Letters To The Editor

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Crime Check is not a working number

There must be an error in the Spokane telephone directory. 456-2233 is the number listed for Crime Check, where Spokane citizens call the police to report a crime. So when my purse was stolen from my classroom on June 8, I called the number listed. I knew there was little chance that it would ever be recovered.

A few days later, a woman who had just used my checkbook fell while leaving the South Hill Albertson’s grocery store. An alert employee had gotten a physical description and also the license plate number of her car. I called Crime Check with this additional information and renewed hope that now the police would have all they needed to make an arrest.

I heard nothing for several days, so when I called the police again, I was surprised to learn that nothing would be done on my case because all fraud detectives had been reassigned to homicide.

I do understand that because Spokane has a serial killer still at large, police resources are needed in response to this situation. I also understand that cases of fraud and purse snatching are probably low priority for the police because chances of solving them are slim.

However, I don’t understand why the Spokane Police Department dropped the ball on such an easily solved case.

Maybe I should check the phone book again. I must have dialed the wrong number. Dee Berisha Spokane

CRIME

Crime getting out of hand

Spokesman-Review briefs between Aug. 8 and Aug. 16 included an alarming number of crime stories. Spokane-area citizens, especially those of us living downtown, should be incensed and concerned for our safety.

On Aug. 11, stories told of an attack by a panhandler on a couple walking downtown; two restaurants were robbed at gunpoint; a good Samaritan was beaten and robbed, and a man was attacked and his groceries were stolen as he walked home.

Additionally, during this period, there were several other armed robberies of businesses; a large-scale vandalism spree and most recently, a woman was assaulted and robbed at Riverside and Washington.

Is there a correlation with the large number of felons released from prison to Spokane, as recently reported in the revealing series, “City of Second Chances”? Or is this happening because of the number of transients and panhandlers who wander our streets?

With all these criminal acts taking place, the desire to live and shop downtown begins to wane.

This is a quality of life issue for Spokane that needs to be aggressively addressed by our local government and citizens. We must make Spokane a less desirable destination for those who are degrading our city through criminal acts and other nuisance activities that are associated with transients and other undesirable elements.

Wake up, Spokane. Your safety and quality of life are at risk. Chris Powell Spokane

Problem is criminals, not guns

Re: Jeff Lavagetto’s Your Turn essay, “The body count is rising; do something besides talk,” Opinion, Aug. 8.

I deeply share his concern about the criminal violence that threatens every American. However, what troubles me is Lavagetto’s assessment of the cause of this societal cancer and his solution that would only exacerbate the problem rather than offering an approach which is based in reality.

He claims the problem is legal gun owners and the types of guns they own, so-called assault weapons, while ignoring factual statistics compiled by the FBI that 99 percent of legally owned firearms are never used in crime and that assault rifles are criminally misused in less than 3 percent of all crimes nationally.

Furthermore, he portrays American gun owners as paranoid lunatics fleeing imaginary black helicopters.

Why is it that those of us who work hard and play by the rules are expected to give up our rights for some supposed greater good of society as though we are the problem? Do the morally superior busybodies even have a clue as to what the real problem is?

In reading this newspaper, not a week goes by without the news, Level 3 sex offender-violent felon released in Spokane. And in the headlines, Parolee stabs victim, Parolee attempts carjacking, Parolee suspected in rape. One has to ask, what is the common denominator here, guns, knives or parolees?

We will never stop uncontrolled criminal predatory behavior by disarming potential victims. Ron Yorke Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Company missing founder’s vision

“Wal-Mart sues county over zoning” (Aug. 12) reveals that the mammoth retailer has departed from founder Sam Walton’s folksy community philosophy.

According to Wal-Mart spokeswoman Daphne Davis, the retailer filed suit in Lincoln County “Because of the emotional nature of the issue in Spokane County.” The retailer recognizes its attempt to build on the edge of a residential area is controversial.

This is contrary to Walton’s philosophy. In his book, “Sam Walton: Made in America, My Story,” Walton pointed out the company tries to work with opponents. He went on to say, “Today, though, we have almost adopted the position that if some community, for whatever reason, doesn’t want us in there, we aren’t interested in going in and creating a fuss.” In my view, filing a suit is creating a fuss.

