Letters for Sept. 14, 2023

Division, dishonesty is not what we need

The voters of Spokane have justifiably expressed their discomfort with our mayor’s prayers with Matt Shea. Being a voter in District 3, I am equally as concerned with the presence of City Council candidate Earl Moore on Matt Shea’s stage.

We need leaders with good judgment, ones who put in the effort to understand who they surround themselves with and their values and objectives. While Earl Moore claims to be nonpartisan on her campaign materials, we clearly now know that is not the case based on her actions. Her behavior shows dishonesty with voters.

Earl Moore knows that Matt Shea is a far-right militant white supremacist with a history of political violence, yet she remains willing to keep his company to gain favor with certain voter bases during this election season. Her excuse that she did not know Shea would be in attendance is either another example of dishonesty or a reflection of her inability to display what it takes to be a leader in our community.

We need leaders who reflect the positive and inclusive values of our voters. We as voters have a responsibility to distance ourselves from the right-wing rhetoric of hate and divisiveness if we want to make progress as a community. Spokane must more critically examine our leaders and candidates, especially our City Council, if we expect to come together as one city. This is why I’ll be voting for Kitty Kiltzke, to support much needed unity in our city.

Michelle Starry

Spokane

Where’s the fair?

Fair? What fair? No ads, so no coverage? Or is it just a little beef with the county?

William Baxley

Spokane

Leaders must respect voters’ wishes

An article in the Sept. 10 Spokesman-Review regarding placement of an anti-camping initiative on the November general election ballot said what many citizens already suspect: There is little respect for the will of the people .

Attorneys for the Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium and Jewels Helping Hands – who are challenging placement of the initiative on the ballot – “argue that the state legislature put local government in charge of homelessness planning. Therefore, voters don’t have the right to usurp the Spokane City Council’s authority and amend the city’s camping law through a ballot indicative.” If state legislators and City Council members respect the vote of the people who put them in office, they should also respect the vote of those same people regarding issues that affect our community.

Bridget Dagg

Spokane