Letters To The Editor

Public safety

Like city, lowlifes go on about business

On Sept. 14, the Spokane Police SWAT team raided a house on East Ermina - again! Guns, drugs, crack cocaine and meth were removed. And the house is still in operation.

After many pleas to the mayor for help, we, the neighbors, now have to go to the public for help. There have been shots fired and a man wounded. We clean condoms, needles and beer bottles from our yards daily.

Do we need to arm ourselves? We own our homes, pay taxes and we vote. Where is our city when we need it? Robert E. Donahue Spokane

Hidebound officials teach bad lesson

Spokane has many wonderful agencies geared toward teaching our young people. From the Martin Luther King Center to the YWCA After-School program to the Chase Youth Commission much is being done to improve the lives of our younger generation. Children are our future and deserve nothing less than our best efforts.

This is precisely why I am upset that nothing has been done in a case a block away from my home, a block containing many school-aged children.

On East Ermina there is a house known to practically every police officer in the city. For six years drugs, prostitution and arrest warrants have been the norm in this house, rather than the exception. During the latest police raid a SWAT team entered the dwelling with weapons drawn. Other police raids resulted in firearms and drugs having been abandoned in neighbors’ bushes, in the hope the police would not find them. A year ago, a man was shot in this house.

In essence, because of the city’s inaction, we are undoing all the good things our agencies and schools are trying to teach. Young people in my neighborhood are learning that you can do practically whatever you like and not have to pay the price for your crime. We are teaching them the powerlessness of our citizenry. We are teaching them that violence is tolerated and that our judicial system is reluctant to act. Neil F. Kempen Spokane

City attorney a stumbling block

We are concerned for the safety of the residents on our street. We have a known drug house a block away from us. There have been 38 calls for service, ranging from narcotic activity, burglary, theft and domestic violence to warrants for arrest in the past five and one-half years. Over the last year and three months there have been 40 more calls for service. Of those 40 calls, two were of the high-risk warrant type, which involved the SWAT teams.

We fear for our lives and our safety. When this information reaches the city attorney’s office, the process goes no further. The police have been very helpful but they can do only so much. We are fed up being victims in our own neighborhood. Dick and Becky Haunschild Spokane

Spokane matters

Burke will serve county well

Did you enjoy Pig Out in the Park this year or any year of the past 20? I’m sure those who attended the Spokane American Music Festival came away feeling good about America and Spokane in particular.

The man who has brought these events to our community is Bill Burke and he also feels good about America and Spokane in particular.

Burke is a marketing and business genius. He knows how to accomplish what he wants to accomplish and now, he wants to make Spokane the envy of the Northwest. He wants to be our county commissioner.

Burke’s theme is “Bill Burke will work for you.” He’s been working for us for years. He is a member of many organizations that have “Spokane” either literally or implicit in their title. He has been on boards of directors of most of these groups. His name is recognized in various communities in 25 states.

During this campaign, Burke will work with Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, as a greeter at Hotel Lusso, at Harvest House in Green Bluff, wait on tables at Players and Spectators, at Cassano’s Grocery and as a garbage collector. He will work for you.

Burke loves Spokane. He’s been in the area for 34 years, owned his own business since 1981, is a graduate of Eastern Washington University and has been married 26 years. He has a son who will soon be off to college.

Burke will bring welcome changes to Spokane County. He’s got my vote. Ed Meadows Spokane

My, such sensitive toes

This letter is in response to the continuous whining of seasoned politicians - from national elections to local campaigns - because they have been criticized. County Commissioner John Roskelley’s treatise (Oct. 5) about his “appalling … unethical and inhumane” (words often reserved by PETA to describe processed cows and big game hunting) treatment from Sheriff Mark Sterk is a prime example.

Roskelley, a criticism has been made about your tenure in office. My advice is to come out swinging, make a public statement to defend yourself and let’s get back to some good old politics. Heaven knows, we can’t wait till Nov. 7 so we can get back to our mindless prime time programming and tedious lives just so we can go through all this whining again in four years. Dale Golman Spokane

Wilkinson backer’s claim erroneous

Administrators and employees of the Spokane Regional Health District were dismayed to see the October 8, 2000 letter from Mark Richard, government affairs director of the Spokane Home Builders Association, claiming that the Health District endorsed Karl Wilkinson for County Commissioner. This is not true. This District has not endorsed Wilkinson for any office. The Spokane Regional Health District is a governmental agency that never endorses any ballot measure or candidate for elected office. Kim Marie Thorburn, M.D., M.P.H. Spokane Regional Health District

Talbott fails test of leadership

I was disappointed but not surprised to read that another negative political action committee has been formed to “manipulate” the political process (“New political action committee targets Powers,” Oct. 6). The public deserves more from its potential leaders than to be misled and controlled.

