More Letters to the Editor Aug. 23

Neighbors not the problem

The Tribune's article on Aug. 14 regarding additional parking spaces at Lewis-Clark State College is somewhat misleading, and statements attributed to Chet Herbst, LCSC vice president for Finance and Administration, somewhat troubling.

I attended the meeting in January when the city council vacated Fourth Street, from 10th to 11th avenues, so the college could build another parking lot. The reason given at the meeting for yet another parking lot when the existing lots were already under-utilized was because the city was requiring LCSC to replace/add parking spaces as a result of the construction of the new activity center on campus.

It had nothing to do with whether Normal Hill residents are being neighborly, as indicated by Herbst. In fact, on the first day of spring semester 2009, the same day of the city council meeting, there were 125 unused parking spaces in the 11th Avenue parking lot late in the morning on a very busy day on campus.

The problem is not enough is being done to encourage students to use the campus parking lots. Until that occurs, there will be a lot of unused asphalt that I presume is being purchased with taxpayer dollars. I wonder if that is neighborly.

Anthony C. Anegon

Lewiston

Spending too much

Our political parties are playing the game of good cop, bad cop and we the taxpayer are taking it in the shorts. Whatever party that is in office is the bad cop and spends like a drunken sailor.

While the party that is out of office tries to portray itself as the good cop and on the taxpayers' side.

...King George was pushing for a bailout of Wall Street executives claiming that the sky was falling. When he was defeated, Democrats began saying that the sky was falling and that we the taxpayer needed to throw money at large American and foreign corporations because they were necessary for our economy or "too big to fail."

As it turned out, we were simply paying bonuses to Wall Street and large corporate executives for making poor decisions. No matter which party is elected, it seems that the predominant theory is to throw money at the problem. I don't think that any of our elected representatives has the slightest idea of what moves this economy, nor does it appear that any of them cares as long as they can stuff their pockets full of cash. ...

We are now being asked to support a national health insurance that will not cost us, the average American, anything. That it will all be paid for by cutting the Medicare budget (this while more people become eligible for Medicare each day) and from savings from Americans living a healthier lifestyle (giving up smoking and losing weight as well as becoming more active), all because our leader asked them to (fat chance on that one).

And by adding a tax on the wealthy Americans (all in a country that has the best government at money can buy). Who are the authors of our new and wonderful medical plan? None other than the drug corporations and the ambulance-chasing attorneys who are stuffing our elected representatives' pockets full of money. ...

Larry Browning

Craigmont

Bradbury violated no rule

It continues to amaze me that a complaint concerning where a man sleeps continues to be a thorn in the side of Judge John Bradbury. The good people of Idaho have elected him twice and have expressed no concern about his work. Yet his career is in jeopardy because of an anonymous and petty complaint.

Is he a resident of Grangeville? Residency is determined by the Idaho Code and Administrative Rules, which deal with such issues as the homeowner's exemption and voting. Bradbury has carefully followed the letter of the law and is clearly a

Grangeville resident in spite of spending time at his property in Lewiston. If he can't rely on Idaho's own law to determine residency, on what should he rely?

Did he file incorrect expense claims? When he travels from Lewiston instead of Grangeville, he correctly claims reimbursement for the lower number of actual miles. This is exactly how the IRS requires employees be reimbursed. Where's the misconduct there?

Does the time spent in Lewiston interfere with his work? To the contrary, by shortening his commute when presiding in Orofino, for example, he actually spends more time serving those who elected him. He can afford to maintain two homes and is entitled to use them as he sees fit.

Should the identity of the person filing the complaint be disclosed? That question is unimportant considering the overall proper conduct of Bradbury. The tempest started with an anonymous complaint but should end with a fair hearing of the facts and a final determination that Bradbury has violated no rules and should be allowed to continue the work for which the people of Idaho chose him.

