Letters To The Editor

WASHINGTON STATE

Assessors did the right thing

Douglas Wendler (Letters, Aug. 31) asks that assessors explain the decision by the state Supreme Court regarding Referendum 47. Why could 10 elected assessors ask the Supreme Court to rule on a referendum voted in by a majority?

The reason is simple: The assessors were looking out for the interests of their constituents. Any change in the property tax rules creates both winners and losers. It was absolutely certain that a taxpayer “loser” in the system would sue. The system requires at least two years for the issue to be brought up in court because the rules say that one has to first pay the tax, under protest, before going to court. The assessors wanted the question of constitutionality to be asked immediately because they knew the property tax system does not work in reverse.

Legal work was done by the Kitsap County deputy prosecutor. The argument by the assessors was that the act violated the “uniformity” clause of the state Constitution; the argument by the other side was that the act really constituted an “exemption.” The diverse makeup of the court yielded a decision of nine to zero against the act.

During the session, legislators were told by elected assessors that the act was certain to be challenged by a taxpayer. The legislators, instead of improving a complex act, simply sent it to the voters. We elect our legislators to decide complex issues. The explanation required is why a flawed act was presented for a vote of the people when the legislators could have passed a workable act on their own. John Sweetman, systems manager Spokane County assessors office

Not backing Schindler was wrong

Opinion editor John Webster’s brilliant, thoughtful conclusion (Opinion, Sept. 4) was a real work of intellect and professionalism. Incredibly, he says the vital issues of crime and taxes, both of which greatly affect the lives of our citizens, are unimportant - mere ideology. Instead, he notes, the truly important items are embodied in the high-cost, taxpayer-funded projects such as the Arena and/or Mirabeau Point.

Instead of supporting those who are willing to take on the tough issues and make the hard decisions, he opts for the status quo - for those who “go along” - for those who avoid the difficult issues.

He ignores the plight of our struggling, working families in favor of complacency and a “do nothing” mentality. His conclusions are very predictable, shallow and explain, at least in part, why things never seem to improve. In fact, the burden on families and business is important; taxes, crime and abortion issues are important; being actually involved in community is important; having a successful business background is important; effective education is important; and pursuing solutions to our problems is important.

Only one candidate addresses these issues. Only one candidate has the understanding, resolve and the talent to make a difference. Vote Lynn Schindler on Tuesday. T.M. Shelley Spokane

Johnson won’t make West’s mistakes

In response to Leo Fagan’s letter of Sept. 4, critical of incumbent state Sen. Jim West, may I make so bold as to suggest that, yes, there is someone “out there” who “will truly represent our interests and concerns.”

As a personal friend of Keith Johnson for many years, I know that as the senator for the 6th District Johnson will represent the interests and concerns of Spokane, as he did the interests of the United States in many foreign countries.

I personally know Johnson as an intelligent, thoughtful and involved student of the political and cultural affairs of our region and as a man with the breadth and maturity to advance our interests in the rough-and-tumble of state politics. I can assure you that the government of the United States, as it does with all potential foreign service officers, satisfied itself that Johnson is of impeccable background and character before sending him abroad as a diplomat.

I, too, believe it is time to replace West, who I believe has slipped too deeply into the West Side power structure - as he demonstrated when he voted to spend our taxes on Paul Allen’s stadium in Seattle. His energy and power should’ve been relentlessly focused on the region he represents, as I am confident Johnson’s would be. John A. Hols Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Pass EMS to continue key services

The Emergency Medical Services levy on the Sept. 15 ballot will provide funds so that approximately 16,000 medical incidents will be quickly responded to and another 15,000 or so citizens will be trained in CPR. Additionally, emergency medical technicians and paramedics will be trained, medical supplies will be purchased, vehicles will be maintained and public education will occur.

I can’t think of a better way to spend 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. Yes, the owner of a $100,000 home in the city will pay $50 a year, but at $4.17 a month I think it’s a bargain!

I urge everyone to vote yes to continue the EMS levy. It saves lives. Bryan Fuhs, M.D. chairman, Citizens to Continue EMS, Spokane

Reid right to represent 3rd District

I support Kathy Reid for county commissioner. She is qualified for the position because she has the knowledge of local government (through the freeholder process). She has excellent leadership skills through years of neighborhood leadership. And she stands up for individual rights and listens to all. Truly, she is the right candidate for Spokane County commissioner, 3rd District. Karen Baker Spokane

Reid progressive, independent

Kathy Reid has a long history of doing the right thing in spite of immense pressure to do the wrong thing.

