WW welcomes letters to the editor via mail, e-mail or fax. Letters must be signed by the author and include the author's street address and phone number for verification. Preference will be given to letters of 250 words or less. Funding Arithmetic In your "The Good, the Bad and the Awful" issue [July 14, 1999], you wrote that "when it comes to the debate over school funding, [Verne] Duncan [Republican Senator from Milwaukie] hasn't been a leader," and that Randall Edwards (Democratic representative from Portland) "continues to take the lead in school funding." It is true that Randall Edwards has publicly called for lots of school funding. But leadership involves taking risks. If you're going to champion school funding, you should be willing to cast tough votes against other proposals, however popular, which reduce the amount of money available for schools. (Similarly, if you're a champion of "smaller government," you should be bold enough to back up your rhetoric by proposals to slash real programs like the Oregon Health Plan--as Eileen Qutub does.) In the 1999 Legislature, Verne Duncan backed up his support of school funding by casting the only Republican vote against SB 535--the capital-gains tax cut which would cost schools hundreds of millions of dollars in future years. He also was one of only two Republicans to vote against SR 4, the Republican leadership bill condemning the governor's proposal to raise corporate taxes and use the "kicker" to increase school funding. Randall Edwards, by contrast, was one of a minority of Democrats to support both HB 2792, a seniors' property-tax rebate, and HB 2050, a property-tax break for "intangible" property--each of which would reduce future funds available for schools by millions of dollars. Edwards has never explained exactly how he would fund schools at appropriate levels; the tax cuts would make his job harder. Anyone can proclaim him- or herself a supporter of anything. But when you're dealing with money, ultimately the numbers have to add up. Legislative records should be evaluated with that in mind. Steven Novick Executive Director, Center for Informed Citizen Action Southeast Nehalem Street Get On Board Bob Young's recent article ("Inappropriate Behavior," WW, July 7, 1999) characterizes Tri-Met's service to people with disabilities as poor. WW readers with disabilities, as well as seniors, should not be scared off--each day thousands of citizens in these categories travel through Tri-Met's 14-city district with safety. Their representatives have been part of the policy-making process of Tri-Met since 1985 through its Committee on Accessible Transportation (CAT), as well as its Rail/Bus Committee (fixed route) and its LIFT/Paratransit Committee (door-to-door). These citizens are charged with advising the Tri-Met Board and staff on all appropriate matters. Our wonderful low-floor MAX vehicles, unique in North America, the user-friendly stations of westside MAX, the inviting new low-floor buses--all are just a few recent examples of these committees' work as part of Tri-Met's partnership with citizens. Such innovations make travel more feasible for many and more pleasant for all riders. In addition to planning and problem-solving, the citizens also participate in operator-training programs and classes. The Bus Transportation Department has about 17 sessions a month; as part of its outstanding "Riding Together" all-day classes, operators and customers with disabilities build up mutual insight and respect. The Department of Rail Transportation holds sensitivity-training classes in MAX vehicles, again with citizen participation. As chair of the Rail/Bus Accessibility Committee, I have observed how enthusiastically the Tri-Met Board and past General Manager Tom Walsh worked with citizens, and now new manager Fred Hansen is continuing this tradition. Tri-Met is one of the nations' leaders in extending mobility to all. Come to our meetings, give us your ideas, consider applying to one of our committees! For information call 802-8200, TTY 802-8058. Stan Lewis Southwest Harrison Street Hydro-Foil I am responding to your editorial piece in which you castigate BPA and demonize the region's aluminum companies ["Big Aluminum," WW, July 7, 1999]. You stated, "The smelters employ only 8,000 people," suggesting they aren't of much importance to regional political economics. Each of the ten smelters provides $40-$60 million per year in wages to communities like The Dalles, Troutdale, Goldendale and Wenatchee, providing essential community support. Aluminum is also one of the top regional foreign exports. Beyond economic benefits, aluminum companies pay their way in regional power markets, and then some. Smelters pay roughly the same rates to BPA as its utility customers--yet buy a lower-value product. BPA's utility customers purchase most of their power during weekday peak hours--the time of highest electricity value--and buy smaller amounts of power at night, when rates are lower. The aluminum companies are unique by virtue of their uniform 24-hour use of power. The cost to serve them is lower. Their power supply is also interruptible, representing an operating reserve that is of incredible value to the region in preventing outages. You mentioned that in 1995 aluminum companies "asked to get out of (BPA) contracts," but failed to mention that BPA's utility customers did the same thing. Finally, you stated that BPA is offering power to smelters for $23.50 per megawatt-hour, while "earlier this year, open-market costs for electricity were $30 per megawatt-hour." Actually, the monthly market price for regional electricity over last year varied from a low of $9 to a high of $46, averaging $23.20 per megawatt-hour. Paul Spies Southwest Moody Street Hush Puppy In your recent article about men's shoes and shoe sales in the Portland area, I discovered an incorrect term: "shoe dog" ["A Foot Fetish of a Different Sort," WW, June 23, 1999]. The author described shoe dogs as being "men who have an unnatural craving for slick shoes," when really that is not what the term refers to at all. I have worked in the shoe retail industry for four years, both in boutiques and in larger shoe departments. In these four years, I have run to "fetch" other people's shoes. I have climbed up and down stairs, carrying boxes upon boxes of shoes to my customers; I have gotten down on all fours to help people try on their shoes. I have searched far and wide looking for the perfect shoe for thousands of people. I have "retrieved" countless shoes, and I get excited whenever I make my customer happy. In short, I am a customer's "best friend." I am a shoe dog, and anyone who sells shoes for one day would completely agree. Tawni Lowry Southwest Grover Street - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Willamette Week | originally published July 28, 1999