Letters To The Editor

Business and labor

Kaiser should think twice

Re: “Kaiser says story wrong” (April 29).

Jeremy Sherman, you sound just like the guys at the Union Hall when you complain that The Spokesman-Review is not reporting the news just the way you think they should. And I imagine that complaining is going to turn to whining as each passing day adds a half million in fines to the $270 million Kaiser already owes the Steelworkers due to the National Labor Relations Board decision last week that Kaiser’s lockout of us Steelworkers is unlawful.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I understand that there is only a 5 percent chance Kaiser can get the NLRB’s decision reversed after this point.

Maybe you should think twice about extending the legal process for years. You are fighting the United States of America now, whose labor law Kaiser has violated, not just us Steelworkers. Margaret Larive Steelworker, Trentwood, Spokane

Everyone benefits from labor unions

Evidently Jeremy Sherman (Letters, April 29) thinks the record should be kept straight only as long as it suits Kaiser’s needs. He says Kaiser never wanted to change the scope of the master contract. He doesn’t say Kaiser just wanted to get rid of it.

Sherman says about the Steelworkers, first thing they have to do is prove the existence of unfair labor practice. The Steelworkers have to prove nothing. They are not bringing Kaiser to trial; the federal government is.

Sherman needs to use less word play and make a serious attempt at honest and fair bargaining. If he had this lockout would never have happened, a contract would have been settled and Kaiser would not have lost $138 million.

Remember, people, if it were not for labor unions every working class man and woman in this, the greatest country in the world, would be making a $1 a day just like a Third World country. Then people like Charles Hurwitz and Jeremy Sherman would be clapping and dancing with glee as they counted their profits.

Even workers who are not union members reap the benefits of union contracts by forcing non-union companies to pay competitive wages. If you don’t believe this is true then why is there a federally-mandated minimum wage? Why does our government have to protect us from our own business owners and fellow countrymen? This is why unions are important to everyone who labors to earn a living. Michael Hart Post Falls

Oil’s interest roundup interesting

The motoring public who have listened to the oil companies and their representatives with disbelief and a nagging suspicion that there just might be a bit of price gouging will be interested in the April 26 earnings roundup in The Spokesman-Review.

Exxon Mobil Corp.’s earnings went up 208 percent to $3.35 billion. Texaco’s earnings went up 573 percent to $602 million. Conoco’s earnings went up 471 percent to $391 million. Looks like the CEOs are in for some large bonuses for coming up with that unique strategy to increase earnings - raise prices! Donald N. Fitzgerald Spokane

Education

Students must learn English

I sometimes wonder about the wisdom of some of our educators. It seems that too many of Pasco’s children of Spanish descent do not achieve passing grades on some very important tests unless they are proficient in English. It is proposed that these kids be given the tests in Spanish instead, for after all they have a right to an equal evaluation of what they know.

This poses some interesting future problems. How do these kids achieve in college, or do we set up separate colleges for them? Is it the responsibility of future employers to provide interpreters, specialized documentation, etc., for these kids in order to get them to perform their assigned jobs? Or perhaps the idea is to set up an entirely separate work environment for Spanish-speaking folks, recognizing, of course, that someone is going to have to communicate with the rest of us sometime.

If this strategy is extended, we can foresee a separate set of tests for kids speaking other languages, such as Russian, Vietnamese, several different dialects of Chinese on down to some of the lesser-known languages of the world.

The simple, logical solution to this situation is to bring the kids up to speed in English. Without proficiency in English, these kids cannot achieve their potential in our society, but are doomed to be second-class citizens in the future. William H. Allison Medical Lake

Spokane matters

City Hall needs housecleaning

Now that the veil of secrecy is being removed from the River Park Square complex dealings, disclosing how badly the taxpaying citizens of Spokane were bamboozled, those responsible should resign in shame. It is ironic to listen to City Council members Roberta Greene, Rob Higgins and Phyllis Holmes and City Attorney Jim Sloane declare “we have to keep our promises.” They would gut the Spokane taxpayers to save their personal reputations. It is specifically obvious by their input at the council meetings that their intentions have shifted from safeguarding the citizens to defending their poor judgment.

The more facts I see introduced at council meetings relating to the parking garage dealings and how it carries excessive responsibilities, the entire taxing structures and the secrecy used to camouflage these questionable dealings in the name of “urban renewal” the more I know we need City Hall housecleaned.

