Letters To The Editor

Mon., Aug. 9, 1999

SPOKANE MATTERS

Local chintziness not a saving grace

I’m an educated, taxpaying, lifetime resident of Spokane who occasionally becomes disheartened with the small-town attitude of this fine city. My husband and I make a good income and try to provide for our children without trying to make them think that money grows on trees.

Our son is registered for a four-day golf camp that will cost us $85. That’s expensive but not out of reach. We thought that he should pay at least half. Our son collects golf balls from our property, cleans them and tries to sell them (quite reasonably, because I tell him not to be greedy.) Recently, he set up a little stand outside a city golf course. Before he was able to get settled, the golf pro (driving a BMW) asked us to leave because we were cutting into his profits!

Does anyone wonder why Forbes listed Spokane 161 out of the 162 best places to do business? My son was selling golf balls for 50 cents and would probably have been lucky to bring home $10. Attitudes like this give a bad name to this town and certainly leave a very bad taste in my mouth. It was very disappointing for my son. Will he become a successful adult and move his business away from this town, like many others, or will he stay and raise his children here, as his parents have done?

I realize this isn’t the end of the world but we came home very disappointed and a little bitter that a successful golf pro would take the time to quibble over a few used golf balls. Margaret Chicha Spokane

Prudence prevents sad spectacles

Editor Chris Peck’s July 25 column reinforces the adage of two people looking at a half glass of water and reaching two different conclusions (optimist vs. pessimist).

Peck lambastes Councilwoman Cheri Rodgers and Mayor John Talbott as dividing the city in what he calls a “sad, sad political spectacle.” I look at the changing political conditions as an optimist.

Peck vaguely makes reference to the city’s responsibility for the environmental cleanup by buying six acres for $4 million. The whole point of Rodgers and Talbott’s position is that no one knows the cost required for the cleanup. Why buy the land when the cleanup costs could be greater than original purchase? The landowner is not giving the city a deal; he may be avoiding responsibility for the cleanup.

Where Peck sees bad government, I see good government. Our council is supposed to look out for the interest of the citizens. The purpose of having the people vote on two issues, one being the purchase and cleanup and one being the additional funding, is to allow the citizens to vote on the risk that the city is acquiring. If this foresight had been used before, we wouldn’t have had the new Lincoln Street bridge fiasco. N.G. Lorentz Colbert

THE MEDIA

Violence cleanup a definite need

In the Aug. 2 Spokesman-Review there are two articles that support John Caputo’s July 5 essay, “We all have role to play in cleaning up media bad act.”

Caputo described what what we know but ignore about media violence. He cites more than 40 years of research that documents the harmful effects of media violence on society and says most of this research sits on library shelves ignored by media producers and media users alike.

That’s why it was so good to read the Aug. 4 article, “TV for baby a no-no, say pediatricians.” The American Academy of Pediatricians’ stand against media violence based upon extensive research review is to be applauded.

The academy joins other distinguished professional associations, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the National Institute of Mental Health in taking a strong step informing the public about their significant findings.

Additionally, it was interesting to read the article, “Violence yielding.” Unfortunately, the researcher interviewed said that although violence is yielding, students’ perception of violence is increasing.

According to Caputo and others, the reason for this is that violence may be decreasing in real life but increasing in all forms of media. Last year alone there was an increase of 12 percent in violent tv programming. Video games were even worse. This is what George Gerbner calls the Mean World Syndrome and why many folks have fear going into downtown areas.

I encourage citywide support for taking positive steps to clean up media pollution with media solutions. Don Higgins, director Northwest Regional Alliance for Responsible Media

Will wrong about public broadcasting

In questioning the need for public broadcasting, George Will offers faulty analysis (Opinion, Aug. 3).

The facts don’t support his contention that look-alike cable channels make public television unnecessary. It’s PBS, after all, not CNN, Discovery or Nickelodeon that is consistently honored with the most awards for television journalism, distinguished achievement and meritorious public service, Daytime Emmys for childrens programming, more nominations for news and documentary Emmy Awards than any other network, broadcast or cable!

Public broadcasting’s mission of education, culture and citizenship is as important today as it was three decades ago. In survey after survey, Americans agree. When last queried in a Roper poll, Americans ranked public radio and television as the second- and third-best values for their tax dollars. Only national defense ranked higher.

Will’s let-them-eat cable argument is an empty dream for the 24 million households that do not subscribe to cable or a direct-broadcast satellite service. Cable subscribers, meanwhile, pay on average $510 a year. Funding from Congress - about 15 percent of public televisions resources, or less than 70 cents per person per year - is the critical seed money for such one-of-a-kind services and programs.

In helping fulfill vital goals of Congress, the White House, state legislatures and the nation’s governors, public television deserves government support. Public television is one of those special institutions that make life in this great country even greater. More than 93 million viewers each week seem to agree. Claude Kistler general manager, KSPS-TV, Spokane

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.

Letters To The Editor

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Updated: Iran war spreads to Red and Caspian seas; Gulf quiet as U.S. forgoes strikes

Democrats pick new Senate candidate in Maine in aftermath of Platner debacle

Kazakh president urges Putin to freeze Ukraine war