dennis Rodman has brown hair and no tattoos, has quit wearing dresses and sings in the church choir.

This is corporate welfare at its best definition. We pay for this wealthy private businessman’s stadium with taxpayer bond obligations of not $300 million but $600 million over a 23-year payback period.

He then manages the place, we can’t look at his accounting records, and then, his annual rent for this $425 million palace is only $850,000. That equates to you and I renting a $425,000 house for $71 a month. Please, where do I get in line?

Are new lottery games going to foot our tab? No, they will dilute our current lottery system that is geared to assist in funding education for our kids. How then, Education Gov. Gary Locke, do we pay for the schools? Simple answer: higher property taxes.

For all of you who work every year until May 7 to pay taxes, is this Allen deal improving your quality of life? The only jingling that will be heard will be your money going through Allen’s till.

To use the Spokesman-Review’s term, this is a “no brainer.” Vote no on 48. Jonathan S. Swanstrom Sr. Spokane

No terrorism in Seahawks deal

Your reporter Lynda V. Mapes apparently believes anyone who votes for the new Seahawks stadium must be kin to Timothy McVeigh, when she writes in her June 1 column that we will be voting to “blow up the Kingdome.”

We are not voting to join a new wave of terrorists. We are voting for or against a project that a great many of us believe to be of vital importance to this state.

Certainly, Mapes is entitled to her opinion on this matter. But she, and the editors of The Spokesman-Review, should remember that she is supposed to be a reporter of the facts and not of her opinions. If she can’t do that her articles should be restricted to the editorial page. Every story by Mapes I have read in The Spokesman-Review has been highly biased against the project. Not once have I read in her columns the facts about any cost (practically none) to taxpayers in Eastern Washington. If she wants to get on her soap box, fine. But don’t give her a front page column to voice her negative, biased views.

By the way, blowing up (imploding) the Kingdome might be the most economical method of removing it, but her choice of words is deplorable, if not intentional. Gerald W. Klett Spokane

Behind it all is taxpayers’ wallets

It appears that the state of Washington intends to issue “general obligation bonds” to pay for the new open-air stadium (June 17, 1997 Voters Pamphlet, page 17, Sec. 210).

If the various schemes to collect money for this new stadium are not sufficient to pay for the bonds, doesn’t the state then pay those bonds from general funds - in essence, using money collected from all the taxpayers of this state?

The plan, to me, looks fraudulent - full of smoke and mirrors. Guy A. Matzinger Cheney

A lousy deal for the state

Compared to other stadium deals around the country, this Seahawk deal is a terrible proposal.

For example, in San Francisco, the team is kicking in $425 million to build a $525 million stadium. Personal seat licenses sell for thousands of dollars. Other teams have nearly financed entire stadiums with PSL income. Yet under this plan, Paul Allen pockets this revenue. This is a great deal for Allen but a lousy one for the state.

The existing debt on the Kingdome is “retired” by transferring part of the debt to the state. Now the entire state gets to pay what used to be King County’s debt. This is a great deal for King County but a lousy one for the state.

Proponents say there will be no increase in sales, property or general taxes. If that is the case, why does section 216 of the referendum authorize lawmakers to raise taxes if the funding mechanism falls short of projections? What happens to the state budget when the new lottery games reduce participation in the already slumping, existing games?

The rental agreement is a real sweetheart deal. The team gets to rent a $425 million stadium for just $850,000 per year. This is like building a $100,000 house and renting it out for $17 per month.

Proponents say that it’s foolish to waste money on a jalopy once it starts burning oil. I say it’s even more foolish to ignore the $70 million we’ve already spent to repair the stadium, only to demolish it. That’s like rebuilding the engine in your jalopy before you push it off a cliff.

I’m a sports fan but I’m also a taxpayer. Read the fine print. The more I know, the worse it looks. Vote no on Referendum 48. Gordon Clausen Greenacres

LAW AND JUSTICE

Look where government-bashing leads

Today, we should all give thanks for our system that did work. We should be appreciative of the hard work and diligence of our legal system that investigated and prosecuted Timothy McVeigh.

This man committed the ultimate act of disrespect to federal employees: He murdered them. Now, he will have to pay for his crime.

