Letters To The Editor

Spokane matters

We elected problems, not solvers

The current debate over the River Park Square parking garage is an example of a pervasive local political mindset of “can’t do” negativity and public pettiness that keeps our city in economic doldrums, even as the rest of the Western United States booms.

It doesn’t take a keen observer of political behavior to see that we have elected a new set of officials who aren’t the least bit interested in presenting fresh ideas for moving Spokane into the mainstream. When are they going to live up to their campaign promises? How long must we suffer Hooterville politics? When will boorish personal vendettas end?

The economic multiplier related to River Park Square ought to be apparent to all. The issue is not whether citizens pony-up relatively few short-term dollars to help the River Park project reach its potential. The real goal is revitalization of Spokane’s downtown core, with its inherent attractiveness for visitors, retailers and, ultimately, companies that could bring new, higher-paying jobs to our area. Like it or not, River Park Square is performing!

Over the last 25 years, my family has lived in Austin, Salt Lake City and Seattle. Each of these cities overcame difficult economic and political conditions to become very desirable places to live and work. In those cities, kids don’t have to move away to find good jobs. In 10 years, will my son leave Spokane because our elected government is more interested in “getting even” than meeting considerable challenges? Lloyd Guthrie Spokane

Multiple use approach essential

Re “Convention Center alternative offered” (March 14). I urge the Facilities 2000 subcommittee studying options for the Convention Center expansion to most carefully consider all of the options presented. Glen Cloninger’s option includes multiple uses that would be better for the overall health of downtown. New urbanist examples throughout the country have proven multiple use projects to be very successful and they contribute to the quality of life in the area.

I ask the City Council and the county commissioners to approve only the options that include multiple uses for the Convention Center expansion. M. Christine Collins Spokane

Need is for more public transit

Why do our city council members think the River Park Square parking garage is so important to downtown? And why was Councilman Steve Eugster talking of renovating a building and suggested a parking garage on top of it?

To utilize all of these parking garages we will have a whole lot of traffic congestion - and a breathtaking experience, with the pollution all these cars will cause.

We should be building up our transit system, buying more buses, having more routes that run later at night, making them more accessible and still getting people downtown without ruining our air quality. Beverly J. West Spokane

Great city blighted by panhandlers

To one of my very favorite cities, Spokane! I have been visiting your really great city once or twice a year, staying several days, since 1967. The changes and improvements have been wonderful - the way downtown has stayed intact, fresh and inviting. The skywalks and good parking keep everything so accessible.

However, my last visit left a lot to be desired. The panhandling is out of hand. We were approached every day, usually several times. I’m sorry these people need to do this. (Although I recognized one panhandler at a restaurant one evening - having a steak dinner, with cheesecake for dessert.)

Please do something about this unruly situation to keep your downtown appealing and inviting. I have a store in downtown Astoria, Ore., and am very supportive of downtowns staying viable.

Thank you. You host a great B basketball tournament, too! Darlene J. Bjornsgard Naselle, Wash.

Don’t abandon trail to weirdos

Re: “Women, beware of perverts” (Letters, March 17).

Well, Robin Ball, I have to disagree with you. If you are teaching a “Refuse to be a Victim” class, I don’t think that I will sign up anytime soon.

You suggest that we women who love to run just stay away from places where perverts and flashers hang out. So I’m supposed to restrict my running to busy streets?

Excuse me, but I love running in out-of-the way places away from traffic. I love the Spokane River. Just because some weirdo decides that he’s going to get his jollies by taking off his clothes on the Centennial Trail does not mean that I will not run there anymore. I will take a friend along. I’ll borrow the dog down the street to run with. I’m carrying a can of mace with me. I am considering getting a cell phone, from which I’ve heard you can dial 911 whether or not you pay a monthly user’s fee.

I truly do refuse to be a victim. Runners, cyclists and walkers, please join me in working on making the Centennial Trail safe for all and not just avoid it because of one or two warped individuals. Mary A. Naber Spokane

Washington state

If you can’t stand our system, move on

There is something in the water around Spokane, but it’s not petroleum based. This mystery substance seems to have infused Washington residents with a frantic need to cast ballots.

While a very small part of me is proud of this apparent rise in citizenship, I am reminded of our naively held vision of democracy. We think we live in a democracy, but we don’t. At least, not a democracy in its purest form.

Remedial civics: Direct democracy is where every citizen votes on every issue. It works really well until your burgeoning country hits about 20 inhabitants. After that it becomes increasingly inefficient. It requires every citizen to either be informed on every single issue or, more likely, to vote ignorantly.