Gayla Thayer Filler

Clarkston

Preying on property rights

Chet Herbst, assuming you were correctly quoted in the Tribune regarding parking issues on Normal Hill, I respond as follows:

1. Lewis-Clark State College is tax exempt and provides no funding for streets that are "maintained by tax dollars." Students who do not own property do not pay property taxes to maintain infrastructure. Residents, like me, do. I live here 24/7 and 12 months a year. I am legally entitled to enjoy reasonable access to my residence and the areas surrounding it.

2. LCSC has, for a number of years, reportedly owned most of the properties that are to be demolished to make another parking lot, and LCSC has not maintained these properties. The lovely Hubenthal property on the corner was professionally maintained until the college bought it and allowed it to deteriorate. A parking lot will indeed be an improvement over what the landlord college has allowed on that block in recent years.

3. I choose to live two blocks from LCSC because I like contact with the students and LCSC's academic programs. Thirteen years ago, I was a full-time student and am now in retirement. I take courses most semesters. However, as a friend and advocate of LCSC and the opportunities it offers this community, I am hard pressed to accept the proprietary - predatory? - attitude displayed toward L-C's residential neighbors. We are here to stay. We will maintain our rights.

Katherine Martin

Lewiston

'Urine or you're out'

I am unsure who wrote this letter but I believe this applies to Sheriff Ken Bancroft and any other person on the state dime! Whoever wrote this one deserves a huge pat on the back!

Like a lot of folks in this state, I have a job. I work. They pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck, I am required to pass a random urine test with which I have no problem. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test.

So here is my question: Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their asses doing drugs, while I work.

Can you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check? I guess we could title that program, "urine or you're out."

Pass this along if you agree or simply delete if you don't. Hope you all will pass it along, though. Something has to change in this country, and soon!

Andy Waldher

Lewiston

Stop listening to the GOP

Why should anyone heed what even rational Republicans say about health care reform? The ignorance and rowdiness exhibited by right-wingers at town halls across the country are causing millions of Americans to turn a deaf ear to all Republicans.

The town-hall "protesters" have been duped with a cartload of misinformation by protest organizers and national Republican leaders, who seem to think derailing health care reform will gain them some victories or TV ratings, or will "break" America's first black president.

Ignored amidst the lying and shouting are the needs of every American facing overwhelming health care bills, the 14,000 who lose their health insurance each day, thousands of others clinging to jobs for fear of losing health insurance or, even if employed, can't afford insurance. Ignored are thousands of families facing bankruptcy because someone became ill, thousands denied coverage because of preexisting medical conditions and senior citizens drowning in prescription drug costs.

One "evil" the rowdies have coined is "socialized medicine." I guess they would like Americans to stop accepting Medicare payments, Social Security checks, federal payments to schools, Conservation Reserve Program payments to farmers, monies that come into our counties to fight wildfires, ... you get the idea: spooky scary "socialism." None of these monies come without strings, by the way, but no one I know ever says "No thanks."

If the Republican right succeeds in shouting down health care reform, all of us will pay the price. And an ever larger majority of Americans will stop listening to Republicans.

Borg Hendrickson

Kooskia

Engle's shortsighted

Marty Trillhaase, your editorial is interesting and opinionated. Unfortunately, it is not completely factual.

You didn't ask why Mayor Donna Engle waited until the city purchased a transport vehicle to voice her opposition. Or what harm her opinion may have on passing the Rescue One levy, which, if it doesn't pass, will hurt the city whose voters elected her.

In 18 years, Engle still doesn't know the budget and has never stepped out of her box to research any issue. In her position, she should not be shooting from the hip.

Eighteen years is a long time to be in politics, even at the local level. That's because too many special interests cloud one's ability to move forward. Government needs updating too.

The city has seven people researching all directions to establish the best policies based on collective data and one mayor who has demonstrated repeatedly she is not a creative thinker.

This is not the first time the council did not heed Engle's short-sighted warnings, and the direction the council took turned out to be right for the city of Clarkston, its citizens and the taxpayers.

Mary McLaughlin

Clarkston

Consider parking option

Open question to Lewis-Clark State College: Instead of paving over Normal Hill, why can't LCSC build a multi-story parking garage on the 11th Avenue parking lot?

Dan Axtell

Lewiston