Davis, revealing a streak of ignorance and contradiction, had the audacity to say, “We think there is a lot of community support for this project.” Sure, that is why Wal-Mart is filing suit in another county. With a hint of martyrdom, she continues, “We are doing what our customers have asked us to do.”

Excuse me, Davis, I have no doubt customers want another North Side store, but there is strong evidence they do not want it where you want it.

You and Wal-Mart are not doing what your customers asked. You are following the corporate formula in spite of your customers. This indicates Wal-Mart is abandoning the community in pursuit of profits.

Walton must be livid. Thomas L. McArthur Spokane

Fight Wal-Mart every step of the way

Well, Wal-Mart is at it again. This decadent corporate giant is trying to bully its way into one more helpless American neighborhood. And it will probably get it done because of the billions of corporate dollars it has to wear down county commissioners like those representing this community.

Then, Daphne Davis, Wal-Mart’s community affairs director, in a spate of utter arrogance, suggests that, “We respect the authority of the Spokane County Commission but we disagree with their decision and feel this is an appropriate step.”

I’d argue that her definition of the word “respect” is badly flawed. Get out your Funk & Wagnall’s, Davis.

In actuality, the commissioners should be praised for their courageous stance. Let’s hope they don’t back down, that they will take this thing all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, if need be. Granted, it’s David vs. Goliath, but if the commissioners have the will, it’s always possible. After all, this town needs Wal-Mart like it needs another crumbling bridge. Bruce M. Mitchell Spokane

What part of ‘no’ is unclear?

Wal-Mart is at it again! As a resident of North Spokane, I am frustrated with Wal-Mart’s opposition to the people’s will. It has used the process the way it was set up to work and has been given an answer. Wal-Mart needs to accept that. I don’t understand why this company thinks it’s above the will of the community and the decision of our county commissioners.

The people have spoken and it is time for Wal-Mart to listen. Dorothy M. Selland Spokane

THE JUDICIARY

Plumb doesn’t belong on the bench

I recently moved all the way across this wonderful land of ours to attend Washington State University, leaving behind, I thought, convicted criminals like the mayor of our nation’s capital, Marion Barry. His track record speaks for itself - a city left to itself is in shambles.

To bring this closer to home, my subject is Brad Plumb, a convicted felon who has been fined and assigned to community service, and now he wants to be elected as District Court judge in Spokane. Plumb has a proven track record. All you have to do is go and read the court documents that found him and his wife guilty of first-degree theft on welfare checks totaling $7,096. I hope that the sane people of Spokane wake up before this convicted criminal sits in judgment over their lives. Sound the alarms. Ring the church bells. Do something not to allow the same thing that happened to our nation’s capital to reproduce itself in Spokane.

Does the city of Spokane want this type of element sitting in the judge’s chair? If so, the people will mourn. Scott D. Martin Pullman

Legislature should raise the bar

This year’s judicial election races point out some good reasons why the Legislature should take a hard look at tightening up criteria for eligibility for judicial office.

In the race of District Court Position 3, Brad Plumb is a convicted felon who was suspended from the practice of law for several years. District Court Position 6 has James Reierson, a Walla Walla lawyer who has never practiced in Spokane County. The race for state Supreme Court has Linda Callahan McCaslin (no relation to Commissioner Kate McCaslin), who is only three years out of law school.

Interestingly, an attorney must have five years of experience before supervising legal interns. All these fringe candidacies ultimately depend on voter inattention for success.

The Legislature should adopt a minimum standard for judicial eligibility, requiring a candidate to be free from criminal conviction and have minimum residency and practice standards. Gary W. White Spokane

Devoted son good judge material

I’ve known the Reierson family since the three sons were small. Their mother, Margaret, was a dedicated and loving woman who taught her sons wonderful values. When she was put in a nursing home because of Alzheimer’s, her son, Jim, came from Walla Walla each weekend to visit her. He took her out to dinner, for rides and often even ate with her at the nursing home. The woman who owned the nursing home said that she had never seen such a devoted son as Jim Reierson.

