Letters To The Editor

IDAHO VIEWPOINTS

Rankin for ex-commissioner

Re: Kootenai County Commissioner Ron Rankin’s diatribe against the 88 percent of voters who didn’t vote in the recent election for the sales tax increase to fund the jail expansion.

I vote almost always. I believe you cannot complain if you haven’t participated in the process. Let me explain why I did not vote in this election.

Before the election, there were many articles concerning this issue. Rankin came across in a way that I found threatening and insulting. He seemed to be saying that we do it his way and approve this plan or we were going to pay through the nose because he has the power to really put it to us through additional property taxes. This really kind of ticks me off.

It appears Rankin has succumbed to the honey of a little bit of power and feels that if the public doesn’t go along with his wishes, they should and will be punished.

I’m a property owner and feel the property tax is high and very unfair. I might have voted for the proposal the commissioners submitted. However, after reading the paper and Rankin’s remarks, I had no stomach to vote. I felt that they were going to get what they wanted one way or another, the voter be damned.

The commissioners count on us to have short memories when they make decisions that affect us detrimentally. I hope county voters will remember the disdain Rankin has shown us and vote accordingly. Judith Dean Coeur d’Alene

Let’s try school board election again

Are cheating and stealing really the values Post Falls residents want taught in the public school system?

The actions of the school district in printing and distributing campaign endorsements for incumbent board members was cheating; only the incumbents had access to school facilities in this way.

Moreover, the use of district supplies and classrooms for distribution, instead of the mail system, seems like stealing.

Even more disappointing is the reaction of the administration. Principal Bob Sloyka said, “Let it (the election) go and move on.” The winning incumbent, Ed Adamchak, said, “I don’t think there’s a problem. … We need to move on.” Superintendent Richard Harris said, “It would have been better politically not to do it (the flier).”

Wasn’t that just what the man in the White House said? Forget what I did - let’s move on.

There should be a recall election followed by an honest election for new trustees. Such public corruption also calls for a grand jury investigation. Sharron Retter Post Falls

Better yet, cut the coddling

I just read an article in your paper about the state ponying up $200,000 so inmates in the new “no frills” prison south of Boise will have something to occupy their time. The article goes on to give the three-member corrections board justification for the expenditure that it simply comes out of the existing $3 million contingency fund.

Just where did that $3 million come from, folks? “Wheel of Fortune”? “Price Is Right”? Or from us bozo taxpayers? I think the answer is behind door No. 3.

Once you have basic cable installed, there’s this monthly fee for programs. Are these poor, deprived inmates going to pay that or are the denizens of door No. 3?

A sidebar tells how the cable system shows “educational programming, prison announcements, some movies and other prison selected fare” and how the service is used as a management tool and can be removed from the inmate’s cell.

Try this on for size: educational tools, books; prison announcements, public address system or printed paper; and movies, books and magazines. For discipline problems, solitary confinement until you straighten your act out. Mike Pierce Coeur d’Alene

Railroad’s driver was reckless

At 3:25 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16, my husband and I were returning to our home from a bicycle ride to Rathdrum on Highway 53. As we neared the Atlas Road crossing going east, all at once there was a white pickup with a Union Pacific logo coming directly down the bike path at high speed, heading for me. It was only by my quick thinking, hard braking and an intentional spill to the left shoulder that I avoided getting hit.

The public should be aware of the safety practices, or lack thereof, used by Union Pacific employees. A two-second difference and I would have been road kill. Connie House Coeur d’Alene

Streets aren’t for big-item storage

Re: people who park vehicles or boats in the street for prolonged periods and their complaint about police enforcing ordinances. The street in front of your home or anywhere else is not for vehicle storage. It’s for traffic and overnight parking only. I am happy police are enforcing city ordinances to get owners to park elsewhere.

Other problems need to be addressed, too. What do you do if your neighbor lets his place look like the county dump? Most folks won’t say or do anything. They let the neighbor continue piling up junk, making the entire neighborhood look bad. There are city and county ordinances to force a cleanup. Why not call and get some enforcement? Tom Akren Post Falls

I have enjoyed my time here

I am a foreign exchange student from Brazil. This was an awesome year for all of my friends and myself.

