Letters To The Editor

HEALTH CARE

Seems spoiled agency is out to get even

A better headline for the June 3 article, “Report rips Mental Health,” by staff writer Jonathan Martin, would be Spokane Mental Health rips Spokane County. What if Spokane County had only one road contractor and gave that one a blank check to build roads and bill the county whatever amount he thought appropriate? And what if when the county asked for documentation to justify the bills the contractor said, “That’s private information and none of your business.”

By analogy, Spokane Mental Health has had just that kind of monopoly in years past. After the state demanded an end to blank-check signing by Spokane County, the county commissioners were compelled to bring accountability to the table so that we can understand exactly what we are paying for.

Spokane Mental Health has in the past overserved the “troubled well” and underserved the truly sick Medicaid mental patients - all while engaged in empire building and PR campaigns with slick brochures telling us what a wonderful job they were doing. When faced with an end to their private monopoly funded with public money, they have set forth with whining political ploys.

The threat of closing the Evergreen Club and inadequate child services for the courts both look like political maneuvers to garner public support. The arrogance of Spokane Mental Health is summed up succinctly by Ned Barnes with his statement regarding Spokane County government, when he said, “If they want to run it, they can have it.” Will Murray Spokane

SMH officials come up short

I was disturbed by the article concerning the mental health center “reserves” (June 4) and read the explanations of why this has come about with much chagrin. The Spokane Mental Health board president’s rant about inadequate accounting staffing to satisfy the funding agencies was vacuous and lawyerly. The response from the SMH executive director ran a close second.

In short, I expected more from community leaders charged with the care of oppressed and vulnerable individuals. As to the latter’s excuse about not being able to hire and keep case managers as one potential reason for the reserves, oddly, The Spokesman-Review classified ads for that day did not have an ad for SMH’s so urgent needs. In their defense, I could have overlooked such an ad or misunderstood his position, or the time line relevant to the statements made. Hopefully, he will forgive any oversight, given any such would be to my chagrin.

As to the SMH board president’s allusions to not enough personnel charged with fiscal accountability, I find this ironic, given that past Spokesman-Review articles have depicted what appears to be a top-heavy administrative funding structure.

With the abundance of business administrative people there, one might have thought SMH was a subsidiary of Del Monte. However, if they need more assistance with auditing, perhaps federal auditors could of help. They tend to have the last word. Apropos to the latter, if their Medicaid accounting is problematic, maybe the feds need to help with auditing their Medicare billing. J.F. Arnold Spokane

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Sting operation a good preventative

Re: “Crosswalk stings wrong, wasteful” by Ellie Ferency (Letters, June 2).

I’m at a loss as to how citing someone for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk is either wrong or wasteful. I have dodged cars at crosswalks and I’ve had to stand for five minutes at a stretch, waiting for someone to rightfully yield. I know I’m not the only one.

No one set you up to break the law. You broke it all on your own. If this causes you to think twice before cutting off another pedestrian, the police department has made progress with its sting. If you actually stop for someone, you can finally consider yourself a law-abiding citizen.

To our hard-working police officers, thank you for this effort. I know your resources are always spread thin but as a driver and a pedestrian I am grateful for your efforts. Because of this operation, many of us are becoming more watchful for our fellow citizens. Kyrsten S. Weber Spokane

Let this be a lesson

Re: Ellie Ferency’s June 2 letter.

Whatever happened to common courtesy? It is a law that you yield to pedestrians.

I know it’s frustrating to have to stop and wait for a person to cross the street, not only for you but the person in the car behind you. The question I have is, what if you were the person waiting to cross the street? I bet you would be glad that our law enforcement officers took the time and effort to protect our citizens’ safety.

The only problem I see here is that you got caught and it is an embarrassment to you. All people who get caught with their hand in the cookie jar, so to speak, want to blame other people for their mistakes. I only hope that the next time you see a person in the crosswalk you think about their safety and take the time to let them cross the street. Bobbie L. Thoms Airway Heights

No one made you do the wrong thing

Re: Ellie Ferency’s June 2 letter.

The term “set up people to break the law” was an indication you apparently feel a police officer or citizen-pedestrian forced you into a situation where you had no control. In fact, you did have control of your vehicle and of your self. Yes, you made a mistake because you certainly, hopefully, did not commit the violation intentionally.

Be assured the officers of our department do in fact tend to speeding in school zones. Look at the number of schools with school zones and compare the number of officers who can actually work those zones. You might be surprised.

Chief Roger Bragdon has the best interests of all of us who live, work and visit Spokane in mind. He has the daunting task of allocating his resources to the best advantage for all of us. He allows his staff and officers to identify a problem, form a plan and attempt to accomplish a goal. In this case, it’s making drivers aware of pedestrians crossing our streets.

I have a recommendation: Follow the rules of the road and, in doing so, you will be a safer driver and also may even get a wave or two from a stranger simply trying to cross the street. Mark S. Knight Spokane

5th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Clinton, Nethercutt cases different

Re: Milt Priggee’s May 28 Opinion cartoon, how can anyone think there is any comparison between President Bill Clinton and Rep. George Nethercutt? Clinton lied under oath and brought disgrace to what the president of the United States represents. His actions in the White House are a disgrace. Nethercutt is guilty of changing his mind because he believes he can do a good job for us. He is doing just that. Lila M. Wieber Spokane

Still doesn’t measure up

I get a big kick out of Rep. George Nethercutt and his Republican Party’s TV and radio ads that are trying to trash his former term limit allies that he’s doublecrossed.

We all remember the 1994 elections when term limit groups dumped $300,000 into ads which helped defeat Tom Foley and elect Nethercutt. Yep, Nethercutt was right there in Term Limits’ pocket, reaping the benefits of those 300,000 bucks. So quit biting the hand that fed you in 1994. Pay the piper and take it like a man, Nethercutt. Foley always did. Sally Jackson Spokane

IDAHO VIEWPOINTS

Mayor and council have got to go

Isn’t it time that the Coeur d’Alene City Council and Mayor Steve Judy be held accountable for their actions?

They spend your tax dollars irresponsibly and without prejudice as to what is best for the city of Coeur d’Alene. How many residents are aware of the amount of money that is given to city professionals who terminate their employment? Namely, the ex-fire chief who actually was employed for less then two years?

The city brags about how great and popular the outgoing fire chief, Rick Lasky, was. Lasky was given double the budget and spent money like there was no tomorrow. That is what he was great at - spending money! He could promote himself and thus the city threw the dollars at him. It is quite obvious that his only interest in the city of Coeur d’Alene was adding the title of chief to his resume so that he could get the bigger fish to bite, as apparently he has, in his recent hiring in Texas.

Now, the council and Judy have decided to hire from within the fire department, incompetently passing up the only person qualified, in favor of a man who has no management or operational expertise whatsoever. What is going on?

Coeur d’Alene has such large problems to deal with and my suggestion is that it begin with Judy and his tag-along council. It is time for a new city governments. Kathy Isbell Post Falls

Rectify second-class phone service

This letter is in reference to the phone line from Worley to Harrison. This line is probably a good thing but how about people who live just west of Plummer and must deal with 18th century phone service? These phones west of Plummer can’t call anywhere without long distance charges. Customers can’t get on the Internet with their computers. The phone service is not much better than having no phone.

These people have the same problems as St. Maries - no phone whenever it rains or when the dust gets thick. GTE needs to provide service that fits in the 21st century to all of its customers. This is 2000 and all people pay similarly to have a phone, so everyone should be able to use their phones for all the different services. Lynda Bauer Coeur d’Alene