The new form of government was sold on the promise of making things better. To make it work, we need leaders with vision and leadership skills that respect ALL of us.

Mayor John Talbott claims he had no prior knowledge of Citizens for Fair and Open Government, or CFOG’s, activities and I’ll take his word for that. But when given the opportunity to display some leadership by rebuking CFOG’s activities, he failed. Instead, he gave tacit approval, stating, “That’s politics; I expect it will happen to me.”

These are the tactics of old politics, old ideas and old ways.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different outcome. Spokane is crying out for new ideas and new leadership. We need better outcomes from our government and that means new approaches, and in fact, new leaders.

I want a leader who respects my right to have accurate information. You earn my vote by displaying leadership qualities, integrity and a positive vision for all of Spokane. Talbott failed in this by refusing to set the standard for his own campaign supporters. If he can’t lead his campaign in a positive direction how can we expect him to lead the community in a positive direction? Al French Spokane

5th Congressional District

Keefe - and his word - are good

We in the 5th District are very fortunate to have the opportunity to vote for Tom Keefe for the U. S. House of Representatives. He cares deeply about ordinary people, is very intelligent and communicates his thoughts in a clear and straightforward way. He is experienced in the legislative process and knows how to get things done.

Above all, Keefe has integrity. He would never make a solemn pledge, base his campaign against an opponent on it and then, after winning, try to pass it off as a “mistake.” Lois E. Aydelott Newport, Wash.

So, I went to Keefe’s house party

Re: Keith Milligan’s Oct. 7 letter, “Keefe campaign one of common sense.”

I was one of the two Nethercutt supporters Milligan referred to who attended the Tom Keefe “house party” held in the clubhouse of Aspen Village Apartments, where I live. Seeing that I received the invitation on my apartment door and that I am a staffer for Rep. Nethercutt’s campaign, I thought it would be interesting to attend this gathering with my good friend from Washington State University.

While Keefe was commenting on his support of the Snake River dams, my friend did emphasize that his position was “the smartest thing” he ever heard a Democrat say, and was happy that Keefe was on the right side of this issue. I take offense to Milligan twisting our courtesy and civility into a cheap political shot against Nethercutt, who has worked tirelessly to protect Eastern Washington’s dams and agricultural-based economy.

As for “Keefe’s grass roots campaign taking off like wildfire,” I regret to report that my friend and I were two of only seven people present in the “audience” at this event. I would hardly call that a groundswell of support.

Milligan should really be concerned with Keefe’s sincerity on keeping our Snake River dams intact when he attended a fund raiser on the West Side sponsored by a Seattle city councilman who had just voted for a resolution calling for the removal of those dams.

Let’s cut out the cheap political rhetoric and vote for Nethercutt - a man we can count on to meet Eastern Washington’s needs. Steve Taylor Veradale

Government and politics

Bush endorsed well

My congratulations for the editorial board’s endorsement of Gov. George W. Bush for president. Opinion editor John Webster’s editorial concerning the endorsement was right on the mark. He was clear, concise and accurate in everything he wrote. I could not have said it better. Thomas V. Jamison Spokane

For sake of appearances, it’s Bush

It’s comforting to see the Cowles family’s newspaper stand up for the Bush family by endorsing the restoration candidacy of Gov. George W. Bush. Bush the younger deserves to be president. He may have a “weak grasp of detail” but he has shown exemplary character - staying off the bottle in recent years and using negative campaign tactics only when he’s losing.

He will bring a country club grace and boyish charm to summits with Vladimir Putin. He will give a warm smile and kind words to those who think they need an increase in the minimum wage and those who dare question the growing gap between rich and poor. He will provide strong bipartisan leadership through straight talk like “fuzzy math” and “Washington speak,” and by sharing bromides about financial failure in the oil fields and public funding of baseball stadiums.

