Letters To The Editor

WASHINGTON STATE

Sink-or-swim youth policy perilous

The staff of New Bridge Alternative High School is concerned over a dangerous situation in our state. During the last legislative session, the Legislature voted to deny parole supervision and services to approximately one-third of our adolescent offenders.

Those not receiving parole services are discharged from state correctional institutions with no supervision. Prior to this time, almost all youths discharged from corrections were on parole when they returned home. Parole services would set up a contract, with expectations to attend school, substance abuse programs, counseling, and/or obtain urine analysis.

Many of our youthful offenders come from abusive, neglectful and permissive backgrounds. Parole officers provide supervision, structure and support.

Returning young offenders, from a tightly controlled environment into the community, with no support, puts every community at risk. It is penny wise and pound foolish. Soon someone may be seriously injured or killed by a youth released with no transitional planning.

New Bridge School serves students who have had trouble with the law. Ours is a joint program administered by Spokane Mental Health with the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (parole services) and School District 81. The very existence of New Bridge speaks to the commitment of community agencies to work together to find success for this population.

We are working to rescind this legislation and hope the community will support this endeavor. Catherine Trembley and staff New Bridge School of Spokane Mental Health

Makahs should leave whales alone

Re: Nov. 1 article about the anti-whaling protestors in Neah Bay.

I have heard about the Makah Tribe wanting to resume whaling like their ancestors, but until your article, I didn’t know the full details.

In a recent news broadcast, the Makah said they wanted to return to the primitive ways of their ancestors. How primitive is it to haul their cedar boat out, using another boat, to shoot whales with their rifles? I sincerely hope this whale hunt is not allowed.

The gray whale just recently got off the Endangered Species list. Letting this hunt take place could easily put them back on it in just a few years.

This is not the 19th century. The Makah people should find another way to remember the culture of their ancestors. Do some dancing, hold a ceremony, go to area schools and speak about it! Anything is 10 times better than taking part in the extinction of a beautiful mammal. Shauna M. Enterline, age 17 Veradale

SPOKANE MATTERS

Development council shortchanged

While there is little disagreement with the thrust of your Oct. 17 editorial (“Future’s happening right in our midst”), some of the 300 investor members of the Spokane Area Economic Development Council are disappointed their organization was not given credit for the recruitment of Packet Engines, B.F. Goodrich and Traveler’s Property Casualty, Johnson Matthey (Cheney operations) or mentioned as the organization that made much of what you discussed happen.

True, there is funding from Focus 21 and others involved in economic development, but there are also 300 EDC members providing funding and thousands of hours working with the difficult chore of recruiting businesses to this area. The EDC is the organization accountable for the community’s recruitment.

Using your words, “these things aren’t accidents,” I will point out that luring investment to our region is a difficult task requiring skill. With over 30,000 economic development agencies all vying for these companies and the complexity of tax, work force, transportation, land, building and other issues, the recruitment of a firm does take a diverse membership and volunteers to make it happen. Without the Spokane Area Economic Development Council our community would have few companies coming to this area.

Thanks for reporting on the positive things taking place in Spokane’s economy. Pete Kerwien Spokane

Sign skullduggery was partisan

As a lifelong Republican, I was livid to discover that Democrats had desecrated commercial property my husband and I own on East Montgomery by placing campaign signs on the property without our permission.

This adds to my anger that someone stole my Linda Smith campaign sign from the front yard of our home. Everyone has the right to express their political beliefs but not when they intrude on my property.

Is it any wonder that we are Republicans? Judith L. Cocking Newman Lake

Firefighters did incredible job

On Sept. 5, a fire badly damaged our house. For all the flak public servants take - especially emergency crews - we have nothing but praise for the firefighters of Spokane. Risking their lives, they went far beyond what we thought they would do in stopping the threat and minimizing the damage to our property. When we saw the care they took - even as they were fighting the fire to cover our furniture and remove our precious belongings, we were amazed. They treated our property as if it were their own. We are very grateful.

We are also grateful to the innumerable neighbors and friends who offered us money, clothing, lodging and other support. We are especially grateful to the Red Cross volunteers, who were seeing to our needs even as the fire raged through our house. We are glad to be members of the Spokane community.