This somewhat distasteful prospect is remedied under our current system, representative democracy. We hire people to represent us so we don’t have to rely on our fellow citizens to keep themselves informed. A large section of both our state and national constitutions is spent detailing how we elect various individuals to make decisions. Bypassing this makes I-695 blatantly unconstitutional. You can’t legislate such a fundamental change in the system.

Rebecka S. Green wrote on March 15, “It’s outrageous that (the depot) was approved - and by a handful of people… It makes me want to sell my home now…”

If you don’t like that we live in a representative democracy where we trust our elected officials to act in the best interests of their constituents, do as she suggests: move. Chris W. Grantham Pullman

Dedicate tobacco money to health care

Our legislators are struggling again to approve a budget. This year, however, they face the added challenge of finding ways to make up for shortfalls created by the passage of Initiative 695.

It would be easy for our lawmakers to solve this budget crisis by turning to the tobacco settlement funds to bail out the ferries, roads and public safety services. It’s a temptation that will take great leadership to resist.

Last year, great leadership was shown when Washington became the only state to provide assurances that tobacco settlement money would stay in health care. That was the right decision. And, now it’s time for our legislators to back up that decision by approving the $26 million recommended by the Department of Health to fund the Tobacco Prevention and Control Plan.

Funding this comprehensive program will prevent children from starting to smoke and help adults quit smoking. It will not only save lives, it will also save this state money. California has already proven that can be done. Prevention efforts have saved that state’s government roughly $600 million annually in health care costs and $1.2 billion to the health care system as a whole.

Tobacco is the No. 1 cause of cause of death in this state, It’s time that changed. Thomas M. White, president and CEO Empire Health Services, Spokane

Fluoridation bill honors local wishes

In a recent commentary on a legislative proposal regarding fluoridation of drinking water, The Spokesman-Review pointed out that the available scientific data overwhelmingly support fluoridation as the most cost-effective, practical and safe means to reduce tooth decay in a community. Your editorial also suggested that Senate Bill 6665 takes the wrong path to the right goal by imposing a statewide mandate.

The bill does recognize that not every community supports fluoridation. It specifies that any community unwilling to fluoridate its water can adopt an ordinance called for by a petition of 25 percent of registered voters. The bill gives communities a final say.

My interest in supporting this legislation is rooted in a trip I took last fall with other legislators to visit rural health care providers. We found a rural health care system in crisis, desperately needing a boost. At a related legislative hearing in Yakima, we heard compelling stories from doctors and dentists about the tragic toll poor dental care takes on children’s health. One doctor told of a child who refused to smile in an effort to disguise the extent of her tooth decay.

The surgeon general has said, “The health benefits of fluoridation include a reduction in dental decay, a decrease in the need for tooth extractions and fillings, a reduction in pain and suffering and the obvious elevation of self-esteem that goes with improved function and appearance.”

I hope this bill will make it easier to bring the benefits of fluoridation to all communities - except those that opt out. Sen. Pat Thibaudeau Seattle

Government and politics

Flynn in tune with the people

Re: More Friends of the Aquifer. Thanks to Tom Flynn, Cherie Rodgers and Jeff Bunch, who are taking the ball and running! Hurray for the Democrats! A great round of applause should go to Flynn, who has just demonstrated to the 5th Legislative District, where he is running for Congress, that he cares about the people who live here and how safely they exist.

What is more important than our environment? I bet Rep. George Nethercutt doesn’t know, and if you check his voting record it would clearly show he doesn’t care, either.

Check Flynn’s business record in the 5th District, see what he has done for the working population to see that they work in safe environments, receive adequate pay and medical coverage.

We need grass-roots, basic people in Congress, who are on the same level as the majority of our population - people who care and understand what happens and how we live. Peggy M. Murphy Spokane

Bush’s record a Gore asset

Now that the nominations for the two major parties have been bought and paid for, I thought I would take the candidates at their word. George W. Bush said, “Look at my record as governor of Texas.”

Bush bragged about taking on the education establishment in Texas and reforming the system. Texas is third from the worst in the United States. I don’t think parents with school-age children would want that kind of “reform.” Texas has become an environmental disaster, ranking as the most polluted state in the union. The worst polluters have gotten relaxed regulations from Bush. I don’t think we need that kind of “environmental” president.

The University of Texas was one of the wealthiest public universities in the country. Bush turned over the management of the university’s wealth to one of his big contributors. This could make the 1996 election fund scandals look like shoplifting in comparison.

