Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Pay for and demand top performance

I found it amusing that Jim West proposes to give back part of the proposed salary for the mayor’s position if he is elected. Well, that would be perfect a discount mayor for a discount city. What would be next in West’s grand business vision, where the next ribbon cutting ceremony at the next Wal-Mart opening would be?

If Spokane wishes to compete in the global business climate, we need to begin thinking as winners, as opposed to losers. Pay the money necessary to attract the very best people to lead the city.

I also propose making the City Council positions full time, with salary commensurate to attracting people committed to moving the city forward. That’s as opposed to the current members, whose full-time occupation seems to be thwarting each other’s hidden agendas. Like it or not, the New York Yankees have won three of the last four World Series by paying the most for the best players available. This is not New York but I would like to see Spokane people begin to think like winners. Attracting the best requires paying the price. Steve Hintyesz Spokane

Greene, Holmes’ thinking a puzzler

At the Spokane City Council meeting July 10, Councilwomen Roberta Greene and Phyllis Holmes represented the people by voting not to raise the salary for our new council president. The people voted that the council president should be paid $22,000 a year.

Greene and Holmes’ integrity was shown here in full colors - they did not want the citizens to be misinformed by small print or be lied to by their officeholders. They stood firm in the face of adversity and upheld the voice of the people.

I have to ask them why they voted to sell the Parks Department property at NorthPointe to Wal-Mart? They knew the citizens of Spokane had voted to sell the property only if there was no cost to the taxpayers (this was stated with large, bold print in the voter information sheet). They knew taxpayers will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars related to the sale of this property.

I do not understand the foundation of their decision making or the criteria that should guide them to consistent, sound decisions. On certain issues they uphold the voice of the people and on others they do not. Kevin R. Galik Spokane

Powers is an impressive candidate

Spokane is about to undergo a change in government to elect a strong mayor. Two candidates come to voters with familiar names and public track records.

After meeting John Powers at a neighborhood coffee, I was very impressed with his attitude toward children and families, poverty, education and his support for remedial strategies where Spokane now falls short.

Powers is focused on the notion of making Spokane an exemplary place to live, where business and the economy prosper, where families thrive and children are raised well. My impression is that he welcomes community leaders’ input. I believe he has an ear to listen and the necessary skills and personal strengths to build collaboration across legislative lines.

Powers is the nonpartisan candidate who will lead Spokane to its potential with energy, intelligence, compassion and vision. Gayle Kiser Spokane

CHURCH AND STATE

Nonsectarian prayers appropriate

As ecumenical leaders, we’re not against prayers at public meetings. We agreed to offer the invocation at the July 17 City Council meeting because we believe religious faith has a place in civic life.

However, prayers at government events should be nonsectarian and respectful of the religious diversity of our community. We trust our elected officials to be intentional about including diverse religious perspectives.

We seek to honor the spirituality of all faith groups in the Spokane Council of Ecumenical Ministries. Together, we can discover the truth that contributes to the common good.

We remember that, as Christians, we follow a teacher who said that public prayers weren’t as important as the private thoughts we offer to God at home. And this teacher also challenged us to see that piety was worthless without acts of love and justice. Sr. Cathy Beckley, SNJM,. The Rev. Ron Greene interim co-directors, Spokane Council of Ecumenical Ministries

Christian prayer or it’s worthless

Re: City council prayer.

Generic prayer? One prayer sounded too Christian. Whether you want to hear this or not, Jesus said, “Whatever you ask the Father in my name, believing, you shall receive.”

As a suggestion, why don’t you have a study as you did for the Lincoln Street bridge. Perhaps a Bible study. If you have generic prayer, you might as well pray to a fire hydrant for all the good it will do you. Mr. and Mrs. Rodger Burk Spokane

WASHINGTON STATE

GOP resolution calls for what we have

We the People pledge our allegiance to a Republic, not a Democracy. The resolution put forth by the Republican party says to terminate `non-republican forms of government on Indian reservations,” referring to the kind of government we have here in the United States of America, not the party. Get it?

Read it again. Carol Rockstrom Otis Orchards

Trapping ban a bad idea

I read the July 16 letter by Mike and Jean Toutant regarding their approval of Initiative 713. The Toutants believe this initiative, which would ban trapping in Washington State, is necessary and the choice is clear.