Thank God he has the integrity to run on style, not substance!

I applaud the Cowles family and your man, Opinion editor John Webster, for having the courage to stand up for one of your own. You know best. Allen C. Nielson Colville, Wash.

Events

Gospel program enjoyable

Thank you, Spokane and Reach Out at the Park, for providing the amphitheater to present CRUX gospel through music, drama and speakers, sponsored by Pines Baptist Church on Sept. 23. I’m 73 years young and thoroughly enjoyed an afternoon of being a part of a young family audience. Margaret DeCroff Millsap Opportunity

Idaho viewpoints

Boardwalk: Official gets it backward

A disturbing comment was made by a Coeur d’Alene elected official recently, about the boardwalk at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. The official was “thankful” that this company allowed the public to use their boardwalk.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The people of our city paid dearly for their rights to this public space.

We agreed to give up our city street leading to the water through the plaza. We agreed to break our shoreline ordinance and permit this company to build the resort higher and closer to the lake. For these and other concessions, we enjoy the right to walk along our boardwalk.

There is no more important goal for the people of our city than to preserve and enhance every inch of our public spaces at all costs. Make no mistake about it. We bought and paid for that boardwalk in real dollar value. It is ours to enjoy.

We need only to be “thankful” to ourselves for this privilege. Steve Badraun Coeur d’Alene

Transfer station plan bad in every way

Concerning the transfer station Kootenai County Solid Waste proposes to build on Ramsey and Chilco roads in the Rathdrum area: The Solid Waste Department seeks a conditional use permit on rural residential when in reality this is going to be an industrial business. Other businesses usually need a zone change instead of a conditional use permit. That, by the way, will be in force for the lives of my grandchildren and their children.

There are many industrial zones available for this kind of use. We all purchased our property because it was rural residential.

There is an elementary school and a preschool only two miles away on Ramsey Road. Solid Waste expects about 160 vehicles an hour to use this facility. The roads to be used aren’t adequate for that much traffic.

This facility will close the Dumpsters in the Garwood, Twin Lakes and Athol-Bay View areas. Some say Washington residents misuse the Dumpsters. Do people who say that realize Washington residents own many of the lake homes in this area? And, by the way, they pay taxes for the solid waste.

I want to thank Solid Waste for trying to take away the peacefulness of my neighborhood by trying to push this facility up our noses with the fine smell of garbage. Not to mention the noise from backup bells, stump grinders, gull-scaring bottle rockets and train connections. Wendy Norvell Rathdrum

What about Jewish radicals?

“Love your enemy,” the attorney who sued Richard Butler in order to bankrupt him, admonished Butler during the trial. Coming from Morris Dees, an attorney who makes his living by winning lawsuits against politically incorrect individuals with whom he disagrees, this advice is more than a little hypocritical.

Another hypocrite supporting Dees is Los Angeles visitor Irv Rubin of the Jewish Defense League. Some readers will recall that the JDL was founded in 1968 by a great advocate of violence, Brooklyn Rabbi Meir Kahane, who himself died a violent death.

Dr. Baruch Goldstein, a Brooklyn-born follower of Kahane, on Feb. 25, 1994, shot and killed 40 Palestinians, including children, as they prayed in a mosque in Hebron (Israel.) Beaten to death by Arab survivors or his massacre, he was eulogized by a number of rabbis and declared a saint. Rabbi Yaacov Perrin opined, “One million Arabs are not worth a Jewish fingernail.”

Has anyone heard that Dees or Rubin have raised a protest over JDL founder Kahane’s disciple Goldstein’s racially inspired slaughter of 40 Arabs? This is not to defend Butler but facts are facts, and every once in a while we need to hear the other side of the story. Dee Lawless Post Falls

Pulver honest investigator

Ted Pulver, candidate for Kootenai County sheriff, stands for integrity and honesty. He is an investigator for the victim or accused and reports the truth, which is sometimes not popular. Yes, folks of Kootenai County, investigate and find out who the real Pulver is. He is honorable and will serve the people well.

In response to Stacey Dreher’s Sept. 24 letter, the parole board in Boise consists of five people and they decide who gets paroled, not you or Pulver. Mary Harrell Coeur d’Alene