Letters To The Editor

Spokane matters

Perhaps this pair belongs in discard pile

Our new City Council members, Steve Eugster and Steve Corker, have been very busy. They first engineered a vote to refuse to pay the parking garage bonds with parking meter revenues, even though the previous council had already signed a binding legal document to do so. The city’s bond rating predictably went into the tank immediately.

Next, they file a lawsuit against the developer that will cost the city more than simply paying the bond with meter funds. In doing so they hire a very expensive Seattle attorney. Coincidentally, it turns out that Eugster has had a prior business relationship with the guy.

Then, they try to get the City Council to vote to reimburse their personal legal expenses when the developer countersues. When the council refuses, Corker starts to make threatening noises.

Meanwhile, in the midst of all this, Eugster comes up with a brilliant idea to charge city residents and businesses a “use” tax to use the streets, because there is not enough money to maintain them.

Well, duh! Perhaps if this dynamic duo would be less concerned with their personal vendettas and more concerned with attending to legitimate city business, we would not need more taxation.

Oh, and did I mention that they also voted to increase the mayor’s salary and the council president’s salary? Corker, coincidentally, aspires to be the council president and Mayor John Talbott is their buddy.

Recall petitions, anyone? Hal R. Dixon Spokane

Replace all incumbents

As a voter, I am embarrassed. You should be, too.

Every election, we elect the same people - career politicians and lawyers. The day after every election, we whine and cry about the people we voted for. Lawyers and career politicians will promise us everything we want. Like lemmings, we listen and follow. We vote for them with the idea that they have the integrity to keep their promises. They don’t have integrity and don’t keep their promises.

The people we vote for will do for their friends and lobbyists. They will not do for us. They are con artists, yet time after time we continue to listen to their snake oil pitch.

For the next election, I would like to see a candidate who is not concerned about his or her paycheck, not worried about hurting his or her friends’ feelings. A candidate who can look at us and say, “I can only promise to do the best job possible with the resources available.”

I urge you, as one voter to another, do not elect the current candidates. Write in your name, your neighbor’s name, your boss - anyone - just don’t vote for the people whose names are printed on the ballot.

I urge you, keep the snake-oil sellers out of City Hall. Remember that your vote may contribute to the bad decisions made by those elected. William P. Brown Spokane

End this interminable squabbling

Re: Initiative 695 and River Park Square.

Like it or not, a previous City Council made a commitment with the River Park Square developer that involved the parking garage. I am tired of the endless attempts to change or cancel that agreement. We have suffered a bond rate lowering because of this behavior and it has been made clear that we are on their watch list.

Trying to sneak in and use I-695 funds to pay for legal fees just isn’t right. Again, the City Council made a choice of outside legal council and needs to live up to its commitments.

Councilman Steve Eugster needs to take a refresher course in civic responsibility. This might put him on a course more in line with the people he is supposed to represent.

It’s clear that poor decisions were made in the past. Why do we continue this behavior and not learn from our mistakes? This city needs to move forward and stop letting River Park Square be the nemesis it has become. Vernon J. Nelson Spokane

Eugster becoming an expensive habit

As a concerned citizen of Spokane I have been following City Councilman Steve Eugster’s self-promotion regarding River Park Square.

Because of his tactics the city can only acquire junktype bonds to repair the streets. Now, Eugster wants to use the city’s emergency fund for the Initiative 695-generated shortfall to pay his cohort’s attorney fees, as part of his vendetta against River Park Square.

Give up already, Eugster. In past years you have cost the City of Spokane thousands of dollars by carrying out your personal agendas.

The Gang of Nine may support you every Monday night but the citizens just want the city to keep functioning without shortfalls caused by you. Rick Bailey Spokane

Business and labor

High-tech hiring problematic here

Re: “Local grad looking for local work” (Letters, Aug. 5).

I absolutely agree with Brock Rogers’ observations regarding the hiring practices of high-tech companies in Spokane. I, too, have been ignored. I have over 25 years of experience and I don’t even get an acknowledgment of my resume’s receipt.

The Spokane-area computer industry is not in tune to the possibility that both new and experienced people can bring different talents to their company. Fresh ideas and experienced problem-solving expertise create a well-rounded IT department.

It’s frustrating and disheartening. I know I can be of assistance to many of these companies - if I could just get an interview. What do I need to be considered? Do I need to know someone to get in the door, or have precisely the tool/skill set listed in the advertisement, regardless of my mastery of many other similar skills and decades of experience? I need to accept a substantially below-market salary to stay in this town? I need a certificate to prove my computer aptitude?

I’d never had trouble finding increasingly interesting and lucrative positions all over this country until I moved to Spokane. My experience ranges from project management and database administration, starting in operations and capacity planning, with network infrastructure connectivity thrown in.

I agree with Rogers that until companies start looking locally for capable and talented new recruits, they’ll be missing out on a local, educated and professional work force.

The Spokane area is wonderful place to live. It should also be a wonderful place to work. Robert M. Riehle Spokane

Other topics

We all have a stake in safety

Since I did not see the actions in Missoula, Mont., that so shocked Robert D. Vaughn (Letters, Aug. 4), I can’t address them. I would ask him to consider that there may have been more to the incident(s) that was not shown. Keep in mind that sometimes the whole story cannot be presented due to time or space available.

In his last sentence, Vaughn says, “The next time police ask me to help them solve a case, I may not be so eager to cooperate.” We as citizens have a moral obligation to help the victims of criminal acts. We hear on occasion of a stranger helping another stranger caught in a situation that was not of their doing. Without one stranger helping another, a suspect may be allowed to victimize others.

If you choose not to assist the police, that is one thing. But don’t allow another person to become a victim. Mark S. Knight Spokane

Condition of horses deplorable

I was horrified when I saw the recent pictures of horses the Nez Perce Tribe is raising. Had the Humane Society been with you, I am sure the animals would have been confiscated. Both adult horses in both pictures were so thin it made my heart sad. The largest photo was of a mare so thin her backbone protruded. She had a foal by her side.

How does the tribe expect to raise healthy horses with brood mares in such poor condition? The Nez Perce Tribe should be ashamed. Nancy Hartley Chattaroy

Dam removal not all there is to it

Re: “Embrace balance of salmon proposal” (July 30).

As a Lutheran, I feel an obligation to preserve and protect what has been given to us.

I support removal of the dams but not to the exclusion of all other remedies. Many areas of improvement are needed. Edward Ames Colville, Wash.