Letters To The Editor

Fri., Aug. 11, 2000

WASHINGTON STATE

Reject this old, too-familiar foe

The recent action by the Washington state Republican Party, threatening the sovereignty of native tribes, is an assault on the human rights of all. The forces behind this resolution are the same ones that drove Indian people off their land in the 19th century, then parceled out to them what was left. These are the same forces that sought to terminate tribes and their rights in the middle of the 20th century. These same forces would seek by whatever steps necessary (the actual language of the resolution) to pursue their private property rights, at the expense of the rights of people.

People of conscience must speak up loudly and forcefully. For Indian people this is a very real threat to their way of life and to their rights as full citizens of this nation. The Republican Party has offered language that revises the resolution. It has issued apologies because the resolution was passed at the 11th hour of the convention when delegates were tired and overworked. We must not let this hateful act stand, in any form, for any reason. We must stand for the rights of Indian people as members of sovereign nations, recognized by the Constitution. We must stand against this hateful act as a stand for human rights against property rights.

Let your elected officials know. The rights of a few cannot be trampled in the service of private property. This nation’s history is stained with the memory of genocide against Indian people. At the dawn of a new century, let us choose a new path. Brad Read Spokane

Cobb best bet to succeed Sommers

Rep. Duane Sommers’ retirement from the Legislature leaves a mighty big pair of shoes to fill in the 6th District. The candidate who chooses to step into those shoes should be knowledgeable and experienced in the law, articulate and capable of addressing the issue of crime in our community, and sensitive to the unique concerns of Spokane. Only one candidate meets those criteria: Monty Cobb.

As a deputy prosecutor, Cobb has firsthand experience dealing with the problems facing our criminal justice system. Cobb understands the pain and loss felt by crime victims, and knows which laws work and which don’t. That’s why Cobb has been endorsed by the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs and the Washington State Patrol Troopers Association.

Let’s ensure quality representation in Spokane by supporting an experienced and capable leader. Vote for Monty Cobb. Steve Taylor Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Better library access available

I “solved” the problem of diminishing access to the Spokane Public Library by buying a card to the Spokane County Library.

After seeing side-by-side stories on TV last night, covering the struggle to fund the library and the struggle to defund the River Park Square garage, I was struck by a metaphor similar to one that had occurred to me during President’s Day. That is, the fact that we observe Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays with huge department store sales, rather than visiting museums and libraries to commemorate the profound principles these historic figures stood for.

I sometimes wonder if the British weren’t at least partially right in the choice of the song lamenting their defeat (however grateful I am that happened). Though I don’t think their defeat turned the world upside down, at that time, I worry we may be headed that way in contemporary times. Philip J. Mulligan Spokane

Artist donors treated badly

In 1995, Cheney Cowles Museum and Spokane Art School came up with the idea of sharing the wealth with artists who provide items sold at the Works From the Heart and the Birdhouse and Teagarden auctions. Artists could choose to receive up to 50 percent of the sale price.

These auctions are invitational, so an artist must have made some noise in the art world be to be invited to contribute. To be an artist in Spokane is to resign yourself to eternal poverty or seek alternative employment. Some of us took advantage of this offer. The immediate effect was in the quality of the art work that was offered up. It went way up.

Before long, certain conditions started to become obvious. Artists who had contributed 100 percent of the sale price were given two tickets to the auction. Those who’d reached for a piece of the pie were given one. Then, the auctioneer seemed to be making a special effort to get a good price for the 100 percent donations while the rest of us were, if not downright ridiculed, certainly mispronounced. The latest revelation was that artists contributing less than 100 percent must have everything framed, ready to hang. This leaves out the print collectors, who would never buy a framed print.

It dawned on us that the Cheney Cowles Museum and the Spokane Art School didn’t really want to share the wealth with the artists. The quality of the art work started to decline.

This is a sad chapter in the history of art in Spokane. David Wagner Spokane

Talbott item out of line

Re: Public Periscope, Aug. 7.