It was a blast coming to Idaho and meeting all of these nice people. We’re all so thankful for having the opportunity to know and learn about the American culture and customs. We’ve made a lot of friends who are never going to be forgotten. Everything we experienced will always be kept in our memories.

I’m grateful to my host parents, Kevin and Dena Francis, who helped me so much. I thank all of the families who hosted exchange students; our organization, ICES, that opened to doors to our dreams; and our coordinator, Nancy Smith Savage, who helped us whenever we needed it.

I thank my school for everything they’ve done for us. Falls Christian Academy provides every year chances for exchange students to get to know new friends, a new way of life, and mainly how to get closer to God. We will always remember FCA for its dignity of being a Christian school, credibility of teaching, and the staff members who work so hard to make our lives better. I thank all of my friends, the academy class of 1999, for their constant friendship and help. I will never forget any of you!

Differences between our native countries we could notice and experience. However, we also learned about the similarities among all of us. Our lives will no longer be the same. Roger Sadao Ohara Brazil

DISTURBING THE PEACE

Happening blown out of proportion

Based on the recent police response to an “exhibition of acceleration” in Coeur d’Alene, I suppose Car d’Lane, a celebration of machismo horsepower, burnt rubber and howling energy, as practiced by a few local enthusiasts, should be scrupulously reviewed.

However, no matter how green one’s politics, anyone old enough to remember muscle cars, the Eisenhower administration and Saturday night cruising was probably amused rather than disturbed by the exhibitions of motoring creativity on display last Friday evening.

The event organizers did a good job and should be thanked for their contribution to downtown, which benefited directly from the tourism and foot traffic.

Local law enforcement viewed things differently.

Following the event, a handful of revelers hurled provocative epithets at an officer in response to a minor traffic citation. This amounted to not much more than an affront to good grammar and etiquette. The tension did not rise above the level of most family reunions.

However, the squeamish officer called for reinforcements and 115 law enforcement personnel responded in full battle gear. In turn, the unruly revelers grew in number. As many as 15 belligerent drunks formed a wavering line of defiance. The balance of the crowd, perhaps several hundred, looked on, in accordance with their varying degrees of curiosity.

Now this non-event has escalated into lawsuits, media spin and defensive posturing by local law enforcement, which now is soliciting video clips to support an overkill that did more to provoke a few hooligans than any dedicated bad parenting. Daniel Pocklington Coeur d’Alene

Police got out of hand

We’re getting a taste of Gestapo mentality a little early this year. The post-car show conflict demonstrates how warped our police have become - an innocent bystander hit with pepper spray as he leaves a restaurant, another pulled from his bench by his hair and kicked on the ground. Others are kicked and pushed down the street as more police in riot gear reach the scene.

At one moment, an older man was struck in his chest by a police projectile, then pulled into a bar for safety. I witnessed an older couple attempt to return to their car by the Cafe Java. They were thrown to the ground in painful submission holds and handcuffed. All because of a man ticketed for peeling out on his motorcycle.

If our police had any compassion for the people they should be protecting, that riot would not have occurred.

How much easier it would have been to tell the crowd to settle down. Instead, police felt it necessary to counter a few jeers of “Go away!” with reinforcements from around the Panhandle. Was it necessary to call in 115 police for the same result that a little diplomacy, understanding and communication could have achieved?

This is our beautiful city and we should not suffer from an abusive police force. Kirk Mastin Coeur d’Alene

Don’t make police scapegoats

I always have to laugh when people are so quick to fault the police in these cases. Obviously, the alcohol and mood of the crowd left law enforcement with no other choice. My comment to the people involved is to enjoy an event, watch how much you drink and call it a night at the appropriate time. Quit trying to use the police as a scapegoat. Terry Berg Kent, Wash.

Officers were in over their heads

My husband and I were present in downtown Coeur d’Alene when the gentleman on the motorcycle was pulled over. From what we saw, the gentleman was asked for his license and the police officer looked at the license and then sent him on his way.

The crowd did start to yell but we never saw a fight or the officer giving the man a ticket. We feel the police took the yelling as if they were going to riot. The officer and his two young rookie officers should have thought about what they did before they called in extra help.

