Letters To The Editor

CITY MANAGER APPOINTMENT

City must unite against tyranny

On Feb. 7, democracy ended in Spokane with the insurgence of a state of anarchy brought forth by Mayor John Talbott and City Council Members Steve Eugster, Steve Corker and Cherie Rodgers. As votes were recorded over the hiring of Henry Miggins as Spokane’s new city manager, it became clear that the footloose four have, indeed, taken control of City Hall and are intending to lead it away from a progressive agenda to one filled with purely personal motives.

Today this city, as I see it, has but one option. Stand together, stand unified and stand up against the tyranny that now grips our city government. For if we bond together in community, then our defense of this political atrocity is more reasonable, knowing that Spokane was founded on the progressive era reforms of good government.

I urge political elites in this city to put forth the initiative and begin the process of raising signatures and support to recall the election of Corker and Eugster, effectively stopping the footloose four dead in their tracks.

Finally, I would like to commend Council Members Phyllis Holmes and Rob Higgins for their impassioned defiance of this four-member oligarchy. And to Roberta Greene, I urge you to consider running in and defeating Mayor Talbott in the upcoming strong mayor election. You have proved you put Spokane’s heart near yours, and I commend you as a citizen of this once great city. Chad R. Lochmiller Spokane

Why bring in a newcomer?

I read with dismay Tuesday morning that an interim city manager has been chosen to replace acting city manager Pete Fortin. Why? Our city government is changing to the strong mayor system in January 2001; why bring someone in who has no experience with our city government, to replace someone who has over 25 years experience and who has done a good job as acting city manager?

Councilmen Steve Corker and Steve Eugster were elected this last fall with the hopes they would bring some common sense to the City Council. With this action, it appears they have as little common sense as the people they replaced. Laurie Anderson Spokane

Council members granting people’s wishes

I for one am applauding the brave move by our City Council. They heard our cries last election, and they are moving ahead with our wishes: a new form of city government.

For the last few years the people of this fair city have been run over by the downtown big business leaders. The result of this is the current mess we are faced with concerning the parking garage. We wanted change in our City Council, we wanted the people to count in this city again, and now it is happening. I say hurray for those council members who are going forth with the people’s wishes. Darlene Le Claire Spokane

Too soon for recall campaign?

Where is a clone (clown) of Steve Eugster? If one were to exist on the outside of the City Council right now, he would be filing his umpteenth lawsuit against the city.

Is there no shame in Messrs. Corker, Talbott and Eugster? The appearance of impropriety should be sufficient, but not for the four members of our City Council, who co-opted out for a less than qualified stand-in. Are we going to pay the ex-animal control executive a fat severance check when his 10 months are up?

My condolences to council members Roberta Greene, Rob Higgins and Phyllis Holmes. It must seem like you’re in Chicago in the 1950s and 1960s. I am sure that many citizens of Spokane appreciate your efforts to stop the good ol’ boy/girl cronyism.

Is it too soon to start the recall campaign? Or will Eugster suspend the First Amendment within the city limits? Darryl O’Sickey Spokane

City just went to the dogs

Spokane politics didn’t move into the 21st century. They retreated back to the 1930s. John Talbot, Steve Corker, Steve Eugster and Cherie Rodgers have taken politics to a back-door level. They had already hired Henry Miggins before public testimony was even taken.

If they did it this time they will do it again. It won’t matter what the public thinks, as long as they get what they want. These four now have control of the city. They only changed city managers because they didn’t have control over Pete Fortin. They took someone who knew what they were doing out, and put in an animal control officer.

You voted for change and that is what you got. The city of Spokane just went to the dogs. Vicki Carlile Spokane

Fortin should have remained

So City Councilman Steve Eugster believes “It’s important for the new majority on the City Council to have their city manager.” Their city manager? I was anxious to see some change in the council, but I think Eugster is becoming a real pain in the sitdown.

The city manager serves for all the people of Spokane city. I think Pete Fortin should have remained in the position. George Britton Spokane

New members better than old ones

While I can’t answer Chris Peck’s question (Perspective, Feb. 6) as to whether passionate City Hall newcomers Steve Eugster, Steve Corker and John Talbott are doing better than the people they replaced (at filling the city manager position). I will say that I think they were voted in on a far more important and relevant issue: their greater willingness to do the public’s business out in the open.