Staff writer Jim Camden writes that mayoral candidates “aren’t above using the newspaper when it serves their purposes.” He then says Mayor John Talbott doesn’t have a subscription. What is his point? Is he saying someone has to have a subscription in order to take a position contrary to that of The Spokesman-Review? And what the heck is up with his ellipses?

The Spokesman-Review is the official newspaper of record for Spokane County and the City of Spokane. As such, many who may not care for the editorial decisions or positions that the paper takes have to read it to get official information published in the paper. Camden seems to imply that anyone who disagrees with the paper shouldn’t quote from it. Given this type of elliptical reporting, maybe it’s no surprise that Talbott - in Camden’s words —routinely blasts The Spokesman-Review. It’s obvious that someone needs to. And it should be no surprise that a strong community leader is the one to do it. Dave L. Stevens Spokane

`Baloney savings’ unsatisfying

On July 10, I asked Mayor John Talbott if the early retirement severance packages paid out by the city were cost effective. I stated the nonuniformed employees were at an all-time high because of a hiring frenzy commencing Jan. 1, 1998.

On July 24, two management employees of the city attempted to answer my questions. One said there had been 43 positions eliminated while the other claimed 35. I was out of town and subsequently viewed the videotape at City Hall on July 31, 2000. I asked about the discrepancy and they both felt they were correct.

Both also stated that the “newly created positions” were not taken into consideration regarding the savings numbers they had used.

I submit there has been an increase in nonuniform payroll dollars every year going back to 1992. And between years 1996 and 1999 the increase was more than $10 million. Furthermore, I submit that at year end 1999, the city was at a record high number of nonuniform employees. The payroll dollars in 1996 were over $44 million and in 1999 over $54 million. Where are the so-called savings? They’re what I call baloney savings.

One of the management employees I talked to even stated the numbers they used, because of the newly hired employees, the savings were “meaningless.”

Yet at the Monday night City Council meeting, council members Talbott, Holmes, Greene and Higgins decided to close the library on Saturdays. Dick D. Adams Spokane

THE ENVIRONMENT

More logging not the answer

On a recent forest tour with the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene chambers of commerce, we were told by the timber industry that more logging is a solution to the wildfires in Idaho and elsewhere. But scientific research indicates most forest fires start in logged areas, near roads, and that logging operations leave highly flammable slash, dried-out forest floors and small branchy trees that have little value at the mill.

Across the West, timber companies have logged the large trees that were least prone to burn and left the woods spoiled for future generations.

So how do we fix the mess timber corporations have left? Scientists from the Wenatchee Forest Research Lab, the Sierras and elsewhere indicate that logging to restore forests isn’t needed and that carefully reintroducing fire to our forests will work. We must stop logging old growth and large trees. Along with restoring white pine we must bring back the heavily logged western larch (tamarack), ponderosa pine and white barked pine.

In July, the U.S. Senate - including Sen. Slade Gorton - rejected an amendment to shift funding from logging to fire planning. Funding should only be provided to methods that will actually deal with the problem. Part of the billion dollars a year taxpayers provide the federal timber sale program could go for this purpose.

We strongly support reducing fire risk through proven techniques such as prescribed fire and noncommercial fuels reduction. Mike Petersen The Lands Council, Republic, Wash.

Do not make a pig sty of our river

Tuesday afternoon , I went down to the river with a friend. The river is low and many people enjoy the serenity and coolness of our mighty Spokane River. I could have chosen to go to my dad’s house to swim or another friend’s house but the river sounded like just what I needed after a long day at work.

To my surprise, when I got down there, there was a fire pit and mounds of garbage - everything from beer cans to feminine hygiene products. I understand that kids go down there to party and some people even live down there. It went on when I was in school and I at one time was one of those people who hung out down by the river. I have to say, though, that we never just left our trash so other people had to pick it up.

I was appalled and disgusted by this mess. There happened to be a grocery bag lying there, so my friend and I picked up as much as we could.

I just want to let all you people know that if you’re going to enjoy the beauty of our great river, have a little respect for her and clean up your mess. We are very fortunate to have a river running through our city and when the water level rises, where do you think your garbage goes? Please have respect for her and other people who wish to enjoy the river’s beauty.

