Letters To The Editor

EVENTS

Thanks for half century of great fairs

For 50 years the Moran Fair has been a physical manifestation of civic pride and positive community activism. A handful of generous people created a small miracle on Moran Prairie for the love of their neighbors and community.

It has been a great pleasure to have had the opportunity to witness such community pride in action.

Thanks to all the hard-working members of the Moran Prairie Fair committees for many years of homegrown pleasures great and small. The Moran fair will be greatly missed. Carrie Anderson Spokane

The quintessential Spokane pleasure

Last evening, my family and I enjoyed a perfect evening of small-town American baseball out at SeaFirst Stadium.

After parking (for free) we strolled into the park, receiving a friendly greeting at the gate. Within a few minutes, I had purchased dinner for the whole family, getting change back from a $20. A few minutes more and we were in our seats, inhaling our food and the fresh air, as we gazed over the beautiful ball park.

What a delight for the senses: the aroma and taste of the hot dogs, peanuts and pop, the roar the crowd, the crack of the bat, the strains of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” And, of course, a feast for the eyes: green grass, white uniforms, the full moon in an indigo sky, the bright lights, and the smiles on the faces around me. I was suddenly 9 years old again, back in Sick’s Seattle Stadium watching the Rainiers. What a joy to be able to share the experience with my family!

After a great game, we headed toward the exit. No pushing or shoving, just friends and neighbors waiting their turn, smiling and savoring the last few moments of a Spokane baseball evening.

Even In the parking lot, courteous drivers left room for others to merge. No honking or cross looks, just town folk, leisurely heading home after a perfect evening. An evening of quintessential, small-town American baseball in Spokane.

What a game! What a town! What a country! Bruce A. Clark Spokane

Fine car show all but overlooked

Aug. 21, a Saturday, I attended the Cops for Kids Car Show. It was a very good show with every auto you could imagine. Everything from stock Model A’s to total customs.

Fun was had by all in attendance. It was nice to see senior citizens talking to a young teenager about their vehicles. The attention that adults gave the kids gave the kids a lot of pride and acceptance.

Young and old enjoyed a night with no violence or gun fire. There was even a display in memory of Brandon Frostad, who was gunned down in the prime of his life. So what happened to the media coverage? News 4 gave it about 20 seconds of coverage and that was it.

Why are the media so intent on wasting so much time covering the bad about young adults? We as a society need to exalt the good in our young adults and the media need to get away from their doom and gloom approach.

Kids learn from adults. Do we want to teach them to only look at the gloom and doom or look toward a brighter tomorrow, with hope?

To all who took part in the Cops for Kids Car Show, good job. I applaud you all. Dave E. Breitkreutz Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Vote yes on park bonds

Parks, pools and playgrounds - vote yes with me and we’ll enjoy all three.

In techno jargon, that’s the park improvements bond issue slated for the Sept. 14 election ballot.

Join the Y3P Group. Enjoy parks, pools and playgrounds - vote yes! Deanna L. Schulte Spokane

Strange, what’s commendable

Where else but in city government would someone receive a commendation for unnecessarily blowing $135,000? I’m referring to the Aug. 24 article which reported that the City Council commended the city’s director of engineering services for reconsidering the construction of Indian Trail Road. This after the project is already late and $20,000 over budget.

Would any reader keep their job after making a stupid $135,000 error? I think not! Let’s see, that is probably more than the total property taxes from more than 100 homeowners. Frank R. Schoonover Spokane

City made a mess of road project

As a resident of the Indian Trail area, I have watched the so-called widening project unfold. It was begun last March. Now here we are with a nicely paved road that’s narrower now in places than it was before.

Harlan Douglass had received some quality retaining walls and sidewalks for his own developments. Meanwhile, we’re stuck for up to 15 minutes in a one-lane construction delay or navigating literally hundreds of potholes big enough to tear up car suspensions.

I’ve had plenty of time to realize that this certainly was not adequately planned. It didn’t exactly take rocket science to understand that a center island with landscaping would never work with such a narrow road. It was the firemen out here who realized what the city never did for months: the road would be too narrow for even their important lifesaving emergency vehicles to pass by a car.

What a fiasco. What a waste of taxpayer money. Who will be accountable for this? Dig a little deeper, taxpayers Janet Salee Spokane

Face up to local hypocrisy problem

I have been following the controversy about Character First since it was introduced to Spokane. The program advocates building positive character traits as a means of improving our city. What a great idea! Unfortunately some of those advocating for Character First also advocate for legalizing discrimination.

An Aug. 19 Spokesman-Review headline read “Character First honors city’s models of morality.” Two proponents of Character First quoted in the story are Mayor John Talbott, who voted against the Human Rights Ordinance, and Penny Lancaster, who advocates the removal of sexual orientation from the ordinance.