Sincere thanks and a hats-off salute should be given to Mayor John Talbott and Council members Cherie Rodgers, Steve Eugster and Steve Corker for diligently representing the best interests of the Spokane citizens under extreme intimidation. Greene, Holmes, Higgins and their cronies are working intensely to expose them as troublemakers instead of the champions they truly are. Greene, Higgins, Holmes and Sloane should do the only honorable thing - apologize and resign at the next council meeting. Bert A. Overland Spokane

Help keep Lilac Festival alive

The Spokane Lilac Festival Association (SLFA) has been part of Spokane’s history for 62 years. A band competition, variety show, junior and torchlight parade bring together communities, schools, branches of the military and various public/private interest organizations showcasing outstanding youth/citizens.

A small group of “regular folks” who work and reside in Spokane volunteer thousands of hours and personal money each year for these events. When they aren’t planning the parade and related events, they’re looking for sponsors, volunteers, scholarship monies, donated services, free advertising and publicity. All this to, in part, produce the largest Armed Forces Torchlight Parade in the country. The only reward is simply the satisfaction of giving back to their community and carrying on this tradition.

In the past, the SLFA received extensive media coverage showcasing its community involvement. Now, sadly, the articles are minimal by comparison, and the live television coverage of the parade is non-existent this year.

In order to keep this tradition alive, the SLFA needs greater involvement by all media outlets to raise public awareness. To the corporate sponsors, businesses, community organizations, schools, military and all who have given and continue to give to the SLFA and royalty scholarship fund, thank you for helping out the festival. You can only know how and whose lives you have touched when one of those you’ve touched and inspired speaks out.

This years’ theme is “Imagine the Future.” Imagine Spokane’s future without the festival. Help rekindle all the goodness that the SLFA brings to this area. We, as a community, are the ones who profit! Tiffany Brickner Spear Liberty Lake

Nearby parking facility exists

Spokane has some wonderful treasures we have the opportunity to preserve. One of these is the Fox Theater. Like The Met, it truly deserves a new life.

I read that the Spokane Club is in need of parking and was considering the Fox Theater property for a parking facility. It seems to me there is a new parking facility close to the Spokane Club that is in need of cars to be parked. Perhaps the Spokane Club could lease one or more floors from the new River Park Square garage. It might provide a win-win solution to several issues and improve relationships with many. All of Spokane may appreciate that. Karl F. Wilkinson Otis Orchards

Washington state

Can’t escape motor vehicle taxes

I believe that the intent of Initiative 695 was very clear as to the fact that the taxes in this state are too high. We the people decided that the only way to control our state government was to exercise our agency to control our taxes using the only option available to us and take away the tax-and-spend attitude.

It has come to my attention that the motor vehicle taxes will be paid regardless of what the people want.

A motor vehicle was recently purchased for the total price of $1,500. When the buyer went in to make the necessary transfer of title and to pay the taxes, he was informed that even though he had a signed bill of sale for the full amount, he would have to pay the tax on the amount of the book value which was, according to the person behind the desk, $3,400. The explanation given when a protest was issued is that the state has decided too many citizens don’t report the full purchase price. To ease the feelings of the protester, the clerk tried to adjust the amount of the book value as much as possible. If a protest had not been issued, no adjustment would have been attempted.

This indicates again that state government is going to make us pay the motor vehicle taxes one way or another so the governor can continue to employ large numbers of people in unnecessary positions to spend the money so we can be taxed as they see fit. Robert W. Wright Otis Orchards

Glee after long session inappropriate

Re: “Lawmakers OK budget, head home” (April 28).

Thanks but no thanks to House Speaker Clyde Ballard. It simply does not fit the picture to dance and whoop it up when it took a long extra session at a large cost to the taxpayers. Also, how many bills didn’t get passed that should have? To name a few, what about the State Workers Bill, the Kaiser Unemployment Bill, the Property Tax Cut Bill which would have helped the poor and elderly?

Ballard will go down in history as a tiny footnote under futility and ineffectiveness, a small self-centered man, not a person for or of the people.

So dance it up, Ballard, kick up your heels, be happy. November will be here soon, and we will remember. Barbara DeLong Spokane

I-713 allows some trapping

Re: “Animal rights activists setting trap with initiative.”

