Thanks for support of Gladish
Since 1996, the building that was once the Pullman High School has been owned and operated by the nonprofit organization the Friends of Gladish. Our mission is to provide attractive, affordable space for a variety of events and organizations to help build community, and to provide educational and cultural enrichment. While providing venues and space within our historic building we have been addressing maintenance issues and incrementally upgrading systems. At the present time we are committed to completion of the heating and air conditioning systems. New windows are close to completion and room to room upgrades are moving rapidly along.
To better serve our mission and our community, we are also planning a major upgrade to the auditorium and other parts of the 1954 wing of the building to provide a Centre for the Arts for concerts, meetings, lectures, cinematic events, plays, and other live performances. The events of the past three years necessitated the transition of a single-phase $6 million project into a two-phase $10 million project. Construction for the $4 million first phase, providing peripheral spaces and supporting infrastructure, is scheduled to begin June 1, 2024, and conclude by May 31, 2025.
Among other small grants and pledges, we have a $600,000 “Building for the Arts” (BFA) grant awaiting contract from the Washington State Department of Commerce to assist with costs related to the auditorium project. In preparation for the project, we have closed previously rented spaces that will become part of the Centre and began processes such as asbestos abatement and roof repairs. The reimbursable BFA grant will require payments to these vendors prior to funding.
We are reaching out to you, those who love this building as we do, to help Gladish through these challenges. Donations for operations and reconstruction are all appreciated, and the generosity you show will be evident for future visitors and users of the building. Please visit us at gladishcommunity.org.
David Harder
President
Anna Grindeland
Secretary
Melissa Solen
Treasurer
John Ayers
Mary Kittelson
The Friends of Gladish Board of Directors
SCOTUS crowns Trump
On July 2, 2024, the Supreme Court handed down its much anticipated decision in the case of Trump v. United States — Trump’s attempt to be granted absolute immunity for his crimes while president. The majority decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, came as a visceral shock to the legal community and to citizens who recognized its existential decree. If litigated,Trump would be granted absolute immunity for all official actions taken as president. This decision strips the Constitution of its core intent that no one, not even the president, is above the law.
Thankfully, nefarious “unofficial actions” can be prosecuted. But what is an unofficial action and what is official? SCOTUS conveniently left those decisions to a lower court.
But all is well! A president can still be indicted for official actions with questionable motives — such as a phone call from the president asking the vice president to accept fake electors. Right? Wrong. Roberts’ decision clearly states: “Courts may not inquire into the President’s motives.” (The Atlantic, Opinion, Akhil Reed Amar)
Trump has hailed Roberts’ opinion a win for democracy. Instead it is a “gift” of autocracy to a con “who would be king.”
This is what a “rigged system” looks like. This is what the “swamp” feels like. SCOTUS sits in Trump’s lap with three Trump-installed conservative justices, and two MAGAs who refuse to recuse themselves. They choose fealty to Trump over loyalty to the Constitution. Claiming to be “originalists,” these justices have stripped the Constitution of its original intent, that no one, not even a president, is above the law.
To protect our nation from authoritarian rule, we must be allowed to question the president’s motives. The standard of any official or unofficial act must be supported by loyalty to the Constitution. That is the bottom line.
Lisa Kliger
Moscow
SCOTUS is correct
The Democrats keep complaining about all the proven criminality, graft and corruption of Trump and his cabal. What to do? The high court just decided to let President Biden be immune from all laws for any reason. This would allow him to go arrest Trump his thugs and Supreme Court justices of his choosing. Or just flat take them out. You ask any Trump supporter if it would be all right for him to go after Biden and any one he wants as president. Really, go ask one. “Absolutely and completely of course.”
Right now, Biden is president and could do this today. He won’t since Democrats always bring flowers to a knife fight, which is what Trump has turned our country into. One big going war.
This election is Trump’s big show, the cage fight, throwdown finale of his takeover. Make no mistake, violence is coming sooner or later regardless of the election outcome. Trump said so if he thinks it’s warranted. And since he won’t accept a loss, Jan. 6 will be nothing in comparison to the violence he will incite if he loses again. If Trump wins, the story is over. And whatever whiny Democrats are left when the smoke clears will still have a Supreme Court to remind them, “We gave you the shot and you had months.”
R. Strongoni
Moscow