We have been waiting this long to share our gratitude because it was by no means certain, financially, whether the house could be saved. We are happy to report to our preservation-minded friends (as well as those who view the house as a landmark as they pass through the neighborhood) that we will rebuild our 1904 craftsman home. We are therefore even more grateful for the continuing support and goodwill from friends and neighbors, companies and agencies. Thanks to all! Carmen, Bert and Chloe Jackson Spokane

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Worry concerns damaging network

The notice in The Spokesman Review (Oct. 17) about a public hearing regarding changes in mental health services misses the point in stating, “the changes likely would dismantle Spokane Mental Health.”

Members of the Mental Health Provider Alliance, Catholic Charities, Excelsior Youth Center, Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane Mental Health and St. Luke’s are concerned that SMH would be significantly and negatively impacted. However, our primary concern is that a mental health system of care comprised of multiple community providers and other stakeholders will be unraveled as a result of implementing contracts as contemplated by the current “county request for proposal.” Years spent developing partnerships and collaborative working relationships would he lost, as would significant taxpayer investment in the current system.

While the current system of care is not perfect, it is one that offers choice, accessibility and efficiency, and has demonstrated its ability to change to meet community needs.

In addition, we are concerned about the nature of the public hearing. Only the county’s Mental Health Advisory Board, county RSN staff and mental health providers will be allowed to testify. Consumers, family members, schools and other community agencies will only be allowed to share their concerns in writing.

Isn’t this entire matter about people needing mental heath services and our community’s response to individuals needing care? Shouldn’t they have a voice at this hearing? Robert Faltermeyer, executive director Excelsior Youth Center, Spokane

Don’t dismantle system that works

I have had the unique experience of working at Spokane Mental Health (SMH) since the day it began offering mental health services to individuals of Spokane County almost 29 years ago. I have seen the services grow over the years to meet the needs of the mentally ill in this community.

SMH has built a solid foundation and has collaborated and allied with many community agencies to provide the highest quality of care in an integrated system. The staff has grown from seven to more than 300. I am proud each day to work with dedicated, hard-working people who make every effort to provide alternatives to hospitalization for individuals, but also make sure that individuals who present a danger to themselves or to the community get the inpatient care they need.

It makes no sense to dismantle and fragment a system of care that works. Let’s not have the chaos in our own system like in Arizona and Montana. The Arizona system went bankrupt and managed care companies are suing each other in Montana for millions.

We need to work to make it easier, not harder, for the mentally ill - one of the most vulnerable populations in our community - to get the treatment they need and deserve. Marilyn Wilson, M.A. Spokane

LAW AND JUSTICE

Capital punishment unjust, expensive

Erin Grayhek’s Oct. 25 letter demonstrates superbly the point Gwendolyn James made about our society’s ignorance about the death penalty.

Grayhek states that the punishment should fit the crime. This is rarely the case in American jurisprudence. We don’t sexually assault rapists or beat up those convicted of battery.

Complaints about the costs of keeping inmates are unwarranted. In Washington state, for the cost of the average execution, the convicted person could’ve been kept in jail for over 100 years. As far as protecting our safety, we wouldn’t have to worry if we could guarantee a life sentence.

Contrary to Grayhek’s claims, many consider the death penalty racist because it is unfairly applied to those convicted of murder. A greater percentage of murderers who are black are executed than murderers who are white.

“All men are created equal, endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. Among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The key words here are “endowed by their creator,” not by the state. Even prisoners have certain expectations of rights. The state has temporarily reduced, but not ignored their rights. On the other hand, you can’t be temporarily dead or have your right to life reduced. Then, the state, in direct opposition to the creator, has usurped your unalienable rights. The state has now assumed the authority to decide which rights you have and which rights you have not.

Sound familiar? Be against an oppressive government. Be against capital punishment. Travis P. Ormsby Spokane

Don’t make abusers care for animals

Every time someone abuses an animal - and gets caught - the first thing everyone thinks they should do is community service at an animal shelter. Wrong!

