Spruce up Spokane
My husband and I love Spokane. The older homes, the surrounding mountains, the trees, the amazing yards and the parks are a treat. The downtown is rich with history and has a lot of potential.
1. We should install artistic street and bridge signs (made in Spokane).
2. We need strings of lights, ivy and trees, accenting the historical buildings and churches, not huge banners at bars/restaurants (2 for 1 beer specials).
3. We have a spray paint problem. More paid crew and volunteers are needed, perhaps a reward system (catching/reporting). The covering rarely matches the original paint.
4. There are about three old buildings for lease, empty, ugly, not historical (1970s). Please tear down and make two or three downtown small parks or squares.
5. We need good, safe entry points to the Centennial Trail. Open it up; some parts are scary and smell like urine. We would love to walk along the falls, under Monroe Bridge and beyond.
Let’s put a measure together that lets our citizens make an informed decision about the future of our city and ask if they would support these ideas. It is good for our property values and an improved downtown would bring in more tourists.
Antonia and Timothy Sharkey
Spokane
I read with interest the reasons Stephen Schwalbe used in opposing the Spokane Tribe’s STEP project. Although it appears he had a distinguished career with the military and deserves praise, as do my grandsons, for serving our country, he certainly has not done his homework before commenting on STEP.
First of all, although the project is near Fairchild Air Force Base, it is not “adjacent” to the site as he would like readers to believe. Secondly, neither the tribe nor the environmental impact statement has stated the hotel tower will be 14 stories. The Federal Aviation Administration cleared the project for 145 feet. I have heard it will most likely be around eight stories.
Which leads me to wonder if he has visited the site, like I have. It is clear to me that he hasn’t even read the EIS, which is easily available. Please join with me in supporting not only the real facts, but also 5,000 much-needed jobs for our region.
Annie Ashley
Spokane