Letters To The Editor
SPOKANE MATTERS
Ordinance approach worthwhile
Ken Sands’ editorial on May 29 raised some interesting points about protection of free enterprise and consumer choice. How much should we try to use public policy to protect ourselves from the repercussions of corporate growth? From the global level of the WTO rules to the local level of Wal-Mart expansion in Spokane, this is an interesting question.
Our attempts to do this have traditionally been awkward and political. Unions, the Growth Management Act, neighborhood councils, antitrust - none of these are easy, harmless solutions. Neither is the idea of ordinances, which basically require larger sacrifices from larger businesses in order to protect economic diversity, local workers and the civic and natural environment. The idea isn’t simple to implement, but I think it has merit, and it has been used well in some regions (such as the Cape Cod Commission); municipalities (Westford, Mass.; Roswell, Ga.; Mill Valley, Calif., are examples); and one state (Vermont’s Act 250).
Free enterprise seems different when it includes trends toward corporate consolidation in key economic sectors, major leverage over public policies and unprecedented access to worldwide resources. These things might limit economic competition and consumer and employee choices in the long run. Local laws can be useful to help communities grow and define themselves in their own best interests. The ordinance being presented to the Spokane City Council is just one part of this process. It may have imperfections but I’m glad to see it being talked about. Kristi Carnes-Lee Colville, Wash.
Strokes of genius keep on coming
Wow, did Spokane pick some winners when they elected Steve Eugster and Steve Corker to run the City Council and set things straight. In one felled swoop they killed the Lincoln Street bridge project and reneged on the previous council’s commitment to the parking garage.
But wait - now the city has to pay back $6 million for backing out of the bridge project and has had the interest rates for loans on future bond projects raised (probably $400,000 for the big street repair program) because the bonding companies can’t trust the City Council’s word. Oh yeah, the judge says the city will have to loan the $450,000 anyway. I wonder what the dynamic duo will think up next.
By the way, instead of $23 million-plus going into the region’s economy and a new bridge, the city has to pay back $6 million and get nothing.
I suggest the Friends of The Falls, Eugster, Corker and their supporters step up and take care of this problem. After all, $ 6 million would fix a lot of streets - and isn’t that what responsible leaders would do? Fred Malstrom Spokane
WASHINGTON STATE
I-745 intrinsically unfair
Tim Eyman says that 90 percent of the population drive, so 90 percent of our transportation tax dollars should build more roads. That is untrue and unfair to those who do not or cannot drive.
One-third of our population does not drive. A sizable portion of that third consists of kids who are too young to drive.
Using the Initiative 745 argument, a maximum of 66 percent of transportation funds should be spent on road-related expenses. The remaining 33 percent should be spent on transportation that the rest of the population can use - such as bike lanes, continuous sidewalks and quality transit. The 66 percent of people who can drive, pretty much have to because there is no other choice. To add insult to injury, in addition to driving for themselves, they also have to chauffeur around the one-third who cannot (kids to school, seniors to shops, etc.), because they don’t have a choice, either.
It’s unfair for taxpayers in that 33 percent portion which includes senior citizens, the disabled and the poor, to pay for roads someone else will be driving on while eliminating transportation choices.
Please think first and refuse to sign the petition for I-745. C.J. Tyler-Watson Transportation Choices Coalition, Cheney
Say no to gay partner benefits
It was reported in the May 24 Spokesman-Review that Gov. Gary Locke and the Public Employees Benefits Board decided to extend benefits to homosexual domestic partners beginning in January. Establishing a policy of this magnitude without a public mandate, and when the Legislature is not in session, reeks of political maneuvering and social engineering by a small group of people who want to avoid the light of public debate.
Considering Locke’s actions on this issue over the last two years leads us to no other conclusion.
As a retired teacher, this policy has a personal sting. The article reported the cost of this policy to be about $3 million, to be paid for by current and retired state employees. So I will be forced to subsidize this policy when I am strongly opposed to it. I oppose this decision for several reasons. First, to recognize one type of domestic partnership is discriminatory. Second, not all domestic partnerships/situations can be covered unless benefits are socialized. Citizens have not voted to socialize the state’s coverage. And, finally, this policy runs counter to the state’s version of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act.
I am also nervous that if this decision goes unchallenged the governor’s office could next decide that any businesses contracting with it must provide similar benefits. (The City of Seattle has done so.) Bad policies just get worse.
I encourage anyone who shares my concerns to contact our state officials. Such poor government cannot be tolerated. Carolyn K. Jacobs Spokane
METH MENACE
Ritalin link should be examined
I find it very disturbing that the concerned so-called experts fail to mention or examine the relationship and implications of the increase in methamphetamine use and the increased use of ritalin administered to many hyperactive and attention deficit school children over the age of 6. Pharmacologists and the DEA consider both of them in the same class, and with the same effects and cautions of addiction.
If you are really concerned, search the internet for “ritalin and amphetamines”, and join me in wonderment at what is going on. Charles W. Taylor Metaline Falls
Let abusers do themselves in
To try to rehabilitate meth users is a waste of effort. Show children and teens the consequences of using methamphetamines.
