Letters To The Editor

WASHINGTON STATE

It’s R-49 or ever worse traffic snarls

Recently, I spent an afternoon on interstates 5 and 405, stuck in traffic in the Seattle-Tacoma area. It was very frustrating not to get to where you were supposed to be because the roads are backed up solid with cars and trucks.

That night, after returning to Spokane, I had a dream - no, a nightmare - that Interstate 90 and Sullivan Road from the Valley to town was as congested as I-5 and I-405.

Well, we are there now, morning and evening stop-and-go commuting. But this congestion is because of construction, not just the traffic volume and accidents.

Construction funding for the I-90 project took many years to obtain and then came to only enough money to complete half the needed improvements in that area. How long will it take to find money to fund the phantom north-south freeway, the much-needed Evergreen interchange and other improvements to eliminate congestion? The “road” money is spent in the western part of the state; that’s where votes and the political power rest. Will the legislators pass enough taxes for roads and improvements? History indicates it will not.

The answer to obtain some money to start solving this area’s transportation problems is to pass Referendum 49. Monte Geiger Veradale

Cartoon depicted senator accurately

I compliment Heidi Gann for her political cartoon of Oct. 8 (a close-up look at Jim West’s merit badges), illustrating, as many have tried less successfully to do with words alone, just how hypocritical and cynical Sen. West is.

He sanctimoniously hides behind a facade of community service in a paid job as a Boy Scout administrator, despite a lack of the character traits enshrined in the Boy Scout Law, particularly article 10: “A Scout is Brave.” He hides and pretends the tobacco money he has solicited and eagerly collected is from food companies. Not true. He pretends that his anonymous telephone threat was “metaphorical,” as recently explained to us by an 11-year-old letter writer. And he pretends he knew nothing in advance of the recent threatening “hit piece” with its incendiary cover that invited violence - all part of his cowardly interference in the Democratic primary.

Not true, West.

Why can’t West stop hiding, be brave and tell the truth for a change?

The Sunday paper had an article describing this year’s voters’ search for ethics in politicians. West realizes that on those grounds he’s extremely vulnerable. His solution is to increase the frequency and volume of his prevarications.

Judy Personnett has had a career in nursing and education, helping people. After two failed business ventures, West now holds tenaciously to a career in self-promotion as a professional politician. Who would you rather have represent you? Keith C. Johnson Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Harris’ opponent just not suitable

Politics, elections and candidates - an interesting mix but some individuals will say almost anything for attention.

Kathy Reid, candidate for county commissioner, caused The Spokesman-Review to waste a lot of paper on a specious claim about county employment. The Spokesman-Review noted, “A review of each case reveals no evidence that (Spokane County Commissioner Phil) Harris meddled or in any way encouraged county staff to employ or promote the four…”

This charge was the inarticulate rambling of a reckless individual. Reid is the same individual who chaired a committee that condoned the racial slur incident within the Democratic Party. This is not a person I want to serve in any office.

I don’t always agree with Harris, but I do know he won’t sling mud and is dedicated to performing the job as commissioner. I fully support his re-election. Edward Thomas, Jr. Spokane

McCoy well prepared to be auditor

I can’t think of anyone more prepared for the responsibility of county auditor than candidate Matt McCoy. I observe this in his business life and family commitment, as well.

McCoy is a proven manager in the private sector and the auditor’s job is primarily a management role. He’s already planning a way to shorten the document process. He’s been trained for this position, not only educationally but in his years of service with United Parcel Service.

I’m excited that McCoy has made himself available to serve each of us. Dr. G. Don Gilmore Spokane

Dalton performance worries me

Vicki Dalton claims her status as a certified public accountant entitles her to the county auditor position. As a CPA, I can tell you that passing the exam doesn’t always equal success in the workplace.

The county’s chronic cash receipting and payroll problems documented by the state auditor’s office each year make me question the job Dalton has done as the county’s internal auditor. My vote is for Matt McCoy. Konrad Capeller Spokane

Proper procedure averts difficulties

After reading Mike Prager’s “Blame flies in 57th Avenue project,” (Oct. 10) I was motivated to comment, related to my experience as a registered civil-structural engineer (now retired) and as a new resident of the South Hill area close to the project.

