Letters To The Editor

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Oh, for some turnabout fair play

We live in a state with the lowest minimum wage on the West Coast and 45 percent of Spokane County jobs average less than $14,000 per year. The Vehicle Manufacturers Association, in an article featured in the July 3, 1992, Spokesman-Review, listed automobile expenses as being about $3,600 per year. Not surprisingly, therefore, a number of Spokane’s working poor depend on the bus for transportation.

Responding to this situation, the Spokane Transit Authority took predictable action. It took away our buses by changing and eliminating the routes. I was going to complain about the fact that the bus service that used to get me to work now lets me off 10 blocks away, but after hearing the horror stories of so many other bus riders who are now in so much worse shape than myself, I feel I shouldn’t whine. Comparatively speaking, I have nothing to complain about.

All we need now to make the year perfect is for I-688, the minimum wage initiative, to fail, thus ensuring our working poor who can’t afford a car to remain status quo.

Wouldn’t it be nice if all the STA executives had their vehicles taken away from them so they had to take the bus everywhere they went? And wouldn’t it be wonderful to see the reactions of everyone opposed to raising the minimum wage if they had to live on minimum wage? Robert G. Kirlin Spokane

You get the workers you pay for

Re: Gary Challender’s Sept. 16 letter. As a former owner of a small business, I understand the frustration and problems that go along with business ownership. I do take issue with his last statement. He challenges readers to start their own business, and risk their home and money to create jobs for “people who think you owe them a living.”

As a business owner, I was fortunate to work with dependable, honest, hard-working people who contributed to the success of my business. Their contribution made it possible for me to make a profit and a living. In that sense, I think you do owe them a living.

Whether you head a large corporation or are a small business owner, a large part of your success depends on your employees. You get what you pay for. If you pay your workers minimum wage, you get workers who will jump ship for a better offer from an employer who offers a living wage. Linda D. Flint-Childs Spokane

Safeway courtesy is for real

I think the Safeway customer service policy is, above all, outstanding! How often do you go into a store and find someone with common courtesy and a helpful hand? That’s something in this country that’s lacking. They either look at you and walk away or follow you around and hound you as if you’re going to steal something.

Common courtesy is something that should accompany any business that’s truly out to win customers. As far as grievances go, only 12 people out of our 150,000 customers have complained. I believe this is less than 1 percent. You can smile and greet someone without coming across as a tease of a flirt. I have a lot of customers pass through my line and they tell me how much they appreciate the wonderful greeting in the morning or even at the end of their day.

As to reprimands for nonperforming employees, I haven’t seen any yet. What I have seen is ongoing training for anyone who struggles with our customer service initiative. This is all done in a positive and rewarding environment. All employees are trained to present themselves in an appropriate manner. Safeway service initiative shines through our employees, making your shopping experience a more pleasurable one.

As a Safeway employee, I was concerned and upset about your opinion on Sept. 11. Editorial writer Rebecca Nappi is obviously not a Safeway shopper. We wish she would stop in at our store and see for herself that we’re sincere about customer service. We are here for you. Sheila M. Kvasnicka Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Jones’ incinerator expertise questionable

Let me see, isn’t it Kay Jones (guest column, Sept. 14) who supported mass burn incineration even before the local public learned of it, as it was already well under wraps?

Didn’t his name come up often and wasn’t he consulted to promote this as well as other incinerators in the West? Wouldn’t Jones naturally again be remembered to help give this “about two and one-half grains of salt’s worth per day on a toxic equivalent mass basis for today’s dioxin concerns?”

Aren’t all those careful days of running tests when contents in the burn are at the lowest possible levels we learned about when we visited others in the nation?

Jones’ professional opinion has been challenged since first heard of here by the time organized opposition to mass burn went public and questions went out to other experts who never agreed with his observations. Don’t others need to be contacted before Spokane or Washington State Ecology accepts Jones’ opinion? Ora Mae Orton Spokane

Sweetser helpful to crime victims

Our son, Russell Hanoff, was brutally murdered in California. The trauma and pain we as parents feel is indescribable.

Even though the murder took place in California, the Spokane County prosecutor’s office has been open and willing to assist us in our times of need. We especially appreciate the support group and victim-survivor newsletter Prosecutor Jim Sweetser developed during his first term. This allocation of resources has made a tremendous difference in our lives.