In this respect, I (and most voters, I suspect) think they are better than the people they replaced.

Philip J. Mulligan Spokane

Back where we started

Listen up, Spokane. We have just been informed that we have a new city manager - a former dog catcher - so now I want my vote back.

Do you see a hidden agenda here or is it just me?

Steve Eugster has been paid for from his pal at Metropolitan Mortgage. Eugster wants City Attorney Jim Sloane gone so he finds someone who can do it, a new manager.

Now the stage is set for Eugster to run for mayor. First he gets the strong mayor on the ballot, then he gets a friend, Steve Corker, also supplied by Metropolitan Mortgage to the tune of $20,000 apiece, to take over the City Council.

If you were around in the early 1960s, you can see we are right back where we started. The good old boys running the city under a strong mayor. Look for buddies, friends and family to be appointed department heads.

All I can say is if it looks like dog excrement and smells like dog excrement, then guess what it is?

Rick Bailey Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Parking garage issue a scandal

When the word “scandal” is used we look elsewhere, but that’s exactly what happened in Spokane with the River Park Square parking garage! To say “a promise is a promise” is a little disingenuous.

When the Spokane Downtown Foundation issued bonds using faulty figures with a pledge by then-City Council members to obligate parking meter funds - the hook - over the objections of citizens, this borders on malfeasance in office. Now the city has no choice but to bail out the Public Development Authority to maintain its bond rating. This is unconscionable! Edward Thomas Jr. Spokane

Aspects of article incorrect

Several items in the article concerning the Health District’s recent retreat must be corrected (“Health Board conducts management triage,” News, Jan. 27).

No one on the Health Board has ever advocated not sending nurses to help anyone at any time. We have questioned if there was a better way to do so. The lack of accountability of how tax funds are spent in some of the divisions of the Health District is appalling. I have, and will continue to advocate the need for accountability on how tax money is spent in/by each division of the Health District.

No one on the Health Board is trying to control public input or access to the board meetings. What we were discussing was how to cut the time now spent for board meetings so all the elected officials could be present for action items and hearings. With the present alignment of the agenda, citizen input comes before the other items. We have had such lengthy citizen input that many of the elected officials have had to leave before we could finish the action items and hearings. Before any vote is taken, the public is asked if they wish to testify on the subject at hand.

By putting the citizen input later on the agenda, it allows any one of us the opportunity to vote on the items at hand and still make a previously scheduled appointment. This still allows the citizens to give their testimony on any item that concerns them. Personally, I read every piece of paper sent to me by the citizens. Margaret Jones member at large, Spokane Regional Health Board

Preserve land slated for development

My favorite bike ride is that part of the Centennial Trail from Riblet’s Point to the state line. This takes me past the plot of land Raymond Hanson wants for his shopping center.

Often I encounter several pairs of California quail (later, mothers with chicks) running across the trail near the west edge of that plot. Seldom do I encounter quail on other areas of the trail. More importantly, in that same section I also spy cottontail rabbits across the trail. Seldom do I see cottontails out in the hinterland anymore - but here, almost always. In the later spring, I see the mamas with their little ones. It’s such a delight.

Most importantly of all, within the section between Mirabeau Point and Sullivan Road grows a different kind of tree, which I think is the remains of a relic grove of juniper. Whatever it is, that grove should be studied before any land is given up for a shopping center. The citizens of this county may have a genuine jewel within their midst and not know it. If so, Hanson might wish to part with a sliver of his property, to be marked by a sign, “Land dedicated by Raymond Hanson for preservation of ancient juniper grove.” Indeed, it is wishful thinking. Harry G. Merrick Chattaroy

Just pay now, to pay less

It appears to me that the Riverpark Square parking garage authorities have established the following goal: How can we make this facility lose the most money? They decided not to allow monthly parking, they turned down Avista’s request to lease spaces and they doubled the hourly rates. When this failed to fill the garage, they paid $25,000 to a consultant to tell them what to do. They recently decided to bring back monthly parking, but at a rate 50 percent higher than the old rate. That will really fill up the spaces.

The proposed solution to the debt payment problem is to restructure the debt so that we pay less now and more later. This would, of course, increase the total amount we would have to pay for the garage. In addition to the extra interest we’d pay, there would be the costs of the bond council who has generously offered to discount his $200-per-hour fee. There can be only one reason to restructure this debt. Our leaders want to avoid the embarrassment of telling us that the garage revenues will fall a million dollars short of paying the bills each year.