Reierson simply put his life on hold for five years until his mother died. Still, he owes her a lot of gratitude, because she is the one who taught him all the things which today make him an excellent candidate for being one of our judges.

Few men would be so dedicated they would give up five years of their own life to make their mother’s life more bearable. Especially when the mother had become, inevitably, another person. A person who many times didn’t even recognize her son.

Margaret would have had a quiet pride in the fact that her son was running for judge. She would have liked knowing that, as judge, he would be in a position to see that fair judgments were made, to see that people received what they deserved. And she would have liked knowing her faith in him was justified. It would have given her great joy. Jane Lavagetto Spokane

Clarke a good family man and lawyer

Re: JoAnne Durham’s letter of Aug. 12, in which she asks, “What kind of man is Harold Clarke III?”

Harold Clarke III is a wonderful, caring person who goes out of his way on a daily basis for anyone who needs him. A compassionate father to his children and a loving husband to his wife. An empathetic lawyer to all, especially those in their later years. A quiet, unassuming man to all who know him.

I am proud to call Harold my brother. Sue E. Borg Spokane

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Gee, I feel so much better now

It’s over. The moment we’ve all been waiting for has finally come to pass. President Clinton has told the truth like we all hoped and knew he would.

There are no more Russian missiles targeted at the United States. The Chinese, thanks to Clinton’s spectacular trip to China, have de-targeted their missiles from bull’s-eyes in the U.S. And the whole Monica Lewinsky saga is Ken Starr’s fault.

Now, after seven months, I can finally get a good night’s sleep. Peter A. Brittain Sandpoint

‘Sorry’ played no part

I found it interesting that you would put a banner headline declaring “President apologizes” on your front page when the words “I’m sorry” could not be found anywhere in the speech. Instead, your headline should have read, “angry, defiant president unrepentant.”

This whole ordeal could have ended last January, had the president not decided to lie about it. Instead, he has caused America to become the laughingstock of the world while waving his middle finger in the face of its citizens. Not to mention causing $40 million of taxpayers’ money to be wasted.

The only honorable thing Clinton can do now is step down. But he won’t. He’ll continue to drag this country through the dung heap. God help us. Daniel T. Anderson Spokane

Clinton speaks in tongues - all forked

We now know that President Bill Clinton was lying when he denied having sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky. We know he was lying when he denied having sexual relations with Gennifer Flowers in 1992. We know he lied about dodging the draft in the 1992 campaign. We know he lied about bringing our troops home from Bosnia after a year.

Was he lying when he denied any role in filegate? Is he lying when he says he didn’t fondle Kathleen Willey? Is he lying about his relationship with the Riadys, Charlie Trie and John Huang? Is he lying about selling missile and satellite technology to the Chinese for illegal campaign contributions?

With this technology, the Chinese may be able to accurately target Hawaii, Alaska and Southern California with nukes. Is he lying when he tells us we don’t need a missile defense system? Is “I didn’t inhale” a lie? Can we believe anything this guy says?

Whenever Clinton says anything, my first reaction is: Is he lying again? Randy P. Berg Spokane

Clinton is a blackmail risk

Your Aug. 18 headline is wrong. President Clinton did not apologize. He merely stated that his conduct was inappropriate and that he regrets what happened. Obviously, he regrets what happened. He probably regrets his conduct, but is he truly sorry?

Clinton stated that his deposition in “a politically motivated civil lawsuit that has been dismissed” was legally accurate. This does not sound like an apology.

Clinton played on our sympathy. He cited his wife, his daughter and his God regarding this personal matter. Where else in America would this be a personal matter? Again, not an apology.

Clinton, by his own admission, knowingly and willfully jeopardized the functioning of the presidency to avoid personal embarrassment. He sold out his office to protect himself.

We know we cannot trust Clinton’s actions when he faces adversity. His so-called apology showed us yet another glimpse into his character.

We insist on having honorable people in our Defense Department to ensure that no one individual’s conduct will put him in jeopardy of being blackmailed or subject our country’s security to extortion. Does President Clinton pass this test? It is no longer a stretch to view this president as a blackmail risk. How far is he willing to go? No objective person can confidently answer that question any more. Don A. McManus Spokane