Along with those federal employees, many civilians also died. It is a sad state of affairs when anyone is allowed to be disrespectful to federal employees in this country.

Since the days of Ronald Reagan, it has been the in thing to be disrespectful to the federal government and federal employees in general. And yet, most of the people who work for the government are hard-working people trying to earn a livable wage like everyone else. They have families who depend on them and most are far from overpaid.

Add to that that federal workers also get the brunt of Congress’ and the president’s foibles, including but not limited to the shutdown of the government a year and a half ago, and dipping into the federal retirement system to bolster other obligations. At the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, a food bank was started to help out federal employees. It was sad that this was necessary.

Civil disobedience and disrespect that have been done to federal employees brought about the Oklahoma City bombing. How many people must die before we realize that allowing this disrespect paves the way for worse things to happen?

Hopefully, people will change their minds and be thankful that the federal workers are there every day to serve. Mike Etten, federal employee Spokane

Mortal vengeance is not the way

In light of the recent verdict, which has found a person guilty of a terrible crime and has brought “Redemption for a bruised justice system” (headline in the June 3 Spokesman-Review) the real sadness continues.

Many interviewed in the wake of the verdict hope that our justice system will bring forth a capital punishment decision. This wish has been repeated across the country almost like a mantra.

The word “justice” in this context is used to justify the notion that if you hurt me or my loved ones, I will get you and hurt you back.

It seems that the case tried in Denver perpetuates a justice system that allows us to keep acting out our hurts and losses on each other. Justice may be served and justified in the minds of some by saying this is our justice system, but humanity takes another loss here.

There is no redemption in this kind of thinking, just the reason for redemption. Rev. Michael D. Venneri Spokane

Litigation Lotto - anyone can win

Regarding your May 29 story of a suit against the city of Spokane by the McDermott family:

While due respect and empathy go to family members for their loss, I find it difficult to sympathize with their case. My sympathy lies with the police officers Sidney McDermott forced to shoot him.

The McDermotts’ attorney, Thomas Smith, states that the situation “went from bad to worse because a police officer didn’t remain in control.” Officer Tracie Mayer’s verbalization led McDermott to get his gun.

Gee, what’s wrong with this picture?

After apparently driving in enough of a reckless manner to run another car off the road, McDermott was spotted by Mayer, whose duties include stopping such behavior. When McDermott didn’t cooperate, he caused any escalation that occurred. Verbal commands could sound to some like “loud yelling.” Whether or not Mayer became upset is irrelevant. Even if she did, there’s no justification for McDermott arming himself against her.

McDermott irrationally chose to do just that. The outcome is someone other than McDermott’s fault? Only in our litigious world today.

If you are a responsible citizen or police officer, you can bank on being held accountable for every action. If you act in a totally irresponsible or criminal manner, be assured it will turn out it was not your fault at all. Every cause except personal responsibility and accountability will be examined for you.

It’s sad that such suits are ever brought forth. But hey, it’s the age of the Litigation Lotto and someone might get lucky. Robert B. Smith Post Falls

Participation shouldn’t be automatic

How many Spokane property owners realize that unless they take action, they will automatically be part of a class action suit to stop the aquifer protection tax? This information was on your January utility bill but I wonder how many noticed it.

If you don’t want to be a member of the class action suit, you must submit a written request to the Spokane Clerk of Court before July 20, 1997. This seems backward to me.

I am in favor of protecting the aquifer. I would think if you want to be in the class action suit, you should be required to take some action, not have to make a written request to be excluded. Lois E. Bender Spokane

Editor’s note: About one year ago, after one city taxpayer sought relief in court from what she deemed an illegal county tax (one that purportedly had city residents subsidizing sewer improvements for people outside the city), Superior Court Judge Michael Donohue ruled all city water customers subject to the $15 tax are a class. As such, all 69,000 members of the class will receive or not receive the same benefit as the original litigant, depending on the final outcome of the lawsuit.

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Racism begins at home

I am a student at Rocky Mountain Academy and an African American male. I was driving through Spokane and found myself on a main street decorated with the confederate flag. It is an open and aggressive statement of racism, prejudice and hate.

