Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Let’s not be like the West Side

With all of its population, all of its political clout, natural scenic beauty, its Boeing and Microsoft, its personal and corporate wealth with all of this and more - the highly vaunted, highly envied West Side of Washington hasn’t a clue about how to remedy its total suffocation caused by too many people, too many cars, too few creative solutions, too much crime, too much traffic and gridlock, too high prices for food and homes. Just too much of about everything except a working plan to bring relief to its residents - now.

Having visited the Emerald City several times over many years, I’ve concluded there is no commitment by the powers that be, nor by the citizenry, to seek lasting answers.

Be careful what you wish for, Spokane! In spite of the West Side’s assets, without a strong community will to solve its problems, the Emerald City will become as phony as Oz, all glitter, no substance and you’d have to be a wizard to exist there. John P. Campo Colbert

Election changed my assessment

Some time ago, you published a letter of mine in which I praised the many outstanding features this city has to offer, but I couldn’t refrain from calling this city the largest hick town between Boston and Seattle.

On Nov. 2, I voted on proposed legislation and three City Council positions. The next day, I woke up to the most stunning and gratifying news of the voting outcome. My vote was the same as a good majority of Spokane citizenry. With the greatest of speed I am obligated to remove the “hick town” accusation which I bestowed on this simply wonderful city.

In addition, let me congratulate you for your fine and world-class newspaper. My friends and I have plenty of reason to celebrate the rebirth of Spokane. A. Fritz Albicker Spokane

Voters did well in rejecting Prop. 4

I was greatly encouraged by the fact that the majority of Spokane voters rejected Proposition 4 that would have permitted discrimination against a segment of our city. I feel proud that our city wants to enter the next century as one that wants to move toward fairness for all of its citizens. There is much work yet to be done but this is at least a gigantic step of progress.

This past decade has been referred to as the “gay 90s” by some because so much valuable information has come to light in the whole field of sexual orientation, with its highly complex ramifications. In order to live together in peace we simply must put forth more effort than ever to understand people who are different from ourselves. Continuing education in areas of racial, ethnic, religious, political and sexual orientation differences must be done at all levels in order for us to go forward on this planet and avoid destroying ourselves.

My sincere desire is that we will join arm in arm and support one another in every possible way so that we can experience the full joy of being truly human. Tom Durst Spokane

THE ENVIRONMENT

Dam removal is the only way

Re: “Dam removal too costly to people” by Glenn E. Thompson (Oct. 19).

I have listened to both sides of the dam-salmon controversy and conclude that dam removal is the only intelligent option for salmon recovery. We’re all concerned about the individual livelihoods that would be affected by dam removal but we must preserve and enhance the economy in a way based on good science and economics, not emotion.

The removal of dams would significantly increase the number of railroad, trucking and road construction jobs in the region by replacing the highly subsidized water transportation system of barging. Also, commercial fishing and recreation opportunities would increase with the return of the free-flowing Snake River and its salmon.

No one is arguing that dam removal comes without consequences. However, those consequences can be mitigated. The 13 farms that currently irrigate will continue to do so, as they did prior to construction of the dams, by extending their pump arms. The minimal power generated by the dams can be replaced with alternative power sources and conservation.

Mitigation of the current dam system isn’t working. Regardless of what the National Marine Fisheries Service is telling people, barging fish kills fish. Barging is a waste of taxpayers’ dollars and contributes to decline of the salmon population on the Snake River.

An economy based on salmon is a strong, viable economy for many people. It’s clear that the Snake River salmon will continue to decline and eventually disappear altogether if those four dams aren’t removed. This is a failed economy for everyone. Jean Toutant Spokane

We must unfoul our nest

My career has afforded me time to explore back country areas of the West. Seeing these places defiled by clearcuts, polluted streams, trashed campsites, etc. I chose environmentalism to voice my concerns. I thus learned that certain industrial concerns and environmental groups are most often grossly at odds, and having experienced both sides, I thought this was tragic.

Both essential and non-essential industrial products can be provided with much less environmental damage. Sadly, environmentally friendly processes are usually much less profitable than the dirty and damaging ones.

Approximately 80 percent of all cancers are traced to pollution. In 1900, fewer than 5 of 1,000 citizens experienced cancer. By 2004, two out of three citizens born will have cancer at some point.

A friend once said, “We all die sometime - why bother?” Say that to the cancer victim who suffers terribly and sometimes long, or visit a children’s hospital and see kids who can’t understand why they must hurt so much; talk to their parents. Yes, we all die, but there are better ways, and much later in life.

We can work together to return our Earth to the healthful ecosystem it once had. Denial, indifference, selfishness and greed must be replaced with a holistic, “together” approach, before the damage is irreversible and life on this planet is not a pleasant experience for any of us, especially our kids.

Read “ The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight” by Thom Hartmann. Dan W. Semler Colton

OTHER TOPICS

Grant’s work resolved tax inequity

About six weeks ago we wrote a letter to the editor complaining about our property taxes increasing $704.63 this year and also about being taxed for two school districts. Our main concern and frustration was the Spokane County auditor office’s refusal to respond to our many telephone calls, which began in May.

Tom Grant of KXLY-TV read the letter and then the action began. It took him a little over two days to discover that all the homes (30) in the Sixth Addition of Northwood were overcharged about $115,000, as this year’s error would have been continued for an additional seven years.

Two weeks ago, we received our corrected tax statements, which would never have happened without Grant’s investigation. We thank him for a very diligent undertaking. Margaret J. and Layne D. Johnson Spokane

Keep Y2K in perspective

About all of this Y2K panic - I will never understand it.

I believe that when that year comes, vegetables will still grow in gardens, fruit will ripen on trees, fish will still swim in the rivers and wild geese will still honk their way across the skies. Meadow larks will still warble on the fence rows, moaning doves will moan their sad songs and crickets will chirp in the fields in fall. The sun will come up each morning and the harvest moon will rise up over the hills of home.

Whenever all of this comes to an end, it will be when God decides it’s time, not some stupid machine.

All we have to do when that year arrives is to turn over the next page in our calendars. Winnie Richards Spokane