Road widening, adding bike lanes, curbs and sidewalks are usually straightforward projects until utilities are identified in the project plans and specifications. The key is “identified.”

Plans on file may not identify utilities or may not show specific location dimensions for utilities. What to do?

Request site-specific existing utility plans from all utility companies serving the area and site observation by a representative from each company.

Hire an underground utility location company to field locate and plan-mark all utilities; they have the equipment and trained personnel.

Examine all existing area plans for any utilities or reference notes.

Show all known or suspected utilities on the plans with notes that inform the contractor of contract procedures to follow (not means and methods for construction).

Without benefit of site-specific existing utility information, the contractor is going to face extra work protecting, relocating, even abandoning utilities. Project specifications should include provision for extra work related to unidentified utilities and the contracting agency should promptly deal with all change orders with the contractor, to keep the project on schedule.

Utility work can represent a large portion of the project and requires agency-contractor cooperation at all times. James W. Bradford Spokane

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Let’s call a scab a scab

All of The Spokesman-Review’s coverage of the current Kaiser Aluminum strike being carried out by the the United Steelworkers Union gives a confusing impression. The word “scabs” is never used!

What other word is there for people who are willing to cross a designated picket line? For people who gladly take others’ jobs, while the rightful holders of those jobs are striking for fair treatment by their employer? For people whose presence at Kaiser is intended to break the back of the strikers and their union? “Scab ” is the only word.

I reckon the Review wouldn’t fail to identify a worker as a union member if it knew that was the person’s status. Why the inaccuracy and whitewashing in describing anti-union workers?

By consciously choosing the Ronald Reagan-era buzz word “replacement workers,” the Review distorts the facts. By using the term “temps” or “temporary workers” for the strike-breaking scabs, the Good Paper is insulting its readers’ intelligence even more snidely. By not calling a scab a scab, this town’s paper of record is failing to record what’s actually going on at Kaiser.

Let’s hear the untwisted truth. People go on strike for important reasons, not for the hell of it. The Steelworkers-Kaiser standoff has great importance to Spokane’s people, and to anyone who works for a living. David D. Robertson Spokane

Kaiser deal is no deal at all

Re: Dave Jones and Kaiser’s full page ad.

Jones thinks work rules are restrictive the same rules Kaiser asked for in 1983 when the union gave the company the right of “green site,” meaning Kaiser could make any rules it wanted.

The union was asked to “help save the company” by giving nearly $184 million back to Kaiser over several years. Many in management were exempt and gave nothing, although they still could have done so.

Work rules changes then cost the union hundreds of good-paying jobs and forced us to work for less. We don’t want that to happen every time Kaiser cries wolf.

Job descriptions are good because they ensure workers do jobs they’re qualified for, not just ones management decides they must do.

Job Security? Why pay union people wages, then hire nonunion people to do their jobs? As to $2.75 per hour, you buy out my bonus of nearly $5 per hour, then give me back half of it over five years. How does Kaiser figure that is a raise? Ten thousand cash buyout. Thanks, but isn’t that my own money I gave up in ‘83?

Hundreds of current union workers will not get a cent of that money because they weren’t here when it was given up. How much will Kaiser pay in actual new money? Carl D. Lamphier Coeur d’Alene

Kaiser has not been fair

As a 26-year Kaiser employee, I’ve been pleased to see my co-workers’ many letters about the strike. But after seeing Kaiser’s full-page ad (Oct. 13), I was sickened by the company’s continued misinformation.

My friends are amazed at how bad our pension is (30 years, $900/month). My pay stubs show $38,000 a year income. Kaiser claims I make $62,000. Record production has taken our plant bonus plan to $3 an hour. The company wants to buy that out for $1.18 an hour and call it a wage increase?