Stuff like this is part of the reason why there still are 23 golf courses in the U.S. that Tiger Woods cannot play at because of his color. It is part of the reason why I was pulled over without violation of the law, harassed and questioned by the Coeur d’Alene Police Department. I was “warned” to go back to my hotel room.

Idaho and Montana have become a hotbed for militia camps and racist hate groups. Why have state officials not cracked down on it? Where do we draw the line with freedom of speech?

The citizens of this country were not given freedom of speech to gain power through the degradation of others.

How can a government that wrote the Bill of Rights allow these openly militant and anti-government bands of ignorant, small-minded thugs to continue?

The problem lies in our leadership. We put the value of our community in the hands of money-hungry politicians who are only looking to climb higher on the political ladder. These problems don’t only affect minorities. They lead to such things as the Oklahoma City bombing and other terrorist actions.

We need to stand up as Americans and protect our communities and families, and teach our children to love and respect each other. Aaron N. Berne Bonners Ferry, Idaho

U.S. AND THE WORLD

Bosnia policy makes no sense

The U.S. decision to support the Muslim-Croat Federation with miliary hardware is directly kicking the Bosnian peace process in the face. Our government is contradicting itself in trying to keep the peace in Bosnia and stockpiling it for another war.

Military support for Bosnia includes 74,000 troops, 2,400 peacekeepers, tanks, transport helicopters, armored personnel carriers, M-16 rifles and machine guns. More is being sent by other countries.

Now, the U.S. government has the great idea that the only way to uphold and keep the peace in Bosnia is to boost the Muslim-Croat army to match the strength of the Bosnian Serb army.

How can more guns and weapons keep the peace in a country that only two years ago was the scene of the bloodiest war in Europe since World War II? Peace under fear isn’t real peace, anyway. I see it as more of a setup for both sides to annihilate one other.

When asked what they would do, Muslim-Croat soldiers stated, “We’re going to Banja Luka!” Which is the largest city in Bosnian Serb territory. The Bosnian Serbs are accused by the U.S. of underreporting war materials in their arsenal.

How can the United States point the finger at the Bosnian Serbs for hidden weapons when we continue to pump more in ourselves? Whatever happened to the idea of reducing both army’s arsenals? Dave Lisook Bonners Ferry, Idaho

Arms profits not worth consequences

Re:” U.S. sending cannons to Bosnia” May 10.

The U.S. stands as the leading power in the modern world. In an act favoring world peace, President Clinton went out on a limb, sending more than 15,000 young men and women to preserve the rights of man. In doing so, he made a strong statement - now very great in question.

A government interested in peace now appears to be more interested in the dollar, having approved this sale of weapons to a country still torn in the aftermath from the last year’s fighting. Both sides have been accused of breaking last year’s peace accord with the stockpiling of arms and munitions, refusing to disclose military status.

Giving arms of such destructive power ensures nothing but more casualties and chaos. The Bosnian Serbs, who predict a new Muslim-Croat offensive this summer, do not believe these weapons will be used as a guarantor of peace, but as tools for waging more war.

We are creating our own hypocrisy. The dollar has again won out over our country’s morals, to the benefit of our military-industrial complex.

Perhaps history has yet to fully teach us what happens when we put profit before ethics. Surely, we will learn - or once again be taught - that our ethics should not be bought. David J. Pack Bonners Ferry, Idaho

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Predator caution makes sense

Thank you for printing Jim Shamp’s commentary on predators (Street Level, June 1). I found it honest, insightful and realistic.

It was especially refreshing in view of all the emotional outpouring printed about this incident in the past few weeks.

Shamp is right; we are going to see more of these incidents. Even more so as wolves and grizzlies are introduced into mountain ranges that are not so far away any more.

We should remember that to us a child playing in a meadow surrounded by tall pines may be a bucolic, back-to-nature scene, but to a predator, the child may be just an easy meal. Thus, we should ask ourselves, do we really understand the risks we are creating with these introductions? Will we really accept the responsibility?

In this respect, my wife had a good observation regarding the death of the cougar: What would the comments have been if a child had been maimed or killed? I suspect the game officials would have been blamed for not killing the cougar quickly enough. E.A. Johnson Mead