Letters To The Editor

BUSINESS AND LABOR

BNSF people don’t all favor depot

Recently, your paper has been running Burlington Northern Sante Fe advertisements concerning the proposed Hauser locomotive fueling facility. The ads state, “This ad brought to you by the over 700 men and women who work for the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad Company in this area.”

I have been contacted by many of our members and retired members in the Spokane area who do not support the Hauser facility. As a matter of fact, for varied reasons, they greatly oppose BNSF’s plans to build the fueling facility over the Rathdrum aquifer.

Working as United Transportation Union State Legislative director for the last 16 years, I have found that Burlington Northern and now, BNSF, is sometimes less safety- and environmentally friendly than the company’s self-serving ads in your paper suggest. I urge your readers and those who must ultimately decide approval or disapproval of the diesel fuel depot’s location to look carefully at BNSF’s past environmental and safety record before supporting the Hauser location.

In addition, ask any BNSF train crew member you can find about the crew availability policy that would require them to work or be available for work 126 hours per week. They want the right to discipline their employees for failure to comply, which will lead to an increase in fatigue factors. When fatigue is increased, safety is at risk.

Think twice before granting the Hauser site approval. Tom Retterath United Transportation Union, Longview, Wash.

Contractors, beware of Kaiser

Re: “Kaiser blamed in blast” (Oct. 27). The hearing being conducted by the U.S. Mining Safety and Health Administration in Louisiana concerning the explosion that destroyed Kaiser’s Gramercy refinery should serve as a warning to Spokane’s business community.

Twenty-two workers were injured in the July 5 explosion that closed that plant and damaged thousands of area homes. To date, 28 Kaiser employees have refused to testify about the explosion in court, pleading the Fifth Amendment, saying their testimony might be self-incriminating.

Indeed, according to the testimony of an electrical contractor, after the explosion, battery-supported computer memory that would have shown the sequence of events leading to the explosion was destroyed by Kaiser employees.

Kaiser then flouted the law again by invading a MSHA-restricted area in an attempt to gather evidence that would lay blame for the explosion on electrical contractors. Photographs were produced to prove this and Kaiser will most likely be fined as a result.

No doubt years of litigation will ensue as Kaiser and the contractors battle over who is most responsible.

So perhaps before Spokane contractors leap at whatever Steelworker jobs Kaiser tosses their way, it would be prudent to consider who will be held responsible if a deadly explosion should occur here and who will be held responsible when Kaiser’s aluminum causes airplanes to begin dropping from the sky in five or 10 years.

Can you say scapegoat? Now you know what Kaiser really wants you for. Margaret Larive Trentwood Steelworker, Spokane

OVER THE LINE

Project good for profit, not people

Guy St. Louis’ column on the Rockford Bay development tends to gild the lily. He has a vested interest in the project. The amount of contracts his firm could receive may have narrowed his view of this huge impact to the local environs.

If this proposed godsend at Rockford Bay is so great, stick it in Cougar Gulch and look at the impact! With 381 families, a golf course, driving range, equestrian center, convenience store-gas station and clubhouse, the congestion and environmental impact will be incredible.

The two existing high-producing wells are less than 400 yards from our well and not much farther than those of our neighbors. What happens to area well levels when they start pumping an estimated 140,000 gallons per day to support the largest community between Coeur d’Alene and Moscow?

Profit. That’s the whole idea for this development that will see thousands of people a day, along with their vehicles, boats, etc. And to say the whole idea is to coexist with wildlife is just plain silly.

While the marina doesn’t physically connect to the development directly above it, we all know what familiar material flows downhill. The runoff of pesticides, fertilizers and other pollutants will end up in an already damaged Rockford Bay.

Those of us living adjacent to the planned golf course and high-density housing are very concerned. Many of us love the solitude and peacefulness of this remote area. We knew we would eventually have neighbors moving in, we just weren’t prepared for a whole town. Larry R. and Sue Wright Coeur d’Alene

Pro-project tract ridiculous

Guy St. Louis’ Nov. 1 guest column offends more than persuades. From his opening innuendoes - that the millenial esprit, the six billionth child and the “ease of access to food and clothing” are somehow connected to the need for real estate development - to his ridiculous closing connection between, apparently, the importance of the proposed Rockford Bay project and the possible extinction of our species, St. Louis’ column evades, mystifies and, yes, offends.

