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Monday, June 15, 1998
OUR READERS RESPOND
On the move
To the editor:
In her May 15 column ("Adelson can't buy seat"), Barbara Robinson impugns the credibility of the Black Republican Roundtable. Our credibility has never been higher.
Our membership has grown tremendously in the past two years, and it is growing on a daily basis. We are officially recognized by the county and state Republican parties and by the Republican National Committee. The most important indication of our credibility is that we offer a political alternative to African-Americans, who have for too long been captive to a one political party. African-Americans must move into full participation in the political arena.
As to the Black Republican Roundtable not endorsing or supporting the effort of Dr. Terry Akers in the recall attempt of County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates, please be advised that as the new president, he never asked for or received any organizational assistance -- nor did he attempt to use his office on his personal behalf. Dr. Akers was aware that the Gates affair was not politically partisan, but one of moral and ethical concerns. He further understood that many of the members have known and supported Ms. Atkinson Gates. While we don't support malfeasance in office or other offenses that she is accused of, many of our members thought there was an inordinate amount of negative press attributed to her. As a result, some felt that a recall effort was not the "order of the day."
We do not apologize for the political ambitions of our president, Dr. Terry Akers. These choices are his God-given right and his constitutional responsibility. Expect to see more young and talented African-American Republicans running for various offices, whether or not they are supported or sponsored by the Black Republican Roundtable.
There is a positive picture relative to the political movement of African-Americans in the Republican Party. We're on the move.
WILLIAM H. BAILEY
Las Vegas
On with the show
To the editor:
In the June story, "Bulls run driven off state highway," Gov. Bob Miller said the proposed "running of the bulls" in Mesquite might tarnish the state's image.
Isn't this the state that promotes and hosts boxing events in which two people try to bash each other's brains out in a confined area?
It's also the same state which has a hockey team that brings cheers from the audience every time players whack each other in the face with their sticks, prompting team fights featuring dog piles of grown men punching each other.
Then there's the full-size billboard within sight of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce which has the naked rear ends of eight or so show girls on display.
So I hardly think a thousand people running from a herd of contented range bulls will cause damage to our state's image. Let's get on with the show.
MIKE MILLER
Las Vegas
Not Strip status
To the editor:
Please allow me to add my voice to the June 10 letter from John Edmonds, who in response to the story about Kurt Weinrich of the Regional Transportation Commission ("Higher sales tax eyed as way to pay for light rail train," May 29). Mr. Weinrich, along with many of Southern Nevada's governing apparatus, seems to accept it as a given that Clark County residents go along with the flawed concept that the downtown "experience" is vital to the regional economy -- and that it should be subsidized by the taxpayer. I say, "Hogwash."
In my humble opinion, Cashman Field and Fremont Street are not now, and will never be, major viable economic concepts. At best they will be periphery economies to the Strip, and any major expenditure on a rail system trying to elevate or levitate (pun intended) them to "Strip" status, will be a waste. My vote on the proposed new sales tax idea is a resounding, "No."
H.M. NICHOLS
Las Vegas
Gender balanced
To the editor:
I am a seventh-grade (male) student at Hyde Park Academy of Science and Mathematics. I read June 10 article, "Father says magnet program biased," and I don't think much of the case. It wouldn't have mattered if the boy in question had been a girl or not because he didn't pass the admittance test. He got a 16.25 on the test that required a 20 or more.
I understand complaints with the 50 percent boys, 50 percent girls requirement, and in a perfect world it wouldn't be that way. But it is not a perfect world. The sad fact is, if you have more boys than girls -- as would happen if we had a gender-blind lottery -- or substantially more girls than boys, nobody would learn a thing because genders have to be balanced or order and peace are just a far-off dream.
I speak as one who knows, because we have the boys and girls separate, in totally different classes for physical education. There is one teacher per class, with 50 students. This creates a very small problem for the students who want to hear what the teacher is saying, and who don't like breathing air that has turned blue with swearing. Without a school with relatively balanced genders, chaos will prevail.
SAM NOLTING
Las Vegas
Threatened islands
To the editor:
I confess to being mystified by recent letters favoring development of the properties at Kyle Canyon and Deer Creek on Mount Charleston. My love for Mount Charleston and desire to protect the land is in no way diminished by the fact that I do not own property here.
The most recent letter writer couldn't understand the fuss about a gas station and convenience store, when in fact development plans are for four convenience stores, a western village shopping center, an oriental village shopping center, 100 bungalows, go-carts, 104 condominiums, an 80-room hotel, a 122-suite hotel with health club, gym, meeting hall, banquet facilities, and an alpine village with offices and shops -- in addition to the miniature and 9 hole golf courses, pro shop, and ice skating rink already under construction or finished.
A previous writer, wishing for more lodging and dining venues on the mountain, curiously complained of having to go to Zion National Park for scenic recreation when Zion has less development than Mount Charleston has now. If one seeks variety of dining and lodging, may I suggest the incredible variety available in Las Vegas. A national forest is simply not the appropriate location for the variations of dining, lodging and shopping experiences that some people expect.
Our national forests and parks have increasingly become islands threatened by those of us whose values only calculate convenience and financial opportunity regardless of what God-given treasures are squandered in the process.
STEVE BRITTINGHAM
Mount Charleston
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