Putting an abuser in with animals is the worst thing we can do. In the first place, they were abusing an animal to display their power over something - maybe a girlfriend, spouse or child. To turn them loose with more animals (that are already terrified and suffering) is only going to cause more animals to suffer. Even in the best of supervised circumstances there will be times when they’re alone with an animal. It only takes a second to pull whiskers or twist an ear or tail enough to inflict pain. Seeing dead animals would probably give them pleasure.

Also, even if they don’t abuse shelter animals, when they go home, their animals/spouse/children will suffer because they’re mad because they had to clean up after animals that got them into trouble in the first place. It’s a vicious cycle.

As far as I’m concerned, there isn’t any punishment harsh enough for people who abuse animals. However, putting them around animals should not even be considered an option. Louise Long Spokane

‘Discrimination is discrimination’

This continuing discussion about Initiative 200 is ridiculous! Anytime you give preference to one group, you discriminate against another group.

To use politically correct terms:

When you give preference to Caucasians, you discriminate against minorities. This is currently called racism.

When you give preference to minorities, you discriminate against Caucasians. This is currently called affirmative action.

When will some people remove their heads from where the sun doesn’t shine and realize that discrimination is discrimination? Ron C. Garrett Spokane

Ours is a two-tier system

In America, justice is blind. We are all equal in the eyes of the law. No man is above the law.

It would be great if the above was true.

Sadly, lady justice is not blind and we are not all “equal” in the eyes of the law. Lady justice has an eye open and if you are poor, a minority, unknown and do not know someone high up, there is a set of laws for you. If you are rich and/or famous, or you or a family member know someone high up, there is a different set of laws for you.

Any poor person charged with what O.J. Simpson was charged with would now be on death row. Politicians lie (i.e. commit perjury) and break other laws, and nothing happens to them. If it does, they go to a country club-type “jail,” not to Walla Walla or Sing Sing. The rich pay their way out of trouble or their parents know judge so-and-so.

If any judge, lawyer or politician says that this is not so, they are fooling themselves and are not in touch with the real world.

No, justice is not blind in America! William A. Hall Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Creek name change a travesty

Political correctness has struck again. Negro Creek is to be obliterated forever from the Whitman County map. The memory of John Smith, a runaway slave who established a dairy on the creek in the 1880s, must be erased. It’s not proper, you see.

Imagine Smith traveling north, looking over his shoulder for the pursuing master with a whip, listening in the night for the bloodhounds tracing his scent. And finally, he finds a secluded place to call his own, to live as a free man.

I wish I had known Smith. What joy he must have felt in owning his own dairy, in being free. But now his legacy will disappear. His fortitude will be forgotten. Instead, the name of a white man who was an “early civic leader” will take his place.

Is this racial justice? Which man risked the most? The “civic leader” or the runaway slave? Which man had to summon the most courage to be himself?

One more question: Who taught us to think that “negro” is an offensive word? All you Swedes, Poles, Okies, and whatever, need to ponder that. There is dignity and pride of heritage in all races. But obliterating all traces of memory from the map is not the way to achieve it. Luella Dow Cheney

Treatment of elephants shameful

During the Ringling Brothers’ Circus performances awhile back, I walked around to the back of the Arena.

There, I viewed two rows of adult elephants, 13 in all, lined up. Each elephant was chained by two legs, one front and one back, unable to move in any direction. To ease the pain of having to stand on concrete for such a long period of time, they kept lifting their legs, one at a time. The sun beat down on their sensitive skin, no shade in sight. Some of them swayed their heads back and forth, a behavior of elephants in distress. Others were catatonic, not moving at all. It was a sad sight.

Finally, time to perform; the chains were removed and the animals were led around in a circle. The indentations on their legs were deep. Many of the elephants could not bend their leg joins at all and paraded around stiff-legged, barely able to keep up. Arthritis, joint and foot problems plague circus elephants, yet they are still forced to perform.

They headed into the Arena then to do their tricks, slaves of an antiquated notion that we humans have to capture, imprison and dominate the wild creatures of our planet. These intelligent, dignified and sensitive animals are reduced to robots for our pleasure. Shame on us!

I maintain that if folks, especially children, understood the brutal reality of a circus elephant’s life, they would never attend the circus again. Stephanie Swan Spokane