We were in front of the Iron Horse and saw the beginning of the actions. It showed us that the young rookies and the older officer were not ready to handle the events that took place that night.

If the officer would have just taken care of the man on the motorcycle and walked away, there would have not been what happened last Friday night. Since the officers have been trained for the riot actions of other crowds, maybe they needed to think about the families and the crowd that had attended the car cruise.

It was listed that there would be a “burn out” contest and a flame contest downtown that night. The city needs to take action on the officers and their rookies for how they handled the situation. Alison McArthur Post Falls

Time to get crowd control act together

From what I have heard, many people were somewhat rambunctious and there was alcohol involved. I also understand that the police overreacted when they started using force on the crowd instead of waiting for a law to be broken that could harm somebody.

I am not saying that the police did a bad job handling the situation. However, I hope they can display more selfcontrol when the two Titans of this area (Aryans and anti-Aryans) clash at the disgusting display of hatred and bigotry that the Aryans call a march. Chris Bonner Bonners Ferry

OFF THE NET

Editor’s note: Last weekend’s disturbance in Coeur d’Alene continues to be a topic of conversation on The Spokesman-Review’s Web site. Here are some of the comments received by e-mail. If you have Internet access and are interested in seeing more of the comments, go to http://www.spokane.net/interact/pulse/buzz/dh.asp.

This was not a riot

From what I read in the newspaper, this occurrence was not a riot but a civil disturbance. I’ve been through riots in the 1960s in Detroit and there is a big difference.

Coeur d’Alene police did not handle the situation too well. Apparently, there was a large gathering present at the time of the first disturbance with the squealing of tires by a motorcycle. It would have been much better to have given a warning to the offender.

Police are actually peace officers first. I’m sure the people had a little too much to drink, which did not help any. Years ago, I worked crowd control at local town festivals. We always had to deal with drinking concerns. We always treated people with respect and in most cases, that works.

On Saturday morning, my wife and I attended the car show and did not even know there had been a disturbance. The auto club sponsors and city must have been busy cleaning up any signs of this so-called riot. Let’s work together to prevent a recurrence. Larry Betts Troy, Idaho

Police mishandled minor problem

The riot never would have occurred if the police hadn’t drawn an even bigger crowd. Originally, my boyfriend and I were further up Sherman. Because of all the commotion, we moved down toward where the officers were lined up in the middle of the street. They drew the crowd.

Another thing that was thrown at them was doughnuts. Also, I’m 32 and I don’t drink alcohol. Most people there were not drunk teenagers or young people.

The police made a fun night a night to remember. I kept saying this is Coeur d’Alene, how can there be a riot in Coeur d’Alene? Guess I’ll have to ask the inexperienced bicycle officer who started it all. Kathryn Benthien Spokane

Uniform makes the man - too macho

On the surface, it appears the incident with the motorcycle dude was poorly handled. I do think that law enforcement in general has developed an attitude, but perhaps that is what you need to deal with what is out there.

If your general attitude was not big enough before, maybe putting on riot gear gives you the one you need; the feeling of invincibility a 16-year-old boy gets in a fourwheel-drive pickup with a big V-8 engine. The wearing of black gloves as part of the everyday uniform has never given me a warm feeling. Bill Frey Dalton Gardens

Word of overreactions spreads

How does this story deserve such national attention? I grew up in Wallace but now live in Minnesota. Both ABC and CBS radio carried it with top billing on their morning broadcasts. It sounds like a tea party compared to celebrations during the now-defunct Diamond Cup.

Come on, Coeur d’Alene authorities, at least wait until the first storefront window gets broken and a few cars are overturned. Your reputation’s at stake. Bill Benson Wayzata, Minn.

Rowdy crowd invited police action

What has downtown Couer d’Alene become? What do you expect out of cops when confronted by people with attitudes and language fueled by alcohol? I am so saddened when an innocent parade of classic cars turns into something obnoxious. Then, the cops get battered with accusations. Come on. Have any of these drunks seen themselves on video? I bet if they have, they might become sober! Kathy Abad Kila, Mont.