Letters To The Editor

WASHINGTON STATE

Recreation money is misdirected

Bravo to Ken Sands for his superb Nov. 27 commentary on misallocation of state gas tax funds for recreational projects. The current program is grossly unfair, wrongfully slanted to benefit a small number of motorized users at the expense of the vast majority of people, who enjoy nonmotorized recreation. It perpetuates and encourages activities that damage resources and our public lands.

It’s simply wrong that 80 percent of these funds are allocated to a minuscule minority of motorized recreationists while all the many hikers, bikers and equestrians in this state are forced to share only 20 percent.

As the hiking representative to the committee which reviews and scores applications for this program, I’ve seen that there are far higher priorities and better uses for these funds that would provide far greater public benefit. But, instead, the current program requires these public dollars to be squandered in an unfair and outdated program that caters to motorized use. We can, and should, do better.

As your editorial suggests, it’s high time for legislative change to this program and we intend to see that this happens in 2001. Ken Konigsmark hiking representative to NOVA Advisory Committee, Issaquah, Wash.

Unfair taxation will be rejected

Editors, writers, pundits, analysts, politicians and commentators - please, please no treatises dismissing the voters of Washington as ignorant, self-serving, insensitive, responsibility-shirking tightwads incapable of rational judgment.

Initiative 722 and its predecessor, I-695, passed overwhelmingly for one reason only, and all the networks made reference to it, characterizing the vehicle tax as unfair.

People accept their responsibility to support legitimate state spending. They simply insist the money be collected fairly. This tax revolt is not about trusting the Legislature to spend taxpayer money wisely but rather a protest against the way the money is collected - make no mistake about it.

So, in the effort to dissect this issue, please understand this is not about voter greed. It is all about fairness. Chuck Schilling Spangle, Wash.

SPOKANE MATTERS

Women owed an explanation

We have been watching with disbelief the inability of the City Council to rise to the occasion of demanding accountability from the police chief for the behavior of a police officer. Two young women from Eastern Washington University reported a crime which was never even recorded. Subsequently, two additional young women were brutalized in our community.

We are not calling into question the value of police officers but do question the City Council’s lack of oversight, City Manager Henry Miggins’ lack of control and the police chief’s defense of the officer involved.

Citizens of Spokane have spent thousands of dollars for sensitivity and diversity training for the police force, yet there appears to be a disconnect when it comes to putting that training into practice. It would not be the first time women of this community have called for the resignation of a Spokane police chief who demonstrated a disregard for their welfare.

The City Council owes the women of this community an explanation. Jan Polek Inland Northwest Chapter of the Older Women’s League, Spokane

THE MEDIA

KHQ handled problem well

The recent employment termination of KHQ News anchor Randy Shaw has angered many viewers. However, it has also provided us an opportunity to “come home” to the extremely professional and sincere news delivery styles of Stephanie Vigil and Dan Kleckner, both of whom are to be commended for making a very smooth, professional transition under what must be horrendously difficult working conditions.

While I’m deeply sorry for the loss Shaw and his family must be suffering now, General Manager Lon Lee and his Q6 News management team appear to have dealt with what must be one of the most gut-wrenching decisions station management is ever faced with - termination of a popular anchor.

It should be no secret to most workers in this state that, under state sexual harassment laws, the employer has a legal responsibility to deal swiftly and firmly with allegations of “hostile work environment” issues. It appears to me that Lee has attempted to deal with the situation in a very professional and sensitive manner for all parties involved by not airing the station’s laundry publicly, as some might wish.

Rather than second guess decisions of either party in this most unfortunate circumstance, let’s all affirm to improve our own workplace relationships so none of us needs to suffer the unpleasant outcome that Shaw, Penny Daniels and all KHQ employees are dealing with now. Carol A. Irion Spokane

So long, KHQ

I hope that Randy Shaw wins his suit against KHQ. My wife and I just erased Channel 6 off of our remote. It will stay that way until Shaw is back. Jim Christie Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Spoilage - color it Green

As the Sierra Club has articulated, the Green Party made it clear it would consider its campaign a victory, even if a Bush presidency results. Yet, because real people, critters and places will be put in harm’s way or destroyed as a result of the cold shower turned on the Democratic presidential campaign, one has to question the wisdom of those who voted Green. Did those apparently so single-mindedly bent on proving a point consider the following?