Whether or not the proposed development is a “godsend,” as St. Louis claims, his statistics regarding acreage and environmental impact are skewed. A 650-acre golf course and 350 new homes are going to have an effect on the ecological balance of the area. One can cleverly point out how the “footprints” of the houses are smaller than one’s own estate - a mystification and reduction of the actual impact and acreage which implies that these houses won’t have yards, driveways and the three-car garages typical of such homes (with attendant fertilizer, pesticide, increased traffic, etc.).

One can condemn the current water treatment system and marina facility. One can clear up flatbed after flatbed of “debris.” One can histrionically predict an impending traffic accident (all of which St. Louis does). However, to assert that the construction of 350 homes will create a “minimal, if not nil” environmental impact is absurd.

St. Louis’ column would have been less offensive if he had openly admitted to realities - developments such as the proposed one at Rockford Bay are about making money, lots of money. Tod T. Marshall Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Republicans euthanize states’ rights

Re: “Bill bans assisted suicide” (Spokesman-Review, Oct. 28).

The House of Representatives passed a bill last week attempting to overturn Oregon’s physician-assisted suicide law. The bill is an insult to Oregonians and another example of the Republican Party abandoning the principles of federalism they’ve long claimed to support.

The Oregon law first passed by state initiative, 51 to 49 percent. The Republican-controlled Oregon Legislature then invalidated the law and the feisty citizens of my home state slapped them silly with a landslide 60 to 40 percent margin on the second vote of the people.

Now, the GOP majority in Congress is attempting a cheap remake at the federal level. Charles Fried, the solicitor general for the Bush administration, wrote, “If the principles of federalism mean anything, this issue is none of Congress’s business.” (New York Times op-ed, Oct. 29).

The GOP majority is on the wrong side of history. The current U.S. Supreme Court, clearly with Roe v. Wade in mind, chose not to invalidate the Oregon assisted-suicide law but carefully wrote that these sort of issues should be resolved in the states.

The same congressmen who have always maintained the correct solution to the abortion dilemma would’ve been to resolve the matter state by state now are hellbent on passing federal social legislation on divorce, child custody, drugs, alcohol and death with dignity.

This Congress is like watching the “Wizard of Oz” - 200 Republicans wandering down a yellow brick road, looking for their brains and hearts - and 71 Democrats who cannot find their courage. Larry J. Armstrong Spokane

Congress’ hypocrisy is showing

Congress’ hypocrisy is showing Our U.S. Congress is a huge supporter of term limits. Yes, that’s right, folks! Congress loves term limits.

Congress is currently lecturing the International Olympic Committee on the need for term limits. In fact, Rep. Henry Wannan of California has threatened legislation to prevent U.S. companies from giving money to the IOC unless it adopts various reforms, including term limits.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Congress is 100 percent right (how often does that happen?). The IOC would benefit greatly from term limits, from new ideas and fresh perspectives. As everyone knows, the IOC has been continually chastised for allowing members to accept lavish gifts from cities lobbying to host the games. There are rules against this but they are not enforced.

The hypocrisy from Congress is not surprising. Congress has passed term limits for the president, speaker of the House, committee chairpersons, joint chiefs of staff and now wants the IOC to adopt them. They love term limits for everyone except themselves. What a do-as-I-say, not-as-I-do Congress. Michael Fagan, co-chairman Eastern Washington Term Limits Action Committee, Spokane

PEOPLE AND ANIMALS

Short-term solution a disservice

Doug Clark’s (Nov. 2) column on trapper Bill Haywood’s assault on urban critters makes light of a growing and complicated issue. As we build our homes in areas that once were habitat to animals like raccoons and coyotes, we need to responsibly deal with the problem of them invading “our property.” Hiring someone to remove offending animals is convenient, but is both ineffective in the long term and results in relocated animals suffering a drawn-out death via starvation. Trapping is a temporary solution at best.

The warm, below-deck haven from which Haywood removed a family of raccoons will look mighty appealing to the next raccoon that comes along. And believe me, another animal will move in. Why not opt for a more permanent, nonlethal solution to the problem of nuisance wildlife? This is something that Haywood, as an expert on wildlife, should be advocating, as should wildlife biologists who hand him glowing recommendations. They should understand that the problem requires a little more thought.

