In "Spokane's First Family," William Stimson mentions legal actions surrounding the River Park Square public-private partnership. As coowner and publisher of The Local Planet Weekly newspaper in Spokane during the first half of this decade, I believe Stimson failed to mention other significant legal aspects.

Betsy Cowles sued several of my advertisers and freelance writers in her attempt to suppress public discussion about River Park Square. She also sought to withhold public documents from my newspaper while releasing them to other media outlets. Editor and Publisher's rebuke of the Cowles came about after E&P editor-at-large Mark Fitzgerald learned of The Local Planet Weekly's coverage of River Park Square. In 2001, with Fitzgerald's judging, The Local Planet Weekly won the national AltWeekly Award for Best Media Reporting for publishing River Park Square coverage by Larry Shook and Tim Connor.

Stimson doesn't question Stacey Cowles's assertion that because the public benefits from the remodeling of River Park Square, the public should help pay for the work. By this logic, the public should help pay for the patio I recently added to my house, because it increased my home's assessed value and therefore my property tax payments.

I don't, and didn't, dispute that a remodeled River Park Square makes Spokane more attractive to businesses and shoppers. And yes, the Cowleses remain economic and charitable leaders in Spokane. But the fact remains that the region's wealthiest family used their media monopoly and personal access to power to shift their business risk onto the backs of average citizens. The public shoulders a disproportionate amount of risk, while the Cowles keep the rewards.

Stimson quotes just a single sentence from City Council member Mary Verner in opposition to the Cowles. By quoting Betsy and Stacey at length and acquiescing to limits on interview topics, Stimson helps feed "the dark Spokane secret: namely, that 'the Cowleses run Spokane.'"

MATTHEW SPAUR Spokane