Public Periscope

People’s resolutions

Besieged by holidays as we’ve been, there’ve been few chances for our elected and appointed officials to do anything amusing. What’s a column to do? … In keeping with tradition, “Public Periscope” wishes our local officials a happy new year and offers its list of suggested resolutions for the powers that be:

Sheriff Mark Sterk won’t threaten to get tough on criminals by yanking the Disney Channel from the county jail.

Mayor John Talbott will refrain from using the phrases “100 percent behind” and “River Park Square” in the same sentence.

The rest of the City Council will let Talbott and City Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers win a few of those 5-2 votes.

The council will gladly hold all discussions about the proposed Lincoln Street bridge in the open even if it involves the possibility of litigation, on the theory that the public would be paying for that litigation.

County Commissioner John Roskelley will refrain from blaming the news media when controversial decisions generate some controversy.

Candidates in last November’s election will remove signs from public rights of way before candidates in next fall’s voting start putting their signs up.

Spokane County Democrats will ask their local congressman - even though he’s a Republican - to sponsor legislation renaming the U.S. Court House in Spokane for their favorite son, former House Speaker Tom Foley, rather than a Democratic congressman from Seattle.

Rather than starting a nasty court battle over its choice for a new name, the Washington Public Power Supply System will drop plans to call itself Energy Northwest and start a new search by hiring the folks who came up with Avista for Washington Water Power Co.

City officials will refuse to sell the rights to rename the Spokane Convention Center unless the corporate sponsor kicks in more than the center’s current sponsors, the taxpayers.

Clearing it up

Last week’s “Public Periscope” mentioned that city residents can have their Christmas trees hauled away at no extra charge by putting them out on the curb with their other trash. It failed to mention that this service is available only to those whose garbage is picked up by haulers from the city’s Solid Waste Management Department. … In some parts of the city, private contractors haul away residential trash. They don’t necessarily offer the same deal.

Penny pinching

Frugal but well-mannered people will want to get their holiday thank-you notes in the mail this week. The rate for a first-class letter goes up 1 cent on Sunday. … But there’s one way to beat inflation: Write longer. While the first ounce on a letter will go up to 33 cents, the second ounce will go down 1 cent to 22 cents. Thus, a 2-ounce letter still will cost 55 cents.