Letters

Complete Shock

I’m writing this letter in response to the certified letter I received from Office of the Chief of Police about the Colfax Municipal Code 10.18.040 (Junk Car Law). The letter I received was a complete shock to me, as no one has previously contacted me about the vehicles that I legally purchased and I believe are legally parked on my legally purchased property.

According to the letter vehicles are junk cars if they meet three of the following criteria: 1. Is three years old or older, 2. is extensively damaged; such damage including but not limited to any of the following: a broken window or windshield or missing wheels, tires, motor or transmission, 3. Is apparently inoperable, 4. Has an approximate fair market value equal only to the approximate value of the scrap in it.

I take issue with the definition of a junk car. It is very broad and almost unbelievable. I would say that probably 3/4 of the cars in Colfax are three years or older and have some sort of damage to the exterior, (i.e. crack windshield or a dent). As to the definition of inoperable—how would they know? Did they come to my door and ask me? Not licensed and inoperable are not one in the same. As for the approximate value of scrap (this does not apply my vehicles), have they priced out individual parts or value someone may give for a vehicle? My guess is no.

My vehicles are not parked on anyone else’s property; they are not on a public street; they are not falling apart, wheel-less nor have transmissions or engines hanging out.

They are waiting...I have three teenagers.

One will be driving at the end of the summer and one will be driving by next spring.

I have specifically saved my Range Rover for one and my Land Cruiser for another.

These vehicles were specifically not licensed because I didn’t need to drive them.

My husband has his truck and I have my car.

These extra cars are paid for, safe, and while not pretty are good to drive in the winter as they have four wheel drive.

I didn’t license them because they were waiting for my children to pay for the licensing and insurance themselves (a good life lesson).

They are to be their high school/college cars.

We have been saving them for three years, and now the city says they are going to take them and charge us for it.

As for our old ugly van, the licensing has run out, that will be fixed soon. It does run; it has no damage and it is ugly. But no one asked us, so how would they know? We are renovating a 108 year old house. We put the building material or yard waste in the old/ugly van to take to the landfill. I don’t see how it is illegal or “unauthorized” to own. Would it have been better to pile old carpets and backer board in the yard?

When we called Mayor Todd Vanek he told us that this law is to help build community. How does this build community? I can see if there is a problem with trashy looking places and piles of cars, but this is not the case, I can see this letter issuance if my car were parked on a public street so others could not park, but this is not the case.

As a tax-paying, law abiding citizen for this community for the last 14 years, who has done a ton of community service and community building I want to put on the record that this is a complete waste of taxpayer money had has created some bad feelings within the community.

Please note, I have always supported our police and city laws and plan to do so in the future. I have never written a letter like this before, but I have never been rudely and wrongly targeted before. Obviously there needs to be some critical thinking skills, therapeutic communication and common sense in our city policies in regards to our city’s citizens.

Peggy Barney,

Colfax

Backs Swannack

I would like to share with everyone about a man I think would be a very good choice for the position of County Commissioner for District #1 of Whitman County.

Art Swannack is a lifetime resident of Whitman County who has been successfully associated with farming and ranching all of his life.

He understands business, how finances work, has a balanced outlook on life and is honest in all he does, low key and easy to work with as has been demonstrated by his ability to see the needs of others, no matter the political party, and to listen and respond in a caring way.

Art believes in involving people in his decision making process and often asks people what they think before he decides a course of action.

Art is a man of integrity that would be an asset on any commission or in any government office and has a goal to bring our country back to a government.

“of the people, by the people, and for the people”.

I feel that the people of Whitman County would do well and not be disappointed in joining with me to elect Art Swannack as the Whitman County Commissioner for District #1. Remember if you want someone who will listen to input, discuss, evaluate and then make decisions then make Art your choice.

Let me remind all of us that it is our right and duty to vote in local, state, and national elections. If you haven’t registered to vote do it now and be ready to do your duty in November.

Denny O’Keefe,

St. John

A second look

Last month, the New York Times broke the secret that the friendly folks at Walmart only bribed Mexican officials for $24 million. This under the table cash was to circumvent time delays and bypass building codes. Since 2002, the Walton crowd continues to violate America’s Foreign Corrupt Practices act. Of course this was just to search and destroy Mexican small businesses.

But that was Mexico, so let us look now to the Southeast Asia.

Earlier this month there was a revolt, in a factory in Thailand that processes shrimp for a major supplier to Walmart. About 2,000 guest workers from Cambodia and Myanmar angrily protested the seizure of their passports by factory owners in Thailand. Police were called. Shots were fired.

But it wasn’t just the passport seizure that incited their anger. It was management slashing wages again. Their wages already didn’t cover the most basic needs, and this action put workers deeper into the factory’s debt. It’s called debt bondage. At this moment, many of them are still legally and financially trapped at the factory, victims of human trafficking. Do keep in mind that in those factories young kids are also sold in debt.

Kindly remember this you supporters of Walmart and its questionable ethics!

Donald C. Orlich,

Pullman

All this change

During my life time I have watched the sale of adult beverages go from being controlled by selling it only at state controlled outlets and lounges that closed at 12 a.m. They were not open on Sundays. Beer had 3.2 percent alcohol content and wine was closely monitored. Also, alcohol was not sold on election days during voting hours.

There were still remnants of illegal moonshine stills that people had used for home use and to make some money. These were left over from the time when Women’s Temperance groups had forced our country to have prohibition that was a miserable failure. This was because it forced alcohol underground and started a war between the bootleggers and the federal government.

Prohibition was repealed, and the rules mentioned above were reinstated. Time passed and the thirsty liberals started incrementally changing the rules. Alcoholic content in beer ranged up to 12 percent and some were flavored to entice potential young drinkers. The hours were extended to 2 a.m., Sunday sales were legal, beer and wine were sold at convenience stores and gas stations. A larger corporation basically bought an election and the right to sell hard liquor in their big box store. At last count 1,360 drug stores, grocery stores and mini-marts had applied for licenses to sell hard liquor in Washington.

Now, our wealthy friends in Seattle want to extend the hours to serve alcohol from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. in certain areas of Seattle. If the liquor control board would approve that request it would open the door for any other city to come forward with the same request. Wow, as if we didn’t have enough problems with the homeless, abuse in the homes, intoxicated drivers and declining worker productivity! Just think, all of this change in one lifetime! Last but not least, we have our shrinks labeling those lacking in self discipline as having a disease. Wow!

Gerald Ray,

Spokane