Letters To The Editor

Fri., May 22, 1998

SPOKANE MATTERS

Spokane Club’s plan a big mistake

How could an astute organization such as the Spokane Club even consider building a large parking garage by the river when major efforts have been made to keep the views of the Spokane River and Spokane Falls open for the public’s enjoyment over these past 23 years? Millions of taxpayers dollars have been spent in this effort. Even now, Metropolitan Mortgage is spending thousands of dollars to return the river to the public view by removing the high berm on the north side of the river.

It seems that Spokane Club members would just naturally be those who would make every effort to keep views of our river open. To build this garage would be a very backward step!

One of the major benefits of Spokane Club membership is the athletic facility. Why, then, should members object to walking a block or two to the athletic complex, when they plan to exercise once they get inside? Makes no sense!

The view of Spokane Falls from the club’s parking lot is most spectacular. We often drive down, park on Main Avenue and walk through the Spokane Club lot, so our visitors can take pictures of the breathtaking view of the falls under the Monroe Street Bridge. We, and many others, don’t want to lose that privilege.

We hope Spokane Club members will use good common sense and consider the good of the community, rather than their own personal comforts. We urge them to seek other parking solutions. Vernon F. and Eleanor D. Laubach Spokane

Brilliant teacher will be missed

Students who attended Libby Junior High in the 1930s and ‘40s were saddened this week to learn of the death of Carl E. Halverson. He was a brilliant and sensitive teacher whose quiet support in and out of the classrooms was much needed by youngsters growing up on Spokane’s East Side during those years of economic depression and World War II.

In recent years, Mr. Halverson attended many of our annual alumni picnics at Franklin Park. His recognition of long-ago pupils and events was amazing, and much appreciated by the students, many now in their 70s.

He was a teacher who made a positive and life-long impression on hundreds of young people fortunate enough to have attended Libby during his years. We will miss him. Dick E. Hoover Liberty Lake

Developer was and is right

Seems like folks in the Thorpe-Westwood area don’t want to believe the state Supreme Court. They lobbied and fought the developer when he wanted to build some 900 units of apartments. Now, the court has stated the folks on the City Council that they lobbied were wrong in denying the developer’s permit.

What part of no is it that these folks don’t seem to understand? You have to love their reasoning. The residents don’t want to lose the open spaces and trails they now enjoy. Did it ever occur to them that the property is owned by a private party? The one who pays the taxes!

The next thing they’ll want is for the owner to pave the trails, put in bathrooms and water fountains. Then, if someone gets hurt, they will sue him for maintaining an attractive nuisance.

The verdict is in and in a short time the city will get the bill for damages caused. I assume it will be in the millions. No wonder we can’t fill the potholes or pave the streets.

Now, a current City Council member says “This will discourage people from running for the council.” Why? Just because the voters expect them to do what is right for all concerned and to live by the laws, as they exist? Geez, that would be nice for a change! Charles E. McCollim Spokane

Mission Springs debacle in the offing

On a recent evening I saw a herd of six deer cross the railroad tracks and enter the Mission Springs property. They follow a well-worn route and they share the land with many other animals. If the Mission Springs development goes through, their habitat and home will be badly damaged.

We will be fairly punished for this, as the costs in even the short run may be calamitous for the city. Our bank’s appraiser told us in March that the proposal by itself has dropped our property’s value, yet our house is more than a mile away.

Until the tunnels are removed and the connections with Highway 195 and Interstate 90 are rebuilt, we will not be able to go to work via 195. The city will lose tax revenue from a vast area while incurring great expense. The train noise is terrific in that location, and rentals should be disallowed on that environmental basis alone. No tenant with money would live there, so it will become a slum.

We will lose a beautiful park land with a stupendous view and gain a traffic-snarling, crime-generating eyesore. Before any more legal action gets under way, the city should buy the property for whatever the developers hope to make from it. It would be economically foolish to do otherwise. If we have to pay more taxes in either case, our money should go to a park. Paul B Phillips, D.C. Spokane

Spokane shows the colors - incorrectly

For many months, flags flying high at the Spokane Arena have been bugging me. To see the Washington state flag flying higher than the U.S. flag is an embarrassment to our city.

When they were taken down for several days recently, I was hoping they would be put up correctly. But no, they are still wrong. Today, on my first trip to the new Spokane Valley Mall, the first thing I noticed was the flags flying high. The Canadian flag was flying higher than the Washington state flag. I wonder if the persons putting these flags up ever noticed or wondered why the flag poles are of different height.

Can somebody please tell the people responsible about the proper way to fly flags? Out of town visitors must think we are a bunch of uneducated idiots. Kristine Schuler Spokane

Thanks, ‘Buzzard,’ for being there

Another successful Bloomsday has come and gone, and what a wonderful event it was.

As volunteer coordinator for the Group Health-Holy Family Bloomsday training clinic, I know how important volunteers are and want to thank each and every one for their participation in making this event so enjoyable.

One person in particular who deserves a medal is the infamous “Buzzard” at the top of Doomsday Hill. He has been up there - rain, wind or shine - faithfully for the past 12 years. He is there to give high-fives to people and is an encouragement to all with his sound effects, helping people to finish the course.

Having watched the people come up to the Buzzard this year, I was able to hear the many comments, i.e. “Thanks for being here” and “Not far to finish now.” It made me realize how important his presence is to the annual Bloomsday race.

I personally would like to thank Bill Robinson for his devotion to Bloomsday and encourage all of Spokane to do the same. Carol Ann Cochran Spokane

Band reference an improvisation

While reading the article on potential county commissioner Phil Kiver’s planned fund raiser in Cheney, I chortled when I noticed that Planetary Refugees were credited with providing the entertainment for this function. While we have often aligned ourselves with just causes such as Amnesty International, Peace and Justice Action League, Spokane AIDS Network, Veterans for Peace and the November Coalition, we do not make it a habit to perform at keggers.

