Thursday, October 24, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

LETTERS: Highway call boxes a waste of tax money

To the editor:

I read in the Oct. 11 Review-Journal where Nevada is going to start installing call boxes on Interstate 15 from the Las Vegas area to the California border at a cost of $500,000. I guess that would be the initial price. How much would maintenance cost, and how much for each line would the telephone company charge?

How about setting up booths to sell buggy whips beside the call boxes? I bet they would get as much business. Never can tell when the Amish from Pennsylvania would be coming through the area.

A better idea would be to put out flip up signs that say, "Need cell phone to call for help." The sign could have numbers listed for the various type of help required.

I'm sick and tired of the state spending money on unnecessary things and turning around and saying it needs to raise taxes because it doesn't have enough money.

DON SAVAGE

LAS VEGAS

Gaming tax

To the editor:

Gov. Kenny Guinn states that raising cigarette and alcohol taxes will not hurt tourism. "People are not going to stop drinking and smoking ..." he said in the Oct. 17 Review-Journal. Does the governor believe that raising the gaming tax would hurt tourism, or that people would stop gambling?

The governor is correct in his assessment that we "are in a very, very fragile position and (he's) got to do something." But it appears Democratic candidate Joe Neal would do something -- by raising the gaming tax. Apparently he is the only one around with sufficient intestinal fortitude (guts) to advocate such a proposal -- one which would solve Nevada's financial mess.

C.J. SMITS

LAS VEGAS

Judge responds

To the editor:

In response to the Oct. 1 Steve Sebelius column, "Courthouse heat":

I specifically gave Mr. Sebelius names, phone numbers and assorted proof dealing with the "high-profile campaign" I'm involved in. He chose only to deal with criticisms of me that match -- almost word for word -- what my opponent Jackie Glass has been saying. Interestingly. Ms. Glass (with reference to a "court") is now quoting Mr. Sebelius' column in her television commercials without saying it is from his column.

First, Mr. Sebelius characterizes much of my conversation with him as "Sobel says ..." Couldn't Mr. Sebelius simply have checked the facts and reported them as such? I have had no clerk three of the past five years -- I serve as both judge and law clerk -- saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. I fax out 1,000 decisions a year without oral argument. More lawyers found my work ethic "more than adequate' than less than adequate. And so forth.

I "proved" or gave Sebelius the ability to prove:

1) Ms. Glass has had one local District Court trial where she was the lead counsel in the past 14 years (as far back as the records go);

2) She was appointed temporary domestic referee more than one dozen years ago and didn't get the full time job in light of her abusiveness and lack of legal knowledge;

3) She has never gone beyond "member" in 17 years in any legal organization where I have had the leadership role;

4) She wrongly implied she had received more campaign contributions than me;

5) She is going right down my 275 member re-election committee list saying, "Contribute to me too."

How about equal treatment for a public servant who has worked for a paycheck for 12 years while my opponent and her husband were getting rich defending criminals? (See their current two page ad in the Yellow Pages and extensive television advertising.)

JEFFREY D. SOBEL

LAS VEGAS

The writer is a District Court judge running for re-election against Jackie Glass.

School works

To the editor:

The recognition of the Las Vegas Academy as a 2002 Blue Ribbon School is something everyone in Clark County can point to with pride. Every citizen should be extremely proud of the hard work, effort and achievement of the students and faculty members involved in this school.

Your Oct. 10 editorial "Competition is the key" rightfully praises the accomplishments of all in this school. However, the fact that you attribute this solely as a process of competition fails to recognize that other public schools must deal with several unnamed factors that negate a competitive environment.

You fail to point out the problems of overcrowded classrooms, the lack of textbooks, technology and lab supplies. You fail to mention that the average public school cannot be selective in choice of students and must deal with those who have an array of learning, social and behavioral problems. It cannot reject any student simply because the student is unmotivated and uninterested. It is only through a long process that students bordering on classroom terrorists can be removed or expelled from school.

Not to detract from the achievement of the Las Vegas Academy, but it does operate on a different plane, and with special policies that do not apply to the other schools in our district.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if all schools could operate with a process of selective enrollment in terms of academic background, motivation and social adjustment? Wouldn't it be nice if all students could have the opportunity to attend special magnet schools to fulfill a variety of future career choices?

With increased funding -- and making education funding in this state the top priority -- maybe this could be more of a common achievement, rather than the exception.

VIRGIL SESTINI

LAS VEGAS

World's cop

To the editor:

In the past 10 years, the United States has bombed five Muslin countries -- Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, the Sudan and the former Yugoslavia.

I know what you're going to say: We did it with the best of intentions. Unfortunately, others may not see it that way.

I am wondering if all the tension in the world today isn't a by-product of our constant interventions.

The United States has become the world's policeman and I fear we may live to regret it.

ANTHONY TIDEI

LAS VEGAS