America’s disenfranchised, who need Social Security, Medicare and other social programs.

The vulnerable, who will suffer due to George W. Bush’s stated opposition to enforcing clean water and air quality standards.

The Gwich’in people and the Porcupine Caribou of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, when it is opened up for oil extraction.

Endangered salmon and other creatures, when the Endangered Species Act is amended to make extinction a legal option.

Citizens seeking environmental and social justice in a conservatively biased federal court system.

Wildlife in the national forests, when roadless area protection policies are reversed.

Even the short-term consequences of an administration that dismisses global warming.

Slade Gorton as secretary of the interior and restoration of the old-school allegiances that view humanity’s appropriate relationship to creation as plunderer and exterminator?

A majority that hoped to elect the best environmental president in history in all likelihood now has the worst because of what could well prove to be impolitic votes seemingly inspired by egotism.

Maybe you all will sleep well but many more won’t. David Jensen Spokane

Washington, at least, gets with it

It is refreshing to see the state of Washington choose the future over the past. Senator-elect Maria Cantwell is a symbol of the future while Sen. Slade Gorton is clearly in the past. It is long overdue for the Northwest to stop driving while looking in the rear-view mirror.

How long will it take Idaho to enter the 21st century? Larry O. McLaud Moscow

System is sound and working

We had a very close presidential election last month in more states than Florida. The world is watching this process of picking our president.

Is our government in crisis? No, nor will it be. A timeline is in place and the government will go on.

What this election has shown us is the flaws in our system: the nonuniform ballots, the method of counting votes and the chance for bias in the manual recounts. Also, there’s the announcement of election results in the East hours before polls close in the West. How many votes were lost as a result?

Should the Electoral College be abandoned? Absolutely not! The mess in Florida does not diminish the results in the other 49 states. If we were to use only the popular vote, Florida would hold up everything and only the heavily populated areas would be important to candidates. If a state does not come up with its electors, the process can go on as scheduled and we will ultimately have a new president.

This has been a marvelous civics lesson for us all! Annette L.Orton Sandpoint

Columnist hit on source of trouble

I read with interest the commentary by Rena Pederson of The Dallas Morning News (Opinion, Dec. 5). I also read the letters to the editor by Andy Kelly, George Thomas and Rick Riddle along with those by Jeri Cass and Will Gates on the same date. I ask these writers to read Pederson’s column and then think about their writings. She very clearly showed why the process in Florida is so screwed up and taking so long. Some people cannot be trusted to be impartial.

This law twisting by the Clinton-Gore group these last couple of years should stop. I hope that Al Gore doesn’t get to do this for four more years. Thomas Groce Spokane

Not choosing is also a choice

I find your article on the mathematics of the presidential recount of great interest. It reminds me of the book, “Innumeracy,” by John Allen Paulos. The point being that many of citizens are simply unaware of the nuances of statistics.

Case in point: My ballot cast here in Spokane County had three pregnant chads. Yes, this is true. However, my intent was not to delay a vote tally, it was simply that after pressing the stylus firmly to the ballot, I chose not to vote for any of the three positions. I simply left it up to the other voters to choose these three candidates.

Spokane County, please do not count my pregnant chads, as my intent was simply - no intent at all.

I am sorry that the Florida court did not consider my intent when it asked the local boards to consider intent. Including my pregnant chads in any vote tally would be to take this election further into the realm of mathematical noise. Craig A. Coppock Spokane

Imperfect ballots were rejections

The Nov. 30 Opinion page cartoon, “How the Grinch stole the election,” showing the Grinch wearing a Bush button and tearing up a paper on which is printed “vote counts” is offensive.

The votes in Florida have been counted three times in accordance with the laws of that state. Why don’t you portray what most probably happened - many mature seniors, disquieted by the scare tactics of the Gore campaign, went trembling into the booth, put the ballot puncher onto the ballot at Gore’s spot but then realized, “I just can’t vote for this man!” And after leaving a no-vote dimple, moved on to fully punch out the chads in other places.