Fenton Roskelley states that if Initiative 713 becomes law, all trapping will be banned. This is just not true.

I-713, Section 1, allows the use of humane methods of trapping when trapping is necessary to ensure public health and safety, protect livestock or property, safeguard threatened or endangered species or conduct field research on wildlife. What I-713 proposes is the elimination of the steel-jawed leghold trap, neck snares and other body-gripping traps to capture animals for recreation or commerce in fur.

It’s a shame that Roskelley is so afraid of losing his right to hunt that he’s resorted to misinformation and scare tactics to convince readers to oppose initiatives that support the humane treatment of animals.

Steel-jaw leghold traps and body snares cause severe injury to non-target wildlife, family pets and even protected species such as eagles. Lacerations, broken bones and joint dislocations can result from the jaws of the trap slamming shut. Further injury results as the animal struggles to free itself. Trappers in Washington are legally allowed to wait two or three days to check traps after they’ve been set. This means that trapped animals can suffer in anguish from extensive injuries for up to 72 hours, with no protection from the elements or predators. No animal deserves this kind of treatment.

You can help put an end to this misery by signing the petition. Call (206) 526-0949 or write for a petition to Protect Pets and Wildlife, 5200 University Way NE No. 201, Seattle, WA 98105. Christopher G. Bowers Liberty Lake

In the paper

Liberals seizing moral high ground

Regarding the May 1 editor’s note on attacks on Attorney General Janet Reno, it appears to me that letter writers who use unsavory personal attacks or smears are unsure they can persuade by force of logical argument alone. This is part of the American political process, and has been so for years. Conservatives like myself, in fact, are used to liberals seizing the moral high ground and launching smear campaigns.

As an example, you need look no further than your eminent cartoonist, Milt Priggee. Priggee has repeatedly and consistently portrayed members of the NRA as slobbering, malevolent Neanderthals.

Actually, in excess of two million law-abiding Americans belong to the NRA, no doubt including a great many Spokesman-Review readers. The NRA is a well-educated grass-roots organization, a high percentage of members in fact having doctoral degrees. We are united by a common idea, that the Second Amendment is as important as the First Amendment or any other.

Yet your paper apparently blesses Priggee’s portrayal of us as violent semi-humans that probably belong in zoos. A smear is a smear, whether the work of a clumsy letter writer or a brilliant cartoonist, which Priggee certainly is.

You have no basis for seizing the moral high ground on this issue. P. Norman Nelson Colbert

Burkey for president

In my 71 years on this earth I don’t believe I have read an article I enjoyed as much as the one by Doug Clark (April 27) about the many excuses of Ben Alan Burkey.

It seems to me Burkey has chosen the wrong profession. Instead of being a small-time lawbreaker he could have made it big in politics. Just read the paper and watch the TV news and you can see politicians from Olympia to Washington, D.C., using the same excuses day after day. So why should poor old Burkey be locked up for doing the same thing our duly-elected politicians do day after day?

I should know. I was born during the Hoover administration and have watched politicians lie, cheat and even steal. But our present administration seems to be better than the best.

So I say, don’t lock someone with this much talent in jail. Have him run for public office - even president. Charles S. Pope Electric City, Wash.

Hunters send horrible message

“Teenagers spellbound by whaling tale” (April 29) sickened and disgusted me. It is unimaginable that the Youth Leadership Academic Challenge Camp could believe that Makah whale hunters describing the gruesome slaughter of a magnificent, innocent creature could possibly be an esteem- and culture-building experience.

The people like Erin Abott, Erin O’Connell and Jonathan Paul of Ocean Defense International who are fighting to save the whales are the heroes. People who are willing to get hurt and/or arrested to save lives provide inspiration. People who brag about the thrill of killing and talk about whales as slabs of meat and their eyeballs as souvenirs send a horrible message. For shame! Kerry L. Masters Liberty Lake

Allow diner to decide on tip I wholeheartedly agree with “Added-in tip annoying” (Letters, May 2). I am disappointed that you did not publish the restaurant’s name, so I can be assured not to patronize it.

I understand that restaurant servers make their living on tips; however, let me decide how much to leave (which I find much easier to calculate at 20 percent). The restaurant in question is offending their patrons and limiting the income of their employees. S.M. Woolf Liberty Lake