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Opinion / Letters


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  • Keep public records open to the public

    Updated Feb 29, 2024

    Public records must remain open and accessible A special report urges the mobilization of civic leaders, organizations, businesses and all residents to work together to save the state’s Public Records Act. The report is available online for viewing and downloading at washcog.org. State lawmakers and the courts continue to whittle away at the landmark public records law, which was adopted overwhelmingly with a citizens’ initiative in 1972. Since then, state legislators have passed more than 650 exceptions and have tried repeat...

  • Throw the bums out!

    Karen Swoope|Updated Nov 3, 2022

    You and I may not always agree on who the bums are, but we know that “You’re out!” is a cornerstone of our democracy. Lobbyists, dark money and blind ambition can be thwarted, but only If we vote, and this November, only if we vote against candidates who refuse to accept election outcomes unless they win. Heads I win, tails you lose will not work. Our democracy is on the brink of skidding off the rails into the ditch of autocracy, and the chaos and economic meltdown that history leads us to expect will follow. Those Venez...

  • Thoughts on wind power

    Dana Hansen|Updated Nov 3, 2022

    The 3-blade electric power generating wind mills in Washington State are, in my opinion, eyesores. The large size of these machines, with the vapid, continuous motion of their huge blades degrades the natural beauty of the landscape in the scenic state of Washington. In the vicinity of Rosalia; and, in the vicinity of Dayton and Pomeroy; and, in the million-dollar scenic view in the vicinity of Briggs Junction in the Columbia River Gorge; and, in many other places in Washington State these huge pieces of machinery degrade...

  • Responding to Schoesler

    Bruce Pemberton, Gazette Reader|Updated Nov 3, 2022

    Partisan state senator Mark Schoesler misses the mark again when he complains about the supposed tax and services imbalance between the two different sides of Washington. He calls free public transportation for west side children discriminatory against eastern Washington taxpayers, who supposedly have to “pick up the tab.” However, children are children, no matter where they live and whether their parents are Democrats or not. Why wouldn’t most voters be happy to pay the extra pittance in taxes to keep children out of the r...

  • Spokane voter supports Tiffany Smiley

    Updated Aug 4, 2022

    I just listened to a campaign ad for Patty Murray, who is seeking another term as our senator. She stated she will fight for us for lower prescription prices, inflation, high gas prices, public safety and a cornucopia of problems we face daily. The senator has been in office since 1993. If she is re-elected, that means she has been in office for 30 years. With all of her experience, why is this the same message over and over with no resolution? More to the point, how did she allow all of these things to happen? I rarely hear...