The company calls anything to do with workers’ rights or safety restrictive. It wants to cut jobs and force people to work their days off, and discipline those who don’t comply.

Fifteen years ago, the Steelworkers, faced with threats of a plant closure, opened their contract. Kaiser cut jobs, wages, benefits and changed work rules to survive. Well, Kaiser has survived ($168 million in 1997).

Steelworkers aren’t asking for the moon, only parity with the rest of the industry that left us behind 15 years ago. They say no one wins in a strike and I agree. If Kaiser had taken the millions spent on security and replacement workers to the negotiations, Kaiser, the steelworkers and the community would all be winners. Wayne Kettleson Spokane

Yes, salaries work differently

There’s nothing difficult to understand about the difference in pay between salaried and union workers.

If one chooses to be a union member, one also accepts a particular pay band for their work. Salaried employees are not locked into these bands, per se. Therefore, if you are a salaried employee, you may not have a pay ceiling because you don’t have a union voting your pay. Unions have tried to help keep the pay for union members fair and competitive in today’s economy. The difference is, they don’t have a say over a salaried worker’s pay. Lori K. Michels Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Beal will get my vote

I am tired of do-nothing politicians. This past year is a good example; very little legislation for the time and money taxpayers’ spent.

It has been a long time since we had a person like Harry Truman representing us. You might not like what he said but you knew exactly how he felt. Anymore, our politicians promise everything to everybody and do nothing. I am a Democrat who is voting for John Beal for Congress. R. Stuart Kirk Ritzville, Wash.

Why re-elect a socialist radical?

The very impartial Internet site, Project Vote Smart, shows that Sen. Patty Murray has more than smaller classrooms in mind. She is part of the three-vote margin in preventing a ban against partial birth infanticide. This goes against the American Medical Society and the decency of most Americans.

Murray’s voted against America having a limited missile defense system against rogue nations. She received a 100 percent endorsement from abortion rights groups for her votes against abortion limits, parental rights and her votes for government-funded abortions and contraceptives in the private, government and foreign sectors.

She has received contributions from gay/lesbian, animal rights, gun control, children rights (meaning the United Nations’ anti-traditional family agenda) and environmental groups. She has supported the agenda of the anti-decency National Endowment for the Arts and the anti-school-choice teachers union, the National Educational Association.

If you feel that a disastrous liberal-socialist agenda and big government are good for America, keep voting your dwindling freedom and pocketbook for Sen. Murray. Mike Carpenter Spokane

Election-as-referendum idea wrong

Re: “Clinton asks nation to vote on his future” (Oct. 12).

The Clinton referendum likens the upcoming election to a sparring event to declare who will claim the covetted title, the pocketbook issue or the Monica Lewinsky scandal. In pitting these concerns against each other, the presumption is that voters share a narrow, polarized view. The intelligence of the American citizen is sadly underestimated.

Voters remain centered and clear. Whatever is seen as contributing to our national fiber we support. Whatever erodes that requires correction.

Concerned Americans will make this November election count because they desire representation or a country moving closer to its ideals. Voters know that any lasting prosperity will occur as a direct result of keeping our government focused and in line with visions set into motion at its formation so many years ago. Connie Pomeroy Spokane

IN THE PAPER

Political cartoon demeaned Scouting

Re: Heidi Gann political cartoon of Oct. 8.

Public debate and dialogue are healthy and necessary components of our American democracy and our political process. All candidates running for public office ought to be carefully and thoroughly scrutinized by voters. Gann, however, went too far when she used Boy Scouting as a vehicle to criticize Jim West.

The effects of Gann’s cartoon are far reaching. The cartoon belittles the positive influence Scouting has had on youths. I am proud to be an Eagle Scout. I am also proud to have served alongside West as program director at Camp Cowles Boy Scout Reservation during the past summer.

If one wishes to criticize a politician, please do it in a responsible, ethical manner. Do not hurt innocent parties. I am disgusted that any person would use an organization dedicated to the development of our community’s youths to promote his/her own political agenda. Robert B. Haugen Medical Lake