If I am not mistaken, this is the same Mike Toutant who so vigorously and dramatically encouraged Washington voters to ban the use of hounds for bear and cougar hunting - an ill-advised and unnecessary recommendation that has negatively changed the lives of several Washington families.

I don’t know what the Toutants do to make a living but Ill bet their expertise is not in the field of wildlife management. I find it both offensive and presumptuous of them to so actively inject their Bambi-syndrome mentality into yet another issue better decided by someone who knows what they’re talking about.

I and many other Washington citizens compete with native wildlife for a place to live. When the muskrats are devouring the Styrofoam floats on their dock, the beaver have flooded their driveway and the coyotes have carried away their little Fifi, people like the Toutants will be leading the parade for better wildlife management. Right now, a regulated trapping season is the best we’ve got. We don’t need another initiative that will need repealing in a couple years. Alan W. Liere Spokane

Parties forget who pays freight

Re: “Democrats hold off on suit over primary” (July 14). Apparently, the Democrats want a private election. I take exception to this viewpoint. There are very basic reasons for the blanket primary.

If Democrats or Republicans want to exclude independent voters, or anyone, from voting in the primary, make that party pay for the election, in full and not just a token amount.

After all, public elections are held in public buildings such as schools or in space rented with public funds. Independent voters’ taxes help pay for these buildings or rent. Public officials and elections workers’ salaries are paid with public tax money. Much of it also comes from independent voters. Election supplies and machines are paid for with tax revenue and the independent voter pays his share.

Apparently, voter apathy isn’t enough for the political parties. Now they want to restrict voters from even having a say in who they can vote for.

Other than the individual parties paying for their own primary elections, how could the elections be classified as public elections? Come to think of it, wasn’t there a tea party in Boston Harbor several years ago protesting taxation without representation? Robert C. Sprint Spokane

IDAHO VIEWPOINTS

Settlement, OK; Meddlers, back off

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s proposal to settle Coeur d’Alene Basin pollution issues with the mining companies for $250 million is welcome news to North Idaho and to us here in the Silver Valley.

The dollar amount of the settlement exceeds the entire combined market capital value of Hecla, Sunshine and Coeur d’Alene mines.

To ask for more, as some people in the EPA, Justice Department and Coeur d’Alene Tribe are doing, is unjust and absurd. Our mines supplied this nation with desperately needed minerals during war and peace, and they continue to supply them now.

Mining has kept food on our table but all of the mansions and the big office buildings built by mining are in Spokane. Yet Spokane’s environmental extremists whine from their lofts about lead and zinc levels in the river that are so low they already meet drinking water standards. Come on! Spokane and Gov. Gary Locke have more important things to worry about - Hanford’s plutonium, Kaiser’s air emissions come to mind - than a few naturally occurring elements in the river.

We’ll fight to the death for the welfare of our kids but we’ll also fight invasive government agencies and their litigation. Mullan and Wallace have passed resolutions asking the feds to kindly leave us alone. It is time for closure on this issue. Local communities and the state of Idaho are far better equipped to deal with the lingering problems here than bureaucrats in Seattle and Washington, D.C. Bill N. Dire, Jr. city councilman, Wallace

Drug tests provide cover with peers

Re: St. Maries approves drug tests” (July 20). Peer pressure is a strong force in a teen’s life. Helping teens to say no to drugs not only benefits them but also our community.

St. Maries’ decision to do random drug testing in its schools may be looked at by some as an invasion of privacy but I look at it as a way for students to say no to drugs with the school backing them up. Telling their peers they do not want to take drugs because of fear they will be tested would not provoke as much pressure as just saying no on their own. I hope the students of St. Maries will use this as a way to say no to drugs. Susan Rodgers Medimont

Business detracts from neighborhood

Over the years I have watched a small septic tank pump business expand in my neighborhood. From one pumper truck to many larger ones, an assortment of utility vehicles and numerous portable toilets. This all takes place on a small parcel of land in an otherwise residential area. The access road is one lane, on a hill, with a blind corner. The toilets are stored in full view.

While our taxes go up higher each year, the quality of our lives go down. Neighborhood apathy just let this all happen. The owner is a nice guy. Everyone needs to make a living. No one has been killed on the road yet. The toilets don’t smell. Jean A. Martin Priest River