Letters for Oct. 24, 2022

Idaho District 6 candidates

We are fortunate to have three very strong and capable candidates running for District 6 seats in David Nelson, Tim Gresbeck and Trish Carter-Goodheart. While there are plenty of negatives in their opponents, we will focus on the positives of these three outstanding candidates.

In his four years as our senator, David Nelsen has demonstrated commitment and thoughtfulness, the ability to tackle complex issues and a willingness to listen and respect diverse viewpoints. His experience on the Senate Education, Transportation and Agricultural Affairs committees will allow David to continuing work toward solutions that benefit all citizens of District 6.

Tim Gresbeck is a proven community leader, a widely respected legal thinker and has received numerous recognitions and awards for his work as a lawyer. Tim is poised to put his energy and expertise to work on accessible vo-tech schools, affordable higher education and a better balance in our legislature.

Trish Carter-Goodheart understands the needs of rural communities. Trish has spent her entire life in Lapwai and continues her work on youth advocacy, access to affordable food, accessible broadband and well maintained roads and bridges. Her unique perspective is just what District 6 needs in Boise.

We thank these fine candidates for their willingness to serve in the Idaho Legislature. We look forward to voting for all three and hope you will too.

Steve McGeehan and Kathy Beerman

Moscow

Bloomsday board failed

When Don Kardong retired as Bloomsday director, he left some big shoes to fill. Jon Neill was the wise and ideal choice. High-energy, upbeat, smart, with a deep love for running and Spokane. It was shocking to read of the recent Bloomsday board actions leading to Jon’s resignation as Bloomsday director.

I have the highest regard for Jon Neill. He managed to keep Bloomsday alive and thriving through the pandemic years, a struggling period for so many city events. That feat alone speaks to his management skills and talent. My association with Bloomsday is as a slow-moving perennial. I don’t know all the inner workings of the Bloomsday board. I do know a community loss when I see one. It appears the Bloomsday board might have pushed a fine leader to the point where resignation was Neill’s only option. I hope the remaining Bloomsday board members will examine their actions and agendas. Spokane, Bloomsday and certainly Jon Neill should be able to expect better.

Pete Thompson

Spokane

Dog park

PLEASE, no dog park in the natural areas of Lincoln Park. The natural areas are city (urban) treasures. Every spring, native wildflowers come again, so special. The sagebrush buttercups, grass widows, phlox, shooting stars, glacier lilies, yellow bells, camas, balsamroot, daisy flea bane, yarrow, onion, lupin, prairie smoke, coral bells and more that I am sure I have not seen. The native grasses are rebounding.

Please leave the natural areas just as they are. NATURAL.

Judith Gammon

Spokane

2022 Honor Flight

I recently had the real pleasure of being chosen for the Oct. 2-3 Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Along with 98 other veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam, I spent a day and a half flying to D.C. and touring most of the monuments that mean a lot to those of us who have served our country. Most significant, it was an opportunity to spend time with and get to know others who share a common experience.

I cannot begin to thank all of the wonderful people who made this trip possible, nor the people of Spokane who showed up to welcome us home. Believe me when I tell you that this was a totally different homecoming than we experienced coming back from Vietnam!

And to those vets who have not yet flown on an Honor Flight, if you get the chance, TAKE IT!

Robert MacConnell

Mead

Surprise medical billing laws

I have heard Congresswoman McMorris Rogers saying how she is working to protect us from surprise medical billing. We are already protected by the Washington State Balance Billing Protection Act, enacted in 2020 and the Federal No Surprises Act, enacted this year. Please don’t try to take credit for protecting me from something which I am already covered by state and federal laws. Time for new representation.

Victor Boyle

Spokane

Senator Crapo

In current television ads Senator Crapo claims President Biden’s recently passed bill adding thousands of employees to the IRS is like adding an army of tax collectors to come after the little guy. This despite the fact that the senator knows Biden has directed those revenue agents to target taxpayers earning $400,000 or more, and primarily corporations paying zero in taxes. It is estimated this will raise billions in taxes currently due. He has also committed several hundred thousand to paying down the current public debt. The senator then suggests this will increase inflation. Maybe he would like to explain the conundrum this presents. The senator seems to have a troubled relationship with the truth. Shame on you, senator, distorting the truth is beneath the office you hold, but is on par with being a Trumplican.

Edward Karasek

Sandpoint

Thanks for listening

Thank you to the City of Spokane’s Redistricting Board for actually listening to the people! It was so refreshing to see that in the Council Chambers, representatives can actually listen and vote by majority rule.

I’ve tuned into some of the Council meetings and it’s amazing how community members can be speaking 4:1 in favor or in opposition to a policy, but then the Council will vote against the majority anyway!

Sometimes it feels like they aren’t listening to us.

But on Oct. 4, a group of people, while not the City Council, actually voted the way citizens asked them to. The Redistricting Board voted in favor of the minimal changes map that the public wanted.

I sincerely hope that the Spokane City Council will also listen to us and vote to approve the map that was recommended by the board.

Mollie Todhunter

Spokane