The city’s Human Rights Ordinance makes it illegal to discriminate based upon race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation and disability in employment, housing and public accommodations. The ordinance made discrimination illegal; removal of a category would legalize discrimination again. That is wrong! It is not OK to discriminate against people.

If Character First is truly about building character, the people behind this organization will make a strong commitment in opposition to discrimination. When the organizers condemn the efforts to legalize discrimination against homosexuals, then and only then will I be able to support this program. Until then, I will continue to treat my neighbors as I wish to be treated. I will treat all people with respect and value the diversity in my community. Dean B Lynch Spokane

Bray will get my vote

“Why doesn’t our city government do a better job?” I hear this question too often.

One explanation may be that special interest ‘agenda are blocking cooperative and positive actions by the City Council while approving the expenditure of many millions in city funds for projects that only a minority want. This fall, voters have the opportunity to change the balance of power by electing good people to the three seats up for election.

I’m backing David Bray for position 1. My knowledge of Bray comes from observing his public behavior, talking in private and working with him on initiatives. My support is primarily because he will replace downtown priorities with citizen priorities and will not straddle issues by voting on both sides of an issue but will be open on his agenda and consistent in his voting. In addition, Bray will increase that seemingly rare commodity, civility, to the City Council.

As voters, we determine the policy direction of the city for the next years by electing the City Council members. Join me in making the right choice. K. Julian Powers Spokane

LAW AND JUSTICE

Judd adhered to the law

Judge James Judd had hardly got the words out of his mouth when a cacophonous chorus, sounding like a screaming swarm of teenagers at a wrestling match, erupted to condemn it.

Judd’s decision to sentence Scott Yager to life imprisonment was the correct one, not because he or I say so but because that’s what Idaho law says. And Judd is sworn to follow that law.

Certainly, Judd realized his decision would incite a ruckus. It would’ve been far easier to have bowed to the inevitable voices of reaction and revenge, bathed his hands with the dutiful cowardice of Pontius Pilate, and gone home to wife, martinis and amnesia. Instead, this brave and resolute judge chose to do what he knew was right.

We must never forget that it is the job of judges to apply the law fairly and rationally, not to cower before a lynch mob. And we are better as a people when we support judges who make decisions with coolness, integrity and courage.

This is one time when “Your Honor” really means something. Thank you, Judge Judd. Terrence Knight Spokane

Bar set too high for blacks to get justice

Re:“Jury not able to agree beating was a hate crime,” Aug. 26.

The trial of a white man who along with another white man, (whose trial comes up later - more comedy justice to follow), who were accused of beating a black man in the Spokane Valley, which more than likely was racial/hate related, was typical justice here in Spokane. The jury was, of course, deadlocked 10-2 for a guilty verdict of malicious harassment on the basis of the victim’s race.

Seems as though all a white person has to do in our little hamlet is be drunk and stupid, and that individual can and more than likely will get away with whatever they have been brought to trial for. Especially if the trial involves a physical attack on another person who happens to be black.

Who says racism isn’t alive and well and breeding here in the Inland Northwest? Hey, I guess to truly qualify for a hate crime here in Spokane, the brother has to be drug behind the back of a pickup until he is decapitated. That seems a little far to go for some justice. Reginald Eans Spokane

Align drug laws with reality

Jails across the nation are overcrowded. Yet statistics show that violent crime is dropping. Eighty percent of the incarcerated are there for drug use and/or sales, not for any crime that is a danger to the public. Wouldn’t it make more sense to spend those tax dollars on drug prevention and treatment?

Decriminalizing drugs would unload our police, courts, and jails. Alcohol and cigarettes are injurious to health, with no redeeming component. But they are legal and our state and federal governments make millions on taxes from their sales.

Legalizing doesn’t mean approval. Prohibition gave an aura of allure to alcohol. Legalizing it did not make it more attractive or prevalent. It’s time we get real with the drug problem. Doris Mussil Spokane

ABORTION

Study conclusion chillingly barbaric

Re: “Abortion affects crime,” Aug. 22.

Looking for the silver lining? Steven Levitt and John Donohue III’s research paper would lead one to believe that abortion has beneficial affects on society. In other words, killing babies results in less crime. (As if abortion wasn’t murder.) What an awful price for such a small return. Does the end justify the means? Does good come from evil? Maybe their study should have included all the good that could’ve happened from the lives taken. What about the success stories of those who overcame adverse circumstances?

Those scholars were astonished at the high rate of abortions, more than 34 million since 1996. It’s hard to get a handle on such a large number. I tried to think back at the wars and natural calamities, and I don’t think any come close in magnitude.

What saddens me most is that the very ones we look to for life, its protection and preservation are the ones with blood on their hands - mothers and doctors. Maybe we would be better served if Levitt and Donohue would research to see if God ever failed to send judgment on a society that sacrificed its own children. Or is this the judgment? David J. Nordstrom Ione