If the inmates on death row in Huntsville could vote, I am sure they wouldn’t support Bush because the compassionate part of his conservatism doesn’t quite reach that far. They would like to take their chances with someone else. The governor of Illinois called for a moratorium because of the problems with innocent people on death row but Bush says Texas’ judicial system didn’t make the same mistakes. Are there people in Texas prisons for engaging in “youthful indiscretions”?

Bush has accomplished what I thought was impossible: He has made an Al Gore supporter out of me. Eric P. Slind Colbert

Don’t believe the Democrats

OK, everybody, get ready for the old liberal Democrat party line about how the conservatives just want a tax cut for their “rich friends.” They must have a school where they all learn how to speak the same lies.

Back in the 1980s we were told the same baloney. My daughter was working back then in a home for Down’s syndrome ladies (minimum wage - big bucks, that!). She took the job because it included an apartment. She had left a previous job at a big-name child care center because minimum wage wasn’t enough to live on. She was having to work two minimum wage jobs to pay for an apartment within walking distance of work, so she wouldn’t have to support a car.

She had been used to getting back around $50 on her income tax. The first year that Reagan’s tax cut went into effect, she got back $400. Is that significant enough for you? Back in those days, minimum wage was $3.25 an hour. Is that poor enough for you? You liberal Democrats disgust me! Mary Nell Jones Sprague, Wash.

Race questions inappropriate

The 2000 census form arrived today with detailed questions about race. I drew a line through those questions and explained on the next page why I refused to answer.

Most thinking people today dismiss any concept of race. We are all homo sapiens, all probably descended from ancient Africans and we’re all related.

The concept of race serves only as an attempt to create animosity and to divide us. I’m surprised at these questions in the 2000 census. Gilbert J. Keithly Spokane

The environment

Forests doing quite well on their own

Stieg Gabrielsen from Crown Pacific (Letters, March 7) states that 70-80 percent of the national forest lands affected by the 1996 ice storm are dead due to the lack of salvage actions by the U.S. Forest Service. It’s just this kind of nonsense that derails any sensible discussion about these issues.

I recreate nearly every weekend in the national forest lands all over North Idaho. I can say from personal experience of clearing trails of deadfalls all over the Panhandle that most of the national forest lands were affected by the ice storm. Most of these forests are quite alive, both in their canopy and understories, and will probably benefit in many ways from the natural thinning and wildlife habitats the deadfalls and standing snags will create. These natural openings are great for Western white pine, which so many foresters revere.

Some areas have substantial bark beetle kills. Is timber harvest going to cure them? It may. But I absolutely reject the notion that any significant amount of the national forests are “dead.” These areas are still quite alive, despite maudlin radio spots jerking our emotions over the brown areas that little Johnny sees in our forests.

Unfortunately, Gabrielsen’s exaggerations only perpetuate the falsehood that all folks involved in the timber industry view the bark beetle infestation as a cash cow and that we need to start cutting now, all other considerations be damned. Let’s not forget that forests have never needed our help until we started “managing” them and they probably still don’t. Eric Krueger Hayden, Idaho

Many of us support roadless areas plan

I would like to remind Jim Caswell, supervisor of the Clearwater National Forest, that when he says his constituency doesn’t support the roadless protection plan President Clinton proposed, he is telling a half-truth. I am a resident of this state who welcomes the roadless proposal as a chance to save the last vestiges of wild, unroaded land. Nationwide, the roadless areas in our National Forests are few in number and often widely spaced apart, creating small islands of intact ecosystems. In central Idaho, however, there are acres and acres of roadless areas nearly adjacent to each other or adjacent to wilderness areas. We have the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, the Gospel Hump Wilderness, the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and, right in the center of those three, the Cove and Mallard (almost roadless) areas. Despite the 30 miles of logging roads recently constructed there, it still remains a mostly unroaded forest linking the three wilderness areas.

In addition, this region also houses other roadless areas such as Hoodoo-Kelly Creek, Meadow Creek, North Lochsa Slope, Mallard-Larkins - the list goes on.

Idaho has wild lands worth saving, lands which are biologically important for habitat as well as enriching to our personal lives. I and many other local people recognize this and support the roadless proposal. Julia Piaskowski Post Falls

Dynamic people key to better future

I was very impressed by Eric Graham’s Your Turn essay (March 15) about indiscriminate logging and a perception of angry environmentalists. It takes real courage to admit that you might have been mistaken about such a volatile issue.

I commend him more, however, for his ability to think about his surroundings with the kind of openness that made it possible to change his mind. Someone who can honestly change his mind develops vision, and open minds with vision can change the world. Jack Poole Nine Mile Falls