When an adult becomes an addict, perhaps we should just stand back and watch Darwin’s theory work. They made their choice when they started to use drugs. B.J. Werner Oldtown, Idaho
IDAHO VIEWPOINTS
What people want means nothing
Pardon me while I choke with laughter. Coeur d’Alene Mayor Steve Judy now proposes “fireside chats,” like President Roosevelt, to rectify the growing public opinion against him and the council. You have to understand his huge ego to compare himself to Roosevelt.
The problem from day 1 is that we have a mayor and City Council that pay no attention to what the public wants. They treat people with complete arrogance and indifference. They answer only to the demands of the Coeur d’Alene Resort.
Consider the public land grab that is going on at McEuen Field and at our Third Street boat launch. The council wasted over $200,000 of our tax money to have the consultant recommend closing the boat launch, basketball courts and children’s parks. They ignored years of public hearings and proceeded to adopt the plan.
The night before the council met, Judy stated in the paper that he wanted to know how the public felt about the proposed closures. Arrogantly defying public input and the law, the council then voted unanimously to adopt the plan.
Money needs to be spent to help the businesses on Sherman Avenue, rather than the areas next to the resort - which is obviously doing very well. I ask you, Mr. Mayor, why do you close our public boat launch that serves over 26,000 people per year, when the petitions unanimously oppose the closures at the launch and McEuen? Steve F. Bell Coeur d’Alene
Third high school is neglected
Re: June 8 Hot Potatoes
Having just read D.F. Oliveria’s column and in particular the piece on Tom Addis and the car award, I agree Addis should be applauded for his efforts toward the high school seniors. But, there are three high schools in Coeur d’Alene and, by not offering the award to all of the schools, it does pose the question whether or not the seniors at Project Coeur d’Alene are being treated as equals.
Project Coeur d’Alene has been at the bottom of the school district’s list of priorities for some time now. It operates out of a building that was the base hospital at Farragut in the ‘40’s and was condemned as a facility when Head Start used it several years ago. It has to fight for everything it gets and now, one of our community’s business leaders will not even recognize it as part of the school community.
Shame! What kind of message are we sending to the kids at Project Coeur d’Alene? Floyd Shaver Hayden Lake
Indeed, choice belongs to the giver
Re: Hot Potatoes Column June 8.
As a staff member at Project Coeur d’Alene, I agree completely with D.F. Oliveria’s commentary.
Hopefully, no one misunderstood Oliveria’s comments because, to the best of my knowledge, no member of our staff had anything to do with the activities at Tom Addis Dodge. As far as I am concerned, Addis can spend his money any way he wants to, on anyone he chooses.
Project Couer d’Alene students are already the grateful recipients of many generous scholarships. Please don’t let the actions of a few individuals reflect poorly on our great school. John Hassell Project Coeur d’Alene
Maybe you can’t believe all you see
On June 4 I arrived at the Kootenai County waste transfer station on Ramsey Road at around 1 p.m. to find a long line of pickup trucks and other vehicles waiting to dump trash. I thought it was unusual that there was a line since in all the many times I’d been there in the past I’d never had to wait more than a few minutes. I also noticed a KREM-2 TV camera being set up and focused on the line of waiting trucks.
It seemed unusual that few vehicles were exiting the transfer building and the line of trucks was getting longer and longer. I finally made it to the front of the line after a wait of about 15 minutes and saw that the building was almost completely full of trash. I’d been there several times in the past year and never seen the building more than 20 percent full. I also noticed that there were only a few vehicles unloading in the building.
It appeared that the workers were letting vehicles in very slowly and keeping several unloading spots empty. This whole scenario seemed strange but I didn’t think much of it until I learned later that Kootenai County Commissioner Ron Rankin had been interviewed by KREM-2 there at the transfer station. I’m sure the long line of waiting vehicles and the huge piles of accumulated trash made an effective backdrop for his plea for funding for additional waste facilities.
Is it possible that this little event was staged for the benefit of the television audience? Forrest E. Short Post Falls
Let’s improve on mud flats vista
I have lived in Sandpoint 15 years and wake up each morning thankful for the privilege of living in such a beautiful place - with the exception of Sand Creek, where it passes underneath the highway. This time of year, when the water is high, it is beautiful. When the lake level goes down and the mud flats appear it becomes a blemish.
I propose a solution that would keep the water level up all year to allow a wonderful community ice skating pond and a beautiful elevated water level in the spring, summer and fall. With a surrounding walkway we would have another wonderful tourist attraction and a beautiful place to spend our leisure time getting a little exercise. If you feel as I as I do regarding this, please sign a petition at Monarch Mountain Coffee (next to the post office) or mail your name and address to me, Lou Baribault, at 422 S. Jacobson Road, Sandpoint, ID 83864.
I am confident this project could be accomplished with labor and materials donated from the community. If you are willing to donate your labor or materials please indicate that you are. Lou Baribault Sandpoint