We support Sweetser for another term and encourage all who are concerned about victim rights to do the same. Tony and Thelma Hanoff Spokane

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Clinton statement prophetic

When a man is tried for a murder, as O.J. Simpson was, and found not guilty, does that mean he’s innocent?

When a president doesn’t technically lie, does that mean he’s telling the truth? For both of these, I say no.

My greatest point of all comes from a quote that William Jefferson Clinton made in 1974, with regard to the Watergate scandal. He stated, “Yes, the president should resign. He has lied to the American people time and time again, and betrayed their trust. He is no longer an effective leader. Since he has admitted his guilt, there is no reason to put the American people through an impeachment. It will serve absolutely no purpose in finishing out his time. The only possible solution is for the president to save some dignity and resign.”

I was raised believing and praying every day that “Lord, may our words be gracious and kind today for tomorrow I many have to eat them.” It’s 24 years later and I wonder what his response to his own quote would be. Shelli J. DeKorte Spokane

Scandal effect on kids worrisome

I was sitting at home the other night, watching the testimony of Bill Clinton. My roommate was reading a special copy that The Spokesman-Review printed on the Ken Starr report.

I thought to myself, what in the world are we doing? People are rushing home not so they can get dinner on the table or help the kids with homework, but to see the news and find out what’s happening in the Clinton episode. Why?

Do we realize what we are doing to ourselves and our children? I saw two kids reading the Starr report. I asked where they got it. They responded, “school.” I asked my little brother if he’d read the newspaper and he said yes, the school passed them out. At a junior high school? Are we crazy? What are we teaching our kids? I have a 2-year-old, and it’s very hard for me to imagine trying to explain what’s in that newspaper. (If you’ve read it, you know it’s very explicit).

I’m not saying the public shouldn’t know what’s going on, but to what extent? Are we ready to explain this to our kids? What if they get the wrong idea? Some kids think it’s cool, what the president did. How do you explain to them that it’s not cool? How do you explain to our kids that what the president did was wrong when every day the same thing is going on right next door or maybe in the same household? Christina L. McCoy Spokane

What sense are we making, really?

Put Congress in front of a grand jury, a camera and a worldwide audience, ask each member if he’s had illicit sex, and how much honesty do you think you’d see?

Why is it right to expose President Clinton and wrong to look at Hyde, Burton or Chenoweth? We like to enforce our norms, but is it fair? Maybe fidelity’s not Bill and Hillary’s chief priority. Something holds that marriage together.

Why do we need to devise some punishment? We’ve been holding his feet to the fire for nine months. Add impeachment to that agony and we punish ourselves. The next president will have to be a choirboy. And if he is also a putz, we’re going to miss Clinton’s energy and keen intellect. Gayle L. Borton Spokane

All I want from Clinton is an exit

If any member of the military had lied under oath or even been dishonest to a commanding officer, we would be quickly court martialed and sent on our way in disgrace. And it would be because we had lied.

President Clinton, as our commander in chief, is supposed to be a role model. How can people overlook the fact that he lied to every American (and the rest of the world) for more than seven months? The only reason he has come clean is because he was caught like a rat in a trap.

He might be remorseful, but I don’t think it’s because he’s sorry about his behavior. He is sorry he was caught with no way to lie his way out of yet another scandal.

As to Ken Starr spending over $40 million, maybe if Clinton had been more forthcoming seven months ago, he could have saved the American taxpayers millions.

I would have been more inclined to forgive if Clinton had been cooperative and honest at the beginning. But, as with most situations involving Clinton, he waits until the bitter end to do the right thing.

Clinton should do the honorable thing and resign, rather than put the public and himself through the humiliation of impeachment proceedings. Tammy S. Doffek Medical Lake

Clinton must be held to account

After serving more than 27 years in the military, I am appalled by President Clinton’s abhorrent behavior. He has proven he is completely dishonest, has no integrity and is an adulterer many times over. Had I demonstrated similar conduct in the military, I would have been court martialed, stripped of my rank, sent to prison and lost all retirement benefits.

Our commander in chief took an oath of office, as I did, and should at least be held to these same standards - perhaps even higher.

Apparently, there is a mindset by some in this country that the president need not be held accountable for his criminal and immoral actions. This does not make it right, nor does it mean it should be overlooked.

The present state of affairs has gone way beyond common sense and reason. I trust the people of our great state, who do not condone this sort of behavior, will contact their congressional leaders and demand appropriate action.

