Build student housing

I appreciate the job many developers have done in restoring numerous beautiful historic buildings downtown. However, it seems that any pile of bricks (Jensen Byrd) will qualify for the Spokane Preservation Advocates’ list, whether it is on the historic register or not.

According to Washington State University Spokane Chancellor Lisa Brown, there will be no student housing in the future. Real college campuses have student housing. Her solution is bus passes at taxpayer expense. Passing up the developer’s offer to tear down the warehouse and build modern student housing is a huge mistake that will haunt the campus forever.

There seems to be poor planning for the future of this campus. As if there is not enough traffic congestion at Sprague and Division, how bad will it be in future years when the campus is much larger? A vehicle bridge or underpass aligned with Sherman Street and connecting the campus would alleviate a serious problem in the future.

Allan LeTourneau

Spokane

VAT saps IRS power

The power of the Internal Revenue Service in the United States needs to be curbed and eradicated. The mere thought of a government agency in our republic using its influence to target citizens with a different political view than it is substantially abhorrent.

Congress should adopt a different model for raising revenue to run our country. Many nations today use a value-added tax for much of their revenue. If the U.S. adopted a VAT, we could reduce the power and persuasion that has been evident in the latest IRS scandal. VATs would touch everyone fairly and equally. Citizens would have more of their own income without withholding taxes. VAT has to be an easier tax to collect and disperse as evident by most states in the U.S. who have sales taxes.

Another advantage of a VAT is that the underground economy would share in paying into the U.S. Treasury through its spending.

It is time for consumption to be taxed on a national level to replace a reliance on personal and corporate taxes. Our current income tax code is a complicated nightmare.

Let’s eliminate the jackboot of the IRS once and for all.

Jack Abel

Spokane

Easy to save eagles

I am writing in reference to your article “Turbines: eagles’ newest threat” (May 19).

I believe there is a simple solution that could save thousands of birds killed each year: Attach to each blade of the turbine ribbons of reflective material, similar to the ones cherry growers use to scare off birds. As the propellers rotate, these ribbons would flutter and sparkle and scare off the birds. The cost would be inexpensive and thousands of birds would be saved.

Ron Tan

Spokane

Bring on the casinos

Why not have another casino? It adds needed jobs to the community. Not only is it just about gambling, but they have nice restaurants and great places to catch a show or concerts.

“It takes money from seniors who can’t afford it.” Really? Really? I think that they are old enough to know why they are there. Let them enjoy the rest of their lives. They can do whatever they want with their own money.

So I say bring on the casinos.

Ric Meyer

Spokane Valley

Clinton cartoon too much

I’ve seen some tasteless cartoons in The Spokesman-Review in the past, but the Michael Ramirez cartoon in the May 12 paper tops them all.

I’m no great lover of the Clintons, but depicting Hillary as a fat rat caught in a trap is a new low. Shame on your editors.

Herbert Will

Spokane