She is the true, outspoken, sincere leader this county is looking for. She has spent her life looking after others and organizing groups for progressive change. She is certainly not beholden to wealthy developers, like one of the candidates for county commissioner.

If you want a county commissioner that tells it like it is, vote for Reid. Margie R. Davis Spokane

Sterk has earned my vote

I live in a North Spokane neighborhood which has recently been targeted by unsupervised teens who have burglarized, damaged property, broken into homes, and generally terrorized neighbors and pedestrians.

On Aug. 24, a group of 30 to 35 residents met with Mark Sterk and Sandy Richards from the Spokane Police Department to try and educate ourselves on how to deal with this continuing problem. Sterk spent two hours with us and explained clearly what we could do to put a stop to this ongoing activity. He answered many questions which no one could before, and he and Miss Richards already have taken the steps for our neighborhood to set up a Block Watch program.

In one week the criminal activity has slowed and there seems to be more visible police patrols in our area. Thanks to Sterk for a job well done. He definitely has my vote for Spokane County sheriff. Cindy Rison Spokane

Auditor candidates dubious bargains?

We should all be so lucky as to win a county seat. I’m referring to the article, “Four competing for auditor position.”

Of the three brave souls who mention their personal income, one at $36,000 per year, another, a public servant already making $50,000 and change per year, Barbara Lampert claims $6,000 per year as her income. Here we have very qualified candidates currently making anywhere from $5,000 to $53,000 per year less than the $59,000 per year salary upon winning election.

Does it seem as though we taxpayers may be paying a little more than “fair market value” for our public servants? Brian Weitzel Spokane

Police must not cop out on petty crime

Re: “Crime Check is not a working number” (Letters, Aug. 19).

Dee Berisha, a Spokane teacher, had her purse stolen and a woman used her checkbook. The woman’s description was obtained, as well as the license plate number of her car. Berisha relayed this information to the police department and was told the police had no time to pursue the information.

This is unacceptable. I hope the Spokane Police Department, after seeing the letter in the paper, decided maybe it does have time after all. All the police had to do was send an officer out to the woman’s home and arrest her. When “smaller” crimes are left unpunished, it leads to bigger crimes.

All citizens have a right to expect justice from the police department. I hope our new police chief changes the attitude toward crimes of this type. Phyllis J. Brooks Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Let’s not forsake really important issues

In the Sept. 1 Good Paper, I see a photo captioned, “President Clinton … return to politics as usual with a visit Monday to an education roundtable in Virginia.”

I had watched this discussion on C-SPAN and had hoped your paper would give us more details about this school that has achieved outstanding success despite a very high percentage of minority students. The photo you published was from the Associated Press. Didn’t it send a story?

On the same page, I see a four-column report of a press conference with Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, headed, “Lott blasts Clinton …” If education is politics as usual and Lott’s opinion is news, we’re really in trouble.

Let’s remind Lott and his buddies that there are real issues out there. Better yet, call Sen. Patty Murray, who pays more attention to issues that affect people. Call (202) 224-2621 or call her Spokane office. Ask her to support funding for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, which is so vital for poor Americans who cannot afford heat.

Also ask her to support a cost-of-living adjustment for Older American Act programs so services will not be eliminated or cut. These funds can make the difference between older people staying in their own homes or having to go to a nursing home.

Call Sen. Slade Gorton, too, (202) 224-3441. Try to persuade him to vote to help his constituents here in Washington, not his colleagues in Washington, D.C. Elinor F. Nuxoll Spokane

No cheesy backing for Lyons

This is a plea to all voters in the 5th Congressional District to get out of the house on Tuesday and do your duty: Vote! And cast your ballot for Brad Lyons.

Lyons will be a representative of all the people in the district, not just the out-of-state tobacco interests that are flooding us with their propaganda TV commercials.

Mothers and fathers of teenagers, you need to know that the current House member is using smoked cheese to say he opposes the tobacco interests. Yes, he returned a $500 check to the Philip Morris PAC (makers of smokes to hook your teenagers) then accepted $500 from Kraft - a subsidiary of Philip Morris. We call that done with “smoke and cheese,” a simple variation of the usual smoke and mirrors. Vote Lyons. Donald C. Orlich Pullman

Murray cares about the right things

In the race for U.S. Senate, the choice is clear. Challenger Rep. Linda Smith voted in the last session to water down worker safety and voted against the Patient Bill of Rights. The GOP passed a watered-down version but once again, health insurance companies’ bottom line was looked after before the patients.

