Letters to the Editor

by Inlander Readers


New Districts Everywhere


Although I haven't problem one with Spokane's proposed "Gay District," given that this cultural outpost is in dire need of any kind of commercial anchor district, I fail to understand just what, specifically, a gay district entails relative to planning.


After all, the gay districts of San Francisco, New York and Houston evolved somewhat unconsciously, becoming at unspecified points de facto gay neighborhoods. How a gay district can transpire from a plan is something I fail to comprehend.


Nonetheless, while we are on subject of neighborhood plans, I would like to propose two districts that would adequately satisfy my commercial and sociological desires. First, I'd like to hang out in a "Drummers' District," an area inhabited by those who drive the band. (For a fee, we will, of course, allow guitar and keyboard guys to jam with us.) Perhaps this unique district will dispel the historic fallacy that drummers are dispensable bozos -- because without a good drummer, there ain't nothin' happenin' in any band.


I would also like to realize the eventual establishment of a "District for Guys Who Got Hosed in a Divorce," an area rich with great bars inside which hapless saps can safely bum money from one another for drinks due to an obvious court-imposed state of poverty.





Robert Glenn


Spokane, Wash.





Coal in Cowles' Stockings


Ted McGregor's summary of the "solution" to River Park Square ("All She Wants for Christmas," 12/9/04) misses one key point: We're tired of the run-around. The people of Spokane haven't "stopped the bleeding" from RPS litigation if it's going to cost city taxpayers millions of dollars and we get nothing for it! We've just given up, laid down and rolled over. Would the courts have cost us more? I doubt it.


There were criminal acts committed in this transaction, and you can bet there will be a collective sigh of relief by those guilty parties when this final deal is approved by one of the weakest and most pathetic city councils in Spokane's history. Those who were responsible for this mess will never be truly held accountable. The only consequences they'll suffer will be the same as for every other citizen: more taxes for our children and grandchildren to pay off the debt.


Have no doubt that our city council will walk taller by "putting this all behind us." Those words have become the cry of elected officials who use it to justify any resolution, regardless of the cost.


Let's face the truth, people: The Cowles won. They know it, and we should know it. Deal with it. Because we were too weak to put this fiasco under the light of self-examination in the courts, we will undoubtedly repeat the same mistakes in the future.





David Bray


Spokane, Wash.





Publication date: 12/16/04