Pick up your trash! Terra L. Morehouse Spokane

Agency’s salmon plan a nonstarter

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

Opinion editor John Webster’s treatise ignores many facts while snuggling up to a National Marine Fisheries Service plan that offers too little too late. It also praises the four Northwest governors for pandering with platitudes.

Although Snake River salmon comprise only four of 12 endangered runs, these runs once provided 40 percent to 50 percent of all Columbia Basin salmon and could again. Also, these Snake River salmon already have the advantage of spawning in areas such as the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and some areas of the Lochsa and Selway rivers. Little money need be spent restoring habitat in these areas since they’re already as close to pristine as can be found in the lower 48 states.

The NMFS plan calls for continuing the failed strategies of barging and trucking salmon downstream at enormous taxpayer expense. To borrow a phrase, it makes little sense to put wheat in the river and fish in trucks.

The plan arrogantly assumes money spent for dam removal could better be spent elsewhere. Since there’s no budget for Endangered Species Act compliance, it’s presumptuous for NMFS to say how much should be spent and where. Any plan that ignores what responsible scientists agree offers the best chance of restoring Snake River runs by partial removal of the four Lower Snake dams will meet with powerful opposition.

For anything approaching consensus, partial removal must occur in time to avoid extinction of the Snake River runs. This NMFS plan doesn’t provide that. James B. Bradford Lewiston

Dams, electricity invaluable

I’m sure few Eastern Washington people remember what life was like without electricity. Those of us who knew life before electricity was available really don’t like the idea of doing without it. Windmills, kerosene lamps, candles, wood and coal stoves were the necessities of our lives.

With the completion of Grand Coulee Dam and all the dams that followed, we had the chance to live the luxurious lives that inexpensive electricity has given us.

Just this summer we were partially jolted into reality with Avista and power suppliers in California asking us to conserve electricity to avoid brownouts. We’re also observing the prospect of our rivers having their flow reduced because the snow pack has been diminished. Grand Coulee Dam suffered some inevitable problems because very few man-made things last forever. The dams are all aging and we need to expect more problems.

I doubt that many people want to give up the luxuries our forefathers did without. It’s difficult to understand why some people propose breeching the Snake River dams, living with the illusion that it would magically make the salmon return in large numbers. These people won’t explain how fish were counted before the fish ladders were in place. Fisherpeople have been known to exaggerate and I don’t want to go back to hoping that the wind will blow so a windmill can pump water for my dog and I, just so we might have more fish swimming up the Snake River. Gerald W. Ray Spokane

IDAHO VIEWPOINTS

We and our bird friends are grateful

On behalf of ourselves and a local bird family, we wish to publicly thank our paper carrier and The Spokesman-Review for going above and beyond the call of duty to help Mother Nature and the feathered family that hatched in our WSU newspaper box.

A determined bird couple persisted in piling grasses and other nesting material in our box. My husband just as determinedly took it out and even tried to persuade the birds to move next door by stuffing some grass in the adjacent yellow box. No dice. The birds outlasted my husband and laid eggs in our newspaper box. We theorize they preferred Cougar gray to yellow.

After observing the nest, our carrier faithfully bagged our paper daily for several weeks and laid it atop the box, leaving the nest undisturbed. The birds hatched, grew up and left the nest, and we were back to business as usual with our Cougar news box. I am reminded of the TV ad that asks, “Do people care about their environment?” and their reply, which fits this case, “People do.” Barbara and Asbjorn Rostad Post Falls

Yes, road space is much too tight

Re: “N. Idaho cyclists find space on roads is tight.” (Aug. 5). Our roads are far too crowded as it is. Bicyclists should be restricted to bike lanes only. Most of our two-lane roads up here are way too narrow for two motor vehicles to pass while trying to maneuver past an inattentive bicyclist. If it comes down to me going head-on with oncoming vehicles or taking out the bicyclist - oh, well, sorry about that - the bicyclist is going to lose. Rick Kelbaugh Hayden Lake

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
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There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.