A permanent solution would involve making that comfy haven unappealing for any critter. Deterrents like ammonia-soaked rags and flashing lights drive animals away. Removing food sources, such as outdoor pet food and open trash cans, further render the environment unattractive for raccoons. Consider population dynamics. The wild animals will reproduce to take advantage of all available habitats and food sources. Trapping and removing animals opens up habitat which equals increased reproduction and more baby raccoons to inhabit our attics, decks and sheds. Shame on Clark for encouraging people to act irresponsibly. Mary K. Yeager Pullman

Skilled writer touches my life

By the time I’d read the first few paragraphs of the Oct. 24 story on the Arabian horses, I was hooked. I started making mental notes about contacting Jan Sorrell and visiting these intriguing animals.

As I kept reading I also became aware of the fine quality of the writing. The author’s respect and admiration for these animals fairly leapt off the page. So, I stopped to check the byline. Larry Shook. Great! A few years ago, I was similarly hooked by an article Shook wrote on the Anatolian Shepherd dog. A phone call led to a visit which led to the great Anatolian who shares and patrols my home and keeps me on a strict routine whether I need it or not.

Thanks for a wonderful story, Shook, even though the neighbors are going to be cranky when one of those horses shows up in my back yard! Bernadette Powers Spokane

Dogs suffer for owners’ shortcomings

How many dogs are in animal shelters because they are adopted by people who have proved to be “lazy parents”?

Maybe the majority of lazy parents did not set out to be that way, they had just figured raising a dog would be a whole lot easier. Things go wrong, they get discouraged and the dog is placed in an animal shelter. Future, prospective “parents” read all the problems and limitations on the kennel card, and pass the dog by. Is that fair? The dog may have to pay for the errors of his owners with his life.

Most dogs can be retrained by someone who is not a lazy parent. The key ingredients are love, patience and consistency. Crystal Goodman Spokane

IDAHO VIEWPOINTS

Reject overpriced, unnecessary folderol

I really don’t see the need for a so-called community center in Coeur d’Alene. Our high schools have all kinds of community center attributes, as do most of our churches and private sector health clubs. Let’s utilize what’s already in place in our community, rather than burden the taxpayer with yet another tax increase.

A community center, as was proposed, would have been not only a ridiculously costly edifice to build, it would cost many times over that to maintain and staff year after year.

And I’m sick and tired of adult do-gooders using the battle cry, “Do it for the kids,” in promoting all manner of taxpayer-financed adult folderol. Said do-gooders should change the word “for” in their tired battle cry to the word “to,” for it’s the kids who will inherit the tax bills and pay and pay and pay. Al Preston Jr. Coeur d’Alene

Bad idea carried to extremes

The city of Coeur d’Alene won’t even support our library and its wants to build a $6.3 million community center? I can understand why our city might need a municipal swimming pool but all of the rest of it I cannot understand.

A climbing wall? Give me a break! If people want to climb rocks let them pay for it. What happens when some idiot falls from said climbing wall? Do the taxpayers pay for his injuries? As for the kids, they want to hang around with their friends. The city could build them the Taj Majal and they would just joke about how lame it was and continue to do what they always have done.

The other thing that no one mentions is that we always vote on these extras before the bills for the property taxes arrive in November. Supporters of the community center knew full well that after we receive our property tax notices, our hair will be on fire and we would never vote for additional taxes for such nonessentials.

I hope all of you who voted for politicians who promised to keep taxes in check and broke their word at the first opportunity will remember what liars they are, when the time comes to vote for them again. Judith A. Snider Coeur d’Alene

Make center a whole-county facility

There should be a county-owned facility. That way, everyone from Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Rathdrum, Spirit Lake, Athol, Hayden Lake and Dalton Gardens can use the community center.

It would be much easier to use. The county has property by the fairgrounds. That could be used by all, and there are more residents in Kootenai County than in Coeur d’Alene. Joanie Young Coeur d’Alene

Look at smaller, diverse alternatives

Not being from Coeur d’Alene, I can only offer an outsider’s observations:

Judging from the recent debates in Moscow concerning its new public pool, no matter how well thought out any community center-public pool idea might be, it’s a matter of generating community involvement, debate, discussion, revision, compromise and tenacity.

Is one community center the right idea, one public pool? Maybe a series of smaller neighborhood centers/pools with more neighborhood involvement, each designed to meet that area’s needs? What about using some section of Coeur d’Alene Lake for a pool substitute, with diving platforms, beach areas, etc.?

Rather than a gym program, what about outdoor skating rinks (plastic, booms and a hose - cheap but effective), skateboard parks, computer/reading rooms, emergency dayc are/night care, outward bound-type climbing facilities, a small-projects shop area?

Find out what people want and need closer to their homes. The idea of one large center-pool-program might not be the best approach. Jo Williams Princeton, Idaho