Public Periscope
Food for thought
It’s rare that a congressman can claim to be on the side of the angels, but Rep. George Nethercutt can say he’s on the same side as the sisters of the Dominican Order on at least one point - lifting sanctions to allow U.S. food and medicine to go to Iraq … Such was the case Friday when eight sisters from Spokane’s Dominican house and the nearby Holy Names Order presented Nethercutt’s staff with a small basket containing 5 pounds of flour, a pound of rice, a pound of sugar, a cup of cooking oil, 2 ounces of lentils and a cheese stick. The basket represented the average weekly food rations for an adult in Iraq, which has been under sanctions for nearly nine years … The Dominican Order is among a growing chorus of humanitarian groups that argue the sanctions are hurting innocent Iraqi citizens - particularly children - not Saddam Hussein. They took similar baskets to congressmen all over the country.
The sisters wanted Nethercutt to support a resolution calling for an end to Iraqi sanctions. Aide Don Gillespie said the congressman would study that proposal, but pointed out Nethercutt was the author of a bill to lift all sanctions against U.S. food and medicine, to any country … The sisters see it as primarily a humanitarian issue, while Nethercutt took up the issue to help the region’s struggling wheat farmers. They might reach the same spot from different routes.
Gillespie promised the food basket would be shipped to Nethercutt, which Sister K.C. Young suggested could be used for “show and tell” during a floor debate. But then the contents - with the possible exception of the cheese stick - should be donated to a food bank, she added.
One way to beat the meter maid
The search to find free parking for the mayor continues … As we mentioned two weeks ago, Mayor John Talbott sparked a minor debate when he parked in the drop-off lane at the Opera House during a recent performance of “Miss Saigon.” While Talbott contended he was authorized to park there, Opera House director Mike Kobluk said no one is allowed to park there during events … But Edward Thomas Jr., a member of the city’s Sports Entertainment Arts and Conventions Advisory Board, is looking for a way to change that. Thomas, who was appointed to the board by Talbott, suggested SEACAB rethink its policy and give the mayor free parking outside the Opera House, plus a pair of door passes for events at all city-owned facilities … The proposal died for lack of a second.
Holy Fishtrap, Batman
The forces trying to remove dams on the Lower Snake River have added a superhero to their ranks. Well, a former superhero, anyway. Former TV “Batman” star Adam West announced last week he joined the groups seeking to “retire” the four dams … Taxpayers for Common Sense, a group that considers the dams a waste of money, announced West and actress Mariel Hemingway had joined their ranks. West said he had fond memories of fishing at Celilo Falls with his grandfather until it was flooded by a dam. Of course, that was a dam on the Columbia, but they were salmon.
Consider yourself notified
Spokane County commissioners drew criticism from some industry officials and talk-show hosts earlier this month for acting without public notice to impose a moratorium on above-ground fuel tanks. The decision was made at a meeting that was supposed to include only a “discussion” about the tanks … Well, commissioners have changed their ways. Meeting agendas now carry notices that the board may take action on any items discussed … Just so there’s no question, the notice defines “action” as “to deliberate, discuss, review, consider, evaluate and take a collective positive or negative decision.”