Letters To The Editor

BUSINESS AND LABOR

We support those who support us

Ed Meadows (Letters, June 16) criticized the Washington State Council of County and City Employees for not supporting only Democratic candidates. Meadows chastised our decision to support various Republicans for county office. He spared few insults in describing our union. He portrayed all Democrats as allies and all Republicans as enemies of workers. This assessment is far from accurate.

While it’s true that the Democratic Party has and remains the party of working class families, that is not true of all Democratic politicians.

Prosecutor Jim Sweetser (a Democrat) and several District Court judges have gone further than any Republican to destroy our union. They used $132,000 of your taxes to eliminate collective bargaining rights for their own employees. These pompous individuals believe public employees should serve at the “pleasure” of politicians.

Our endorsement process does not emphasize party affiliation. We use a simple formula; we support those who support us! We’re very proud of our decision to support Steve Tucker for prosecutor and Mark Sterk for sheriff.

Our progressive approach to representing our members, both Democrats and Republicans, has led to our union’s growth in membership. In a time when many unions are stagnant or declining, our membership has doubled, to well over 14,000. Enough said! J. Pat Thompson, legislation-political action director Washington State Council of County and City Employees, Everett

Hospital compromises nurse staffing

Re: The June 13 article about Eastern State Hospital registered nurses.

I have concerns about how management perceives the efficient and prudent use of nurses. Currently, RN staffing is heaviest on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Those days have a large amount of activity (i.e. admissions, transfers, treatment planning sessions, competency assessments, etc.) which all require RNs, in addition to having an RN on the ward itself for patient treatment, teaching, etc.

When management changes the schedule and days off, it will in effect reduce the number of RNs available for patient care on those heavy workload days. Nurses are not the only professionals involved in treatment. There are psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers involved, at the minimum. Their staffing schedules are similar, yet they are not targeted as RNs are.

As a nurse, my first and foremost concern is patient care. In the recent past, Eastern State Hospital has been through two important inspections regarding patient care. One for accreditation and the other for Medicare. We passed both with glowing results.

Management’s proposals will adversely impact RN availability and patient care quality. Management chose to disregard our contract and unilaterally implement this potentially disastrous schedule. All we ask is that management return to the bargaining table and resume negotiations. Matt Hancock Spokane

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Finke best qualified to be sheriff

Would you hire a farmer to repair your TV, or a professional who gained experience until he was a skilled technician? This logic holds true in selecting our next sheriff.

Lt. Jim Finke is an executive in county law enforcement. Should we settle for a city cop as our county’s top law enforcement officer?

Forget politics. Keep in mind what we need in our sheriff and which candidate would best fill that need.

For 25 years, Finke has advanced in the sheriff’s department and is now one of its top executives. Mark Sterk spent 25 years performing a smaller role as a city cop. He knows little about county law enforcement. Finke isn’t as familiar with the police department as Sterk, but he isn’t running for police chief. He’s running for sheriff and is the best-qualified man for that job.

Which candidate is more ambitious? Probably Sterk. He ran for sheriff and lost to John Goldman. He tried for Mike Padden’s vacated seat in the Legislature but Lynn Schindler was the Republicans’ choice. The commissioners disagreed and appointed Sterk. He won in 1996 and spent his time posturing about law and order, and voting against labor. As sheriff, he’d undoubtedly set his sights on a higher office.

Finke wants to be sheriff because he knows what is needed and is ready to commit everything he stands for to bring it about. He has no aspirations beyond being a good sheriff. I’ll vote for Finke. Joanne Austin Spokane

Don’t take Sterk detractor’s word

Mark Sterk has been endorsed by every law enforcement organization in the Inland Empire. In a near unanimous vote, the Spokane County sheriff’s deputies endorsed Sterk as the next sheriff. The Sheriff’s Lieutenants and Captain’s Association endorsed Sterk. The Police Guild endorsed Sterk. The Spokane County Prosecutor’s Association endorsed Sterk, as well as the Washington State Patrol Trooper Association.

Sterk has proven that he has the support of our public employees, the business community and the people of Spokane County. He was a great state representative, who will be missed in Olympia. He will be a great sheriff, as well.

Mary Chey Austin (Letters, June 16) is slinging mud. She’s working on Sterk’s opponent’s campaign committee. We should remember, she ran against Sterk in 1995 for his state representative seat. Remember, she’s the one who told us she graduated from Cornell but never attended the college. She’s the one who said she never ran for office before but did, in Montana. She’s the one who was investigated for insurance fraud. Now she’s running down one of the most decent people I’ve ever met.

Sterk has the full support of the deputies association. We need a sheriff who can succeed in the political arena. Mark Sterk has proven he can! Vote for him for sheriff! I am. Jack Brucick Spokane

Chertok too cavalier about speed limit

Re: the front page story on June 18 about Alan Chertok, who aspires to be our next police chief.

I hope the first sentence says it all in regard to considering Chertok for the job. Here’s a guy, sworn to uphold the law, who takes advantage of knowing just how far he can break the 55 mph speed limit law and not get in trouble.

We need fewer people with attitudes like that here in Spokane, not more. Richard T. Brown Spokane

VIOLENCE

Byrd murder ‘sickened me’

It sickened me to tears to know people are capable of doing a violent motivated crime all because of the color of another’s skin.

I can’t understand why requesting the death penalty has to be determined. Was James Byrd Jr. given that much? I think not. I applaud Rev. Jesse Jackson and Dennis Rodman for coming to the aid of the victims. Yes, the whole family, not to mention the community and many around the world.

Why didn’t Shawn Berry stop it before it started? We are taught as children that we have choices in life and along with choices come consequences. Whatever the consequence for these heartless men may be, Renee Mullins will never get her dad back. She is in my prayers. I hope she doesn’t let this make her judge white people. There is good and bad in all races. R.R. Swanagan Spokane

THE ENVIRONMENT

WSU seeks OK to contaminate the air

On Wednesday , the Washington state Department of Ecology will host a public hearing regarding Washington State University’s application for a permit to operate an air pollution source. The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. in Bustad Hall, room 145, on the WSU campus.

This permit will allow construction and operation of an incinerator to burn infectious medical waste, low-level radioactive waste and pathological wastes. It is permission to contaminate the air.

This is the last opportunity for the public to comment about this project before construction begins. The hearing is limited to matters of air quality, and will not deal with issues of water quality, ash disposal or other waste management concerns.

Previous calls for public comment did not result in public hearings because of a lack of public response to the legal notices published as required by the State Environmental Protection Act.

In matters of burning and the environment, WSU does not have a record that inspires trust. The proposed incinerator will be a major upgrade in the technology, but the policies and attitudes that cause air pollution will change only when the public shows an interest. Your attendance will help the regulatory and administrative officials recognize their responsibility to the community that shares the air.

Documents and background information are available online at: http://users.pullman.com/jackdoll/incin.htm Jack Dollhausen Pullman