A reporter from the Eastern Washington University student paper called me and sought to confirm Kiver’s assertions prior to printing an article on the same topic. As promotion and booking manager for Planetary Refugees, I shared my surprise, since no one from the Kiver campaign had bothered to ask if we would perform.

Although we are flattered that the association of Planetary Refugees to this event was imagined to add legitimacy to Kiver’s campaign, we must also question the journalistic methods of Review staff writer Grayden Jones for not bothering to confirm if we were really going to perform. We ‘ve been around for years and aren’t that hard to find. The old adage, “there’s no such thing as bad press as long as they spell the name right” seems to be obfuscated by this sloppy association and reporting, trivializing eight years of hard work and devotion to legitimate social causes which promote peace, love and understanding which the Planetary Refugees align themselves to personally and musically.

Kiver, if you wish to hire our musical services, please call and confirm before promoting our name. Jones, please check your facts before turning in your final copy. Dave A. Fish Planetary Refugees, Spokane

Editor’s note: In a May 14 article, the Spokesman-Review reported Kiver’s claim the band would perform at the kegger. A May 16 article, also by Grayden Jones, reported that Kiver’s claim was false and that the band would not perform at the event.

LAW AND JUSTICE

Government out to impose nonsense

How many readers would expect The Spokesman-Review to include a free copy of Wall Street Journal with each paper sold? How many people buying a six-pack of Coke would expect to receive two cans of Pepsi attached?

Why would the government even suggest that Microsoft include its competitor’s browser with Microsoft software? Microsoft represents 90 percent of the operating system market but less than 4 percent of the world software market in general.

Let’s not always punish success. Go, Microsoft! Thanks for the great products and the lower and lower prices. Michael L. Senske Spokane

Dismissal means no one is safe

For those interested in promoting a police state, the federal court ruling dismissing the charges against Lon Horiuchi is a victory. For those who believe in justice and rule of law, it is a defeat. The essence of the dismissal means that agents of the government can kill anyone and never be held accountable, as long as they are doing it “in the line of duty.”

Police tend to take a dim view when an officer is shot. In this particular case, they returned to the place where a federal marshal was killed (he was wearing camouflage, not a uniform). They issued an unlawful order to kill anyone with a gun and this sniper attempted to do just that. One of his bullets went past the mark and killed another person.

Horiuchi was the only government agent charged in this case. The case then was transferred to federal court, against the will of the local prosecutor, where it ends up with the federal government prosecuting, the federal government defending and a federal judge presiding. Is there any question why the charges are dismissed?

Our nation was founded upon the rule of law. In a police state, everyone is subject to the whims of those who are in power, whether they wear uniforms or robes. Those in power are not subject to any law and justice is of no concern. Sounds fairly similar to organized crime, doesn’t it? Steve A. Tanner Bonners Ferry

U.S. AND THE WORLD

There is a way to end Mideast conflict

As anyone who is familiar with the Arab-Israeli conflict knows, there has been a lot of violence perpetuated by both parties. It is very easy to find reasons for mistrust and reluctance to compromise. However, this is causing both sides to continuously live in fear, uncertainty and conflict, even though both desire peace.

There is only one solution to the conflict which could withstand time. It is the return to pre-1967 borders, with special status for Jerusalem to ensure free access to the city for all. The land occupied by Israel in 1967, the West Bank & Gaza Strip, will then constitute the state of Palestine.

This solution is acceptable to the majority on both sides. However, support tends to fluctuate as the result of acts of violence committed by extremists on both sides who opt for the all or nothing solution.

The United States plays a crucial role in proposing middle ground and pushing both sides toward it. Leaving the parties to reach an accord on their own will not work due to the huge imbalance of power.

When will the Arab-Israeli conflict be resolved? When the United States actively and openly supports the two-state (Israel and Palestine) solution. Anything other than that will mean continuous war until one side does away with the other permanently. Abdallah N. Amr Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Dobson given an unfair rap

In reading the May 14 letter from Fred J. Meyer, I had to think that if it’s a battle of wits he’s attempting, he appears to only be half prepared.

I have listened to Dr. James Dobson many times and read many of his publications. He has never said or written anything that Meyer accuses him of. The Constitution does not stipulate that religion and the government were to remain separate. It states that no power over the freedom of religion is delegated to the United States by the Constitution. This means that the government is not to run the churches and that the churches are not to run the government. It doesn’t mean that Christian values should not be the values of our government.

Our founding fathers founded this country on Christian values. That’s why we have the longest running people-operated government in the history of mankind. Dan E. Meckel Veradale

Share-the-wealth programs a plague

The latest political craze is to castigate the Internal Revenue Service. This is not to infer this is undeserved. However, seeing the president and representatives of both parties say they are saving us from the IRS leaves out the real problem, which is decades of wealth transfer, of money being taken from citizens and given to failed programs.

When you or I go to the store to evaluate potential purchases based on the value received for the expenditure, we can say no. The government extracts thousands of dollars from each family, year after year, provides very little value in return and expects us to acquiesce

So, when these politicos try to make us believe they’re “helping” us by improving the IRS, just remember the wealth each citizen would have were they really acting in our best interest. The smokescreen of IRS pronouncements to “help” us will not overshadow the massive failure of one program after the next, undermining our financial well-being. Until the government gets out of the wealth transfer business from its citizens, the IRS will be required to feed the money machine these folks have created. Let’s see this IRS grandstanding for what it is: a smokescreen. Rod Schobert Hayden Lake

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.