Democracy thwarted

Sun., Aug. 9, 2009

The Spokesman-Review

Councilman Richard Rush got it right at the City Council meeting when he said that the council’s “advisory questions” are prejudicial and interfere with the citizen initiative process.

The City Council has now taken steps that interfere with our ability as residents of Spokane to make and change law. The citizen initiative process is the key way that we can do that. But, when the City Council interferes with that process, we’re faced with a critical question about our democracy and who decides what happens in this city.

With the council’s action, it’s clear that the answer to “who decides?” is that it certainly isn’t us.

Brooke Matson

Spokane

Letters policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

No more than 250 words
We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form: Submit your letter here
Mail: Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Email: editor@spokesman.com
Fax: (509) 459-3815
Phone: (509) 459-5430