Readers Oppose Federal Funds
The February runoff that sent Latah Creek over its banks and heavily damaged Hangman Valley and the Creek at Qualchan golf courses is no excuse for a flood of federal spending, say several readers.
They mostly agree with Mike Senske, a private golf course owner who was quoted in a news story as opposing the use of federal emergency dollars to repair some $300,000 in damage to the two publicly owned courses.
Senske himself phoned to say his criticism is based on his philosophy, not his standing as a competing golf course owner.
“I truly believe it would be a beautiful world if everyone had his (Senske’s) sense of integrity,” said Mary Counts Simpson of Spokane.
“The federal government should not repair golf courses,” said Roger Havercroft of Spokane. “We’re much too much in debt. My god, don’t we have any patriotism at all?”
“I am thoroughly opposed to spending any public money, especially taxpayers’ money - federal, local or state - on golf courses,” said Robert Hyslop of Spokane. “Let the golf players furnish themselves their own sport at their own expense. Don’t charge it to the taxpayers.”
A loan might be OK, but not an outright grant, said Jim Nelson of Spokane. “I don’t mean some kind of a loan over 50 years. I mean within a respectable length of time at a respectable rate of interest. I don’t think it should be just a free gift.”
Somebody’s giving somebody the business
Motorists may lose their tempers when streets are ripped up for construction and repair work. Businesses lose money.
At Argonne Village in the Spokane Valley, for instance, businesses have suffered for more than a year as construction of a railroad-crossing underpass has played havoc with motorist access to their premises. Now, they learn, the work will last at least into October, a month later than scheduled.
Meanwhile, consider Telect Inc. The high-tech communications company at Liberty Lake was billed $37,000 toward the eventual cost of improving the Harvard Road interchange, where Telect’s recent plant expansion is predicted to generate extra traffic pressure.
Owner Bill Williams said he may consider another state or another country next time an expansion is in order. “You’re going to trade $37,000 for a $20 million payroll” is the way he put it.
Do these businesses, big and small, get a fair shake?
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