Letters To The Editor

Idaho viewpoints

Just leave the forest alone

The Coeur d’Alene National Forest is among the most heavily roaded in the entire national forest system, according to a May 23, 1997, report in New York Times.

It is preposterous that the Forest Service has decided to build more roads and log one of the most magnificent and primitive watersheds in the Northwest the Big Creek drainage.

Any road building and logging will violate the integrity of this rare, pristine watershed and do irreparable harm to the purity of the water. It is an undeniable fact that the greatest damage to watersheds is done by roads.

The Big Creek watershed is also home to several rare animal species, including wolverine and lynx. Roads will cause habitat fragmentation and open the ecosystem to access by humans - the greatest threat of all to their survival.

Short-term logging profits are vastly inferior to, incompatible with, and will have a deteriorating effect on the area’s recreational values, its value as fish and wildlife habitat, the wilderness experience and on a perfectly functioning watershed.

The plants, animals, and microbes have done a job managing this beautiful, roadless ecosystem from time immemorial that cannot be matched.

The only ethical and moral decision the Forest Service can make is to leave it alone. Coeur d’Alene District citizens and future generations will be thankful if it does.

In recognition of the rights of others, and in selfrespect, the agency can do no less. Fred Bardelli Osburn

SPOKANE MATTERS

No air quality complaints, you say?

After denying there have been any complaints besides mine about Spokane’s air quality, Matt Holmquist from the Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority reluctantly gave me the phone number of the state Department of Ecology (456-2906) so I could register a complaint there.

This phone must be off the hook, since there has been a busy signal all days, nights and weekends since the latter part of July. So, let’s all try not to act so surprised when we are told of just how few complaints are registered every mid-August in this fiery hell of Spokane.

Then, we must act like we really do believe they are all “accidental wildfires.” Yeah, right. Sadly, I have witnessed the aged suffering because of this smoke, as they struggle so desperately for breath, and can’t even rise up in their beds. Nuclear power and grass growing are the only industries this area can attract - the ones no one else will tolerate?

It seems rather obvious that if The Spokesman-Review isn’t willing to be a big part of the solution that it is likely the biggest part of the problem. What a pity. May D. Berg Spokane

STA route changes look bad

Anyone who commutes using Spokane Transit Authority should take a long look at proposed route changes. These brochures look like survey forms but if you look closely at the map inside, you may find the route you’ve ridden for years no longer exists.

Several co-workers ride downtown from the Valley Transit Center. Their route is scheduled for abandonment. There will be no freeway ride to downtown from Fourth Avenue and University. The only option will be to ride all the way down Sprague on the No. 9 bus. I know I won’t do that. Jeff A. Danner Spokane

Who are these ‘naysayers? Here’s who

Editor Chris Peck’s column of Aug. 10 concerning the Lincoln Street Bridge is as disingenuous as it is misleading.

Does he really mean to include in his category of “naysayers … and impoverished thinkers” the following critics: every reputable urbanist to look over the project, many local architects, street-level merchants, leadership of affected neighborhoods, developers who are working to bring housing to a pedestrian-friendly downtown, those who believe that the Spokane Horizons process matters, Native Americans for whom the gorge has special meaning, supporters of the emerging arts district, river gorge preservationists and even those who favor the mall but reject any necessary linkage?

These critics understand the obvious: When Peck’s smoke has blown away, when we get past talking about those amenities (all of which could be provided even were the bridge not to be built), Spokane will be left with nothing more than a very expensive (don’t forget that $5.5 million of local money) west-end version of the delightful Division-Ruby couplet, run right through downtown and tied together by an overscaled bridge that will obscure the falls.

And the what shall we call them? “boosters and enriched thinkers”?

Well, gosh, seems Peck has in mind our city traffic engineers - bureaucrats who favor us with organizational inertia, outdated notions of traffic control, invalid pollution counts and federal money - lots of it. Robert C. Herold Spokane

Let’s do a whole-core-area bridge

I’ve given a lot of thought to what should be done for downtown (bridges, parking, etc.) and have come up with the perfect solution. Build a gigantic bridge across the river from the east side of the Division Street Bridge to the west side of Maple Street Bridge.