Though it would be justifiable to identify and punish the ones who agreed to pay Nordstrom the huge rental fee for the property, the better alternative is to restructure that agreement. Short of that, let’s face the music now and give them the parking meter revenue. No matter how angry we may feel about this deal, it does not serve the taxpayers to increase the costs any further. Thomas Kane Spokane

Conflicts not unusual at shelters

I encourage you to support the Downtown Women’s Shelter. As a member of the original Coalition for Women on the Street, I saw first-hand the desperate need for such a shelter. Each member of the Coalition worked directly with this population of women who were being underserved. The present administration and board is working valiantly to serve women at risk, while struggling to acquire funding.

I know they will be cooperative in resolving complaints from residents about rules. It is not unusual for such conflicts to occur when shelters begin to provide services. Their mission is to provide shelter for a very vulnerable population and they are doing so on a shoestring budget. Please do not hesitate to financially support them. Sr. Cathy Beckley, SNJM Spokane

Some folks prefer urban to rural

Re: Jeanne Batson’s letter, “County has had enough malling” (Feb. 4).

Mayor Batson makes some statements and assumptions about the Raymond Hanson development along the Spokane River that need to be addressed.

Batson asks, “Why can’t ordinary people keep a little of their original terrain, too?”

Ordinary people can keep all of their terrain, but the property in question is not their terrain. I’m sure Hanson didn’t buy the property and pay taxes on it so “ordinary people” can go bird watching there.

As for polluting the river, as strict as the regulations are, chances are the skunks, raccoons and beavers seen there will pollute the river more, by defecating along the shoreline, than this development ever will.

Batson assumes that everyone prefers wildlife to a manmade structure. Living just a block off East Sprague I often get raccoons and skunks in my back yard; why would I go down to the river to see more? I would much rather look at a well designed building. To me that is a work of art, a thing of beauty, as opposed to a randomly thrown together bunch of rocks, weeds and rodents. Most people choose to live in urban areas because they prefer the advantages of it over the advantages of a rural lifestyle. Who is Batson to tell me I chose wrong? Sam E. Cathcart Spokane

Give downtown parking a shot

I have read letters telling about why the downtown parking garage is not working and I want to add to the perspective that many of us who are very pleased haven’t written to share our point of view.

The price is reasonable compared to other downtown parking lots and facilities. This week I shopped, went to an AMC movie and had a leisurely dinner before leaving and the cost was $3.50 for more than five hours of parking. On occasions when I have driven in just to return or pick up an item, there has been no charge since I was not there long. I have never had any wait in paying for my parking since I prepay at the stations inside and just drive on through. My experiences have been positive and I have safe, covered parking.

I would suggest that people give it a try and not rely on the negative comments. Downtown is alive and growing and a great place to spend a day or night. Joan Butler Spokane

Check complaints about progress

Some folks are trying to make Ray Hanson look like a tyrant.

Who has paid taxes on this land? Who is liable for the noxious weeds? Who owns the land?

It seems to me that if all the folks who are so intelligent about what to do and what not to do with the land should maybe go see Hanson and buy the land. Then you can do whatever you would like.

Go ask an employee of the Sullivan Mall what they think. Thanks to Hanson, they have a job! Ask the folks who shop the mall what they think. They don’t have to drive to town and there is free parking.

I know I would not miss the road kill of skunks, raccoons, etc.

When you complain about progress, think about your own job. I am sure it is not making buggy whips! Charles E. McCollim Spokane

Changes resulting in damage

I keep reading in the paper about “proposed changes” and job cuts at the Spokane Regional Health District. In reality, changes are already being implemented and jobs are currently being lost.

The manner in which these changes have been implemented has resulted in damage - damage to the morale of the employees and to the level of trust they had in the health officer, and damage to the health officer’s reputation within this community. Consequently, this affects the reputation of the whole agency. How can this not impact the level of service to our community? What is being done to attempt some sort of healing process between the health officer and the employees?

I am very concerned about how low morale and reduced services at the Health District are impacting the children and families within our community. The need in our community for these services has not lessened. Bonnie L. Hendrickson Spokane