Editor Steven A. Smith responds to the recommendations in the River Park Square audit and former Spokesman-Review editor Chris Peck weighs in:

• Text: Editor responds to report's recommendations


• Text: Former editor Chris Peck challenges report

I think one has to look at the effort being attempted here, to appreciate the results.
As someone who was actively engaged in the battles surrounding the RPS project I can see this as a difficult exposure for the Spokesman to present to us.
I both thank and congratulate Editor Steve Smith for doing this.
Are there parts of the report that are arguable? Well, of course there are. There is in every report. The overall consideration is that it was done at all!
As for Chris Peck: I don't give a damn what anyone out there has to say in his support, He was out to lunch and a key factor in the millions of dollars in taxpayer debt our children will still be paying off. His close-minded, tunnel-vision and citizen denigrating statements describing any and all who disagreed with his bosses position as "naysayers" or "civic terrorists" did more to cow members of this community than betsy and Stacy did on their best day. Chris Peck abused his position and hurt this community. I'd love to get my hands around his throat.
Although this report points out what went wrong with the Spokesman coverage and why, it won't change the devestating effect it had on the city and the people who live here, The real benefit (hopefully)is in the activities of the Spokesman as it has opportunities to report on it's owners future activities in our community.
The Washington News Council and Steve Smith are to be commended. I personally thank them all.
The only truly bothersome part of this whole report is the response of Stacy Cowles. An unrepentent man, in light of what the News Council has concluded, is a man who would do the same thing over again. I suggest that Stacy shut the hell up! If he's qualified and capable...at another newspaper far from Spokane. He needs to stop living off the family business and get a real job, preferably in a city far away...for the sake of the people of Spokane.
David Bray