Just build one structure and blacktop the whole damn thing. Cover the falls and everything between Spokane Falls Boulevard and the Flour Mill. This would end the carping about the view, solve the north-south traffic flow problem and afford ample free parking that downtown will actually be able to compete with the two major malls.

Of course, it would be expensive but that’s never stopped Spokane before. Besides, it would be progressive and isn’t that what we all strive for?

The only thing I see wrong with this proposal is that some damn fool City Council member might think it’s a good idea and start promoting it. J. Ed Meadows Spokane

Bridge needed less than falls view

I agree with one thing Editor Chris Peck said in his Aug. 10 column regarding the Lincoln Street Bridge: It is indeed the 11th hour. But it’s time to stop this bridge project.

We so-called naysayers, second-guessers and impoverished thinkers who have studied the project know this bridge will act as a freeway through downtown, not to downtown. I’m willing to consider the possibilities that this bridge will not open up.

It isn’t paranoid, nor is it a small-town mentality, to value and wish to protect one of Spokane’s most historic sites. Neither the Golden Gate Bridge nor Brooklyn Bridge was constructed over a historic falls site and focal point of community pride and inspiration.

Traffic, cost and public participation issues need to be revisited. Our automobile-based population is growing. What should be realized is the need to find alternative transportation modes.

Citizens Advisory Board members of five years ago would not approve this bridge today. Some have said they are more educated on transportation issues now and don’t approve of this bridge project.

The cost of the project is too great to our city’s pride. Let’s all take a step back to Expo ‘74 and the mindset of public pride. What’s good for the long term? What will we give our children?

I say that it’s an unobstructed Spokane Falls, the landmark, must-see place for people to go to take in the river and feel proud of Spokane. M. Christine Collins Spokane

Bridge project evokes ‘50s mindset

Who is Editor Chris Peck kidding when he states that not building the Lincoln Street Bridge would leave Spokane stuck in the 1970s?

I think building the bridge would put all of us back to the 1950s mindset - knocking down Spokane’s elegant old homes for gas stations, paving everything in sight and removing any trees in the way to do so.

Some of us who came of age in the renaissance of the 1960s remember a verse from a song we sang, “Where have all the flowers gone?” One side of my family has viewed the power of nature and beauty in these Spokane falls for over 10,000 years.

I only hope that enough of us care about this magnificent asset to our city to preserve it for our grandchildren to behold in the generations ahead. Dee M. Biegler Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Psychologists made big mistake

The Aug. 15 article, “Psychological association rejects conversion therapy for homosexuals,” is a serious step backward for individual rights.

Do homosexuals have a right to change? You bet they do. And more are choosing to leave their destructive lifestyle.

In succumbing to the pressure of a vocal minority, the American Psychological Association is setting a dangerous precedent. While gays and lesbians who seek change must be self-motivated to change, it is unethical to “coerce” them to remain gay. Since 1976, Seattle-based Exodus Ministries has been contacted by 200,000 individuals seeking further information about the possibility of change. Thousands have made the courageous decision to leave it altogether.

Homosexual males have a life expectancy lower than people in even the most disease-ridden Third World countries. Homosexuals are 87 times more likely to commit suicide and 1,000 percent more likely to contract AIDS. The APA missed a key opportunity to encourage those who want to leave an unhealthy lifestyle to do so. Shame on them. Don S. Otis Sagle, Idaho

Columnist Pitts knows his stuff

In this day of slam-dunking humorous columnists, I would like to say how much I enjoy reading the column of Leonard Pitts Jr.

To look at the solemn expression shown in his picture, you wouldn’t guess at the humor he finds in his everyday life. I enjoy cutting out his column and sending it to my son to brighten his day.

Having raised children through all of the stages he writes about, and looking back from my greatgrandmother status now, I can only say: Right-on, brother! Keep writing. Margaret E. Underwood Wilbur, Wash.