Letters To The Editor

IDAHO VIEWPOINTS

Library grateful to Renner, fair board

The Coeur d’Alene Public Library takes its hat off to the North Idaho Fair Board, National Independent Concessionaires Association, International Association of Fairs & Expositors and especially to Barbara Renner, the Kootenai County Fairgrounds general manager, for inviting the library to participate in the Read & Win program.

More important than the fact that our library was asked to participate is the fact that Renner truly believes in the importance of children reading. We were excited about the mixing of usual fair activities with reading and promotion of the idea reading is something family members can do together. Many people have come into the library just to learn about Read & Win.

Encouraging children to read is something we can all do. A book is a wonderfully simple form of entertainment. It doesn’t need batteries or electricity, and it can be exchanged with no questions asked. It’s wonderful when families, a county fair and libraries all work together to share the value and thrill of reading with children.

Congratulations also to Renner because she will soon become the first woman president of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions. It’s obvious that her enthusiasm and vision is that a county fair can and should be recognized by others. We look forward to next year’s fair and to promoting Read & Win! Pat A. Laam, public relations coordinator Coeur d’Alene Public Library

WASHINGTON STATE

Initiative backers, ante up

Initiative 676 is just one more incremental step toward a future of more restrictive legislation.

I agree handgun training is important and that safes and gun locks are useful, especially with children in the house. But a new law to force people to do these things is just one more step in the rush to destroy all our liberties.

If I-676 backers really wish to help, why don’t they get together, raise the money to buy safes, locks and training classes for the people who purchase new handguns and give them these things? They won’t, because it’s easier to spend someone else’s money to promote your agenda.

To those who say I am not being fair, I ask, is it more fair to use the force of law and government to get your way? Education and persuasion would do more good than threat and force. Responsibility is a learned behavior. If you use government to change behavior, people will not take responsibility for their actions. Paul Alan Claussen Spokane

License bicycles and riders

Since bicyclists have the same rights to the road as motorists, let them have the same privileges as motorists: 1, pass written and road tests for a license; 2, register the bicycle for a fee and have an annually renewable license plate attached; and 3, buy liability insurance. We need equal rules for everybody who uses the roadway. E.J. Muench Cheney

SPOKANE MATTERS

Ah, but can we do it better?

I disagree with editor Chris Peck’s description of the Lincoln Street Bridge discussions as originating from the “we can’t do it, we don’t want it” mindset. As an advocate of creative and sound urban planning, let me ask the following questions:

Should downtown Spokane be a destination or a traffic thoroughfare? Does Spokane want to encourage cars to drive through downtown?

If we do not replace the Post Street Bridge, can we make improvements to Veteran’s Park? Yes.

Can we have a Centennial Trail bridge? Yes.

Can we provide green space in front of City Hall? Yes Would stopping the Lincoln Street Bridge project now provide Spokane with a more exciting future opportunity?

It is time to evaluate the purpose of downtown Spokane from the standpoint of automobile vs. pedestrian. Let’s also really think about how we, as the current and future guardians of Spokane’s character, are going to honor the heritage of the Spokane River gorge. Let’s push the design envelope to put Spokane on the map with an exciting, stimulating and excellent downtown going into the 21st century.

Peck, if you truly want Spokane to project the image it should, then honor the process that is taking place now for what it is: an attempt to create a new mindset of wouldn’t it be great if we did something fantastic?

Then, let’s see if the current Lincoln Street Bridge project fits that vision. Christopher J. Green Spokane

Bridge a good idea? Run the numbers

Re: editor Chris Peck’s Aug. 10 editorial (“Lincoln St. Bridge project a must for city).

It’s a math problem, really. If the Post Street Bridge is about to fall down, just say so. Don’t start calling everyone names. Just say it needs to be replaced and do it as cheaply as possible.

But don’t give us the big downtown traffic mess as a reason. The bridges are not the problem. It’s math.

Add up the direct lanes of traffic passing over the river, heading north out of downtown: Maple, two lanes; Monroe, two; Post, two; Washington, two; Division, three lanes broadening to four just past the river; Hamilton, two. Now, what happens at the Garland hill? Post cuts to one lane, Washington stops, Division cuts back to three (a welcome relief from the two lanes it was for so long).

Because of the Garland hill, we have four fewer lanes of traffic available to carry traffic, not only out of downtown but (additionally) north out of the north bank-near North Side commercial area.

Proof of this will be played out once again during the first real snowfall this winter, as a combination of poor street maintenance and bad tires creates lines of traffic stuck at the bottom of the hill on Monroe, Post and Division.

Peck’s editorial points out another, more-insidious problem in Spokane. Dare anyone disagree with the official policy, they are immediately labeled a naysayer and nonprogressive. In fact, we might just represent some simple but apparently distinguishing difference: some of us passed math. Eric S. Hussey Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Keep Joe Chemo on the job

Virginia Way (“Joe Chemo tactic misleading, hurtful,” Letters, Aug. 8) missed the whole idea of the billboard.

As the daughter of a father who died of cancer, I can tell you of a man filled with hope and courage. It is real among people fighting for their lives. What is also real is that for years people like my dad made the choice to smoke and millions have died from lung cancer for doing it.

I admire my dad for his courage but not for his choice to smoke. It has left my mother a young widow, my children without a grandpa and me without a father. One person’s choice to smoke does not just affect them.

If Joe Chemo scares people out of smoking, I say let it stay. Lori K. Michels Spokane

Thanks for ‘Forever home’ memories

Thank you for publishing the article, “Forever home,” by Patrick Valentine (Perspective, Aug. 3). As one of his 13 siblings, I enjoyed reading my brother’s reminiscences of growing up in that North Post Street house.

Some family members may have minor disagreements with his interpretation of life in our household. But that is to be expected when there are 14 individuals with his or her own unique experiences and perceptions. However, all of us do agree that our parents were exceptionally dedicated to our family and deserve Patrick’s appreciative recognition.

Ultimately, I consider the article to be a tribute, not to an old house or even to a particular family, but to the loving commitment that can transform an ordinary house into an extraordinary home. May the house on North Post Street soon become the shelter for another family’s “forever home” memories. Margaret M. Valentine Richland