The other challenger, Chris Bayley, has no voting record but his campaign ads promise more of the same.

Sen. Patty Murray stood up against the big tobacco corporations and voted to hold them accountable. Several Medicare budget votes show that Murray cares for the elderly and disadvantaged. Murray’s work on veterans’ issues shows a compassion for a group that is often forgotten in peaceful times. Murray sponsored two pieces of legislation that positively affected children, and she was voted one of the top 10 women by a leading woman’s magazine for her work.

The choice is clear. Re-elect Sen. Patty Murray. Jim Fitzgerald Spokane

Regrettably, some must lie

It appears that President Clinton has indeed lied concerning a private matter, one that is lied about all too frequently by too many people. Many in the country are upset to the point of impeachment.

However, let it be known that there is an official government policy that forces thousands of both men and women to lie about another private matter: “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” If, perchance, any of these persons honorably tell the truth, they are immediately punished by a swift, military “impeachment,” i.e. discharge. Ann R. Wood Spokane

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Ineffectual president ruining country

S.J. Barton’s Sept. 5 letter asking the media to exercise more discretion and class in their treatment of Bill Clinton demands response.

Barton asserts that few people can dispute that Clinton is doing a great job running this country, that we should overlook his indiscretions and let him continue doing his job. Let me be one of the many to dispute that.

Our rosy economy is the result of Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan’s tight control of the money supply coupled with a Republican Congress’ efforts to control federal spending and growth in government. Clinton has advocated bills that would do just the opposite and has vetoed Republican efforts to further control spending and government growth. In fact, Clinton has done absolutely nothing beneficial to our government either domestically or abroad, and is bereft of any plans to improve our economy, further our national security or stimulate future growth. In short, he is the most ineffectual president in the history of the United States and is severely damaging our nation through his criminal activities, indiscretions and abuse of power.

Far from being indiscreet, the press has been tardy and sadly remiss in not bringing this president to task for his many transgressions. Gene K. Ealy Coeur d’Alene

Scandal another sign of moral decline

I find the attitudes reflected in letters to the editor such as those of Aug. 26 reflecting our nation’s turmoil over Bill Clinton to be extremely alarming. Everyone else does it, so it’s OK. How immature.

The question here is not that moral failures are rampant in this country; sadly, they are. The question is what do hard-working, taxpaying citizens who are striving to instill godly values in their children have a right to expect from the man who has taken the oath of the highest office in our nation? Certainly, we’re not paying him for adulterous activities carried out in our Oval Office. So much for private matters. There’s sufficient evidence to warrant serious investigation here.

Clinton, not Ken Starr, has caused the legal cost to taxpayers to skyrocket by his endless stalling tactics. Unless you’re a victim of revision of history, you know this nation was founded by the grace of almighty God.

I pray God will prevent America from being consumed by the moral decay that’s been the demise of other great civilizations. We must turn back to God in repentance before it’s too late. Vicki P. Jeffries Spokane

He asked for forgiveness - let it be

As I read this newspaper, I see the news media and a political party destroying a good man, the president. I can hardly believe this is happening in America.

Where is our Christian forgiveness, common Bible and church? He says he’s sorry. Jesus will forgive him. Let him go on with the business of running this country.

He who is without guilt, cast the first stone. Barbara L. Plewman Spokane

Forgive this crook? No way

The media have been trying to guide America into forgiving our wayward, lying, cheating president. Hillary and Chelsea Clinton are welcome to forgive him for any and all of his numerous transgressions against them. That’s their business.

If as a nation we forgive Bill Clinton, do we forgive the recently admitted perjury and/or wait for the Starr report, which seems likely to include obstruction of justice, witness tampering, etc.? If we value the rule of law, we cannot forgive this crook. If we are foolish enough to forgive all of his crimes, we owe an apology to President Nixon’s daughters. We chased the whole Nixon family out of the White House in disgrace not because of a crime conceived by Nixon, but because he tried to cover up a political burglary of his subordinates - a burglary I believe was done without his knowledge or permission.

In contrast, Clinton is the chief of a criminal empire. We have jailed numerous of his subordinates. Many, like Susan McDougal, have refused to finger the boss. It is long past time for Clinton to pay for his deeds. Sylvia J. Riddle Spokane