The only viable solution to this deplorable situation is for President Clinton to resign immediately. If he fails to resign, he must be impeached. Tommy G. Brown retired colonel, USAF, Spokane

Reject this foolish, selfish inquisition

If the Watergate burglary of Democratic headquarters had never come to light, would there have been any real damage to the country? Yes.

If arms sales to enemy Iran had never come to light, would the country have suffered any actual damage? Yes.

If the Lewinsky affair had never come to light, would the country have been damaged in any way? No. Not one person in this country would be adversely affected in any way.

Why are we considering ousting the president for this? Shouldn’t impeachable offenses be defined as ones causing real damage to the country?

The inquisition is tearing this country apart, not the petty affair and the president’s attempts to keep it private.

If we have no legal way to censure a president, we need to invent one right now, before we do something really unjust that will scar the country for all history. Let the punishment fit the crime.

Clinton’s political enemies, unable to win the right way at the polls, took the low road. They went for a de facto coup called the Starr investigation. Howling babies. Give them what Joe McCarthy got. Denounce their ultra partisan, McCarthyistic witch hunt. They show no shame or hesitation as they sacrifice this country to serve their own political ambitions.

Even considering subjecting the president to the maximum punishment for an infraction this small is insanity. Stand firm against it. Bill Quinn Spokane

IN THE PAPER

We see what plays out front here

So the policeman is going for a sex change! Front page coverage in the Sept. 17 Spokesman-Review.

On the second page of the same paper is the small-print headline, “Spokane Police Department wins international award.” An award given to our department by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Spokane the best over 192 other entries from around the world in the category for cities with more than 50,000 residents. This award was won because, as they stated, “Your department has championed positive change in your community by implementing the philosophy of community-oriented policing.”

Tell me, why is the sex change of a policeman more important than an outstanding award given to Spokane?

Our new police chief and our deputy chief will accept this award on Oct. 12 in Salt Lake City. Will there be coverage by any Spokane news media? I doubt it. Marie E. Yates Spokane

Clark column a snake eyes production

The column Doug Clark wrote regarding gambling in Spokane was very disappointing. Usually a person that critical of others dislikes themselves.

I was at the Stockyards Inn and the story I saw was much different than the made-for-show, write-for-dough story Clark thought was amusing. I dealt to Clark just before Shelly and was dishing out the money even though his conservative playing needed some work; although for someone who is obviously against gambling, he did know the basics.

Why did Clark pull out additional money of his own? Now I know why his favorite charity is Gamblers Anonymous. I think his mind is still slush from his Vegas trip. Gambling is a form of entertainment. If it’s abused maybe we should close the Indian Reservations, the lottery, pulltabs, etc. These activities are for competent adults with choices.

A news publication can affect many lives. Please have Clark upgrade his interviewing skills. The Stockyards’ regular house band is quite good. They were on vacation the night he slid in. I would love to meet his wife; she must be a saint.

Many times, true complaints are never expressed to your publication. Many people share my viewpoint. “It isn’t what you say, but how you say it.” Lanette Clark Spokane

You really blew ‘good cigar’ quote

Well, that’s twice in one week. When a letter to the editor misquoted Kipling, I could let it pass. But when Doug Clark, a - gasp - journalist, did the same thing, I felt compelled to respond.

The quote is not “A woman is just a woman, but a cigar is a good smoke.” The correct quotation is, “a woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke.” The quote is from the poem, “The Betrothed.”

It’s not, as some have claimed, proof Kipling hated women, but a humorous story about a man whose betrothed forces him to choose between her and “the great god Nick o’ Teen.” In closing, let me say that on the road to Mandalay, where East is East and West is West, when earth’s last picture is painted, you’ll be a Man, my son. Larry G. Blanchard Otis Orchards

CHILD CARE

Neighbors should welcome day care

Re: “Day-care center plan worries neighbors,” (Sept. 21). Good licensed day cares are a necessity, especially in North Idaho. A day care setting in a church should be welcomed. The neighbors are worried about noise. Children playing happily is good noise. The neighbors might even enjoy it; who wouldn’t?

The neighbors should be proud to tell everyone they know who has children that they have a great licensed day care in their neighborhood. I would be proud of that because I love children and we need more safe places like this for them. The church is already a business and a new one is not moving in. It’s just an improvement to the church. Julie K. Beckman Spokane