How could they be so precise in those spots and appear too weak to punch Gore’s chad out? They weren’t dumb people who couldn’t punch the ballot but good people who suddenly (evidently in the thousands) came to their senses, realizing that they had fallen for Gore hysteria. Allen B. Finley Spokane

HEALTH AND SAFETY

W.R. Grace adds danger to hazard

Re: “Asbestos warnings weighed” (Dec. 1).

Among other claims in the article, an attorney for W.R. Grace, the manufacturer of asbestos-tainted Zonolite vermiculite attic insulation, says that issuing hazard information to homeowners is irresponsible and could cause undue panic.

You want some genuine panic, try this scenario on for size.

You are a responsible homeowner undertaking the remodeling of a nice, vintage 1907 South Hill home. In the course of renovations, you unknowingly (because no information about the hazard was available) contaminate your home and jeopardize the future health and welfare of yourself (200 hours of direct dust exposure) and your family. Not only that but your house is dysfunctional - stalled in the midst of remodeling - and you are stuck living in it.

Learned firsthand, what you don’t know can definitely hurt you! What you do know you can at least do something about.

Anyone who actually thinks somebody is better off not knowing about a hazard is the irresponsible one. Ralph E. Busch Spokane

IDAHO VIEWPOINTS

Hauser leaders unfair and inept

After reading letters pertaining to the road naming ordinance, I found that the county and city ordinances are similar and selectively enforced. Enforcement caters to selected favorites of community leaders and renaming is done in unpublicized meetings without the knowledge of those affected. Road naming is done by opportunists who wish to have private roads named in their honor, without input from the property owners or compliance with code requirements.

Although our road name meets the legal requirements of retaining the present name, as defined in the county and city ordinance, we are in the impact area of The People’s Republic of Hauser. The issues of fair treatment, equity, good neighbor policy, morals and the basic leadership skills escape the city leaders. This will continue to foster resentment and distrust between city and county residents.

The city of Hauser was made aware of its duplication of a road name used by residents of a privately maintained road and chose to ignore the moral and legal property rights of rural residents by informing them they would have to change. The difference between a dictator and a leader is that a leader can foster trust by fair treatment and set an example through honesty and integrity. So far, most have seen a lack of these, and a style that couldn’t lead a pack of wolves to raw meat.

We pay to maintain our private road and should be afforded the property rights in accordance with Idaho Code. Ray L. Fink Hauser Lake

Thank you, helpful volunteers

As the holiday season approaches, its seems fitting to recognize our community’s 1,000 points of light. They are the many volunteers who work tirelessly in committees and organizations to make our town a better place.

I thank in particular those who serve on our committees of city government. With their attention and commitment, we can choose the books from our library and enjoy the historic trees on our streets. They spend the time to ensure that our parks are clean and inviting, and our neighborhoods are livable and safe.

Our town owes you a hearty thank you for your work. Please continue making Coeur d’Alene the very best place to live. The pay may not be great but the rewards to us are priceless. Steve Badraun Coeur d’Alene

Contamination problem persists

Re: “EPA issues response to critics” (Handle, Nov. 30).

This story quotes a David Bond, free-lance writer, who, agreeing with Rep. Helen Chenoweth-Hege, insists the EPA is “… claiming credit for lead reductions they didn’t accomplish. Nature did that.” He further states that lead levels in the Silver Valley were dropping by the time the EPA began its work. “They shut the smelter down and the problem went away.”

But the problem didn’t go away and nature has not done it. Despite EPA’s imperfect efforts and some improvement, one ongoing problem is the tons of lead and arsenic-laced dust that rained down on the Valley of the Coeur d’Alene after the bag house fire. It was and is in the soil, homes and bodies of children and adults who, over 20 years later, must live in the wake of that fire. Only wishful thinking and questionable, unscientific tests say otherwise.

Pollutants from the stacks were carried beyond the towns of the upper valley and into the region’s fields and forests, as evidenced by the high lead levels found in walls of the Cataldo Mission, which stood for years roofless, acting like a sponge that absorbed the smelter’s acid rain.

Not only has the “problem” not gone away, mine waste released into waters still contaminates fields and farms along the floor of the lower river valley. Bob and Jeri McCroskey Harrison