Thursday, February 05, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

LETTERS: Casino patrons were just kicked to the curb

To the editor:

I was one of the people who was staying at the Castaways hotel when it closed down on Thursday. I flew out of Burbank Airport on Wednesday night and checked in at 10 p.m. I was supposed to bowl in the Columbia 300 bowling tournament.

On that Thursday afternoon I retired to my room at 2:30 p.m. to catch a nap before bowling. At about 4:30 p.m., I received a call from my friend who is a Las Vegas local asking if I was OK and saying that the hotel was on the news. When I was finished, I noticed a flashing message light on my phone. When I picked it up, I received a message stating that the casino was closed and that I had to vacate the premises by 5 p.m.

After a frantic packing session, I went down to the front desk where I was in shock to see a dark casino and lots of security. I asked if the hotel would compensate guests for the stay and was told there was nothing they could do for me. I was then handed a piece of paper with names of five hotels that might have rooms available.

At 7 p.m. we were told that for liability reasons the bowling tournament was canceled. I was then told I must leave through the rear of the bowling alley leaving me to tote four bowling balls and a suitcase to the front of the hotel, which was a trek in itself.

The question I have: Is this the way visitors are treated in Vegas? I really enjoy your town and its people, but isn't there relief for paying patrons?

JERRY PENNELL

CANYON COUNTRY, CALIF.

Soaring costs

To the editor:

Your Feb. 2 editorial was partially correct on the costs of Medicare, but you failed to include in your editorial some very pertinent information that will make your libertarian hearts happy but will make every senior in this country and future seniors extremely unhappy.

An analysis of the bill by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union has turned up the following information. "The bill requires specific actions that could limit future funds for Medicare. It creates a new accounting standard that would declare Medicare insolvent once general federal revenues exceed 45 percent of the program's cost. No comparable standard exists for any other program of the federal government."

The above information prompted me to call AFSCME's Retiree Director Steve Regenstreif, who further explained the bill in that if Medicare costs exceed 45 percent of the general revenue funds -- taxes, fees, etc. -- then Medicare would be declared insolvent. Thus Medicare would "die on the vine" as Newt Gingrich hoped not too long ago.

In my opinion, this was the plan from the beginning in presenting the bill to Congress. Specifically banning any negotiations on drug prices while at the same time subsidizing HMOs and others would increase the costs to such an extent that Medicare would become insolvent. All of those who fought so hard to get the cost containment measures in both the Senate and the House should be given a pat on the back. The rest should be kicked out of office in the coming election, along with the president who promoted this abomination of a bill in the guise of helping senior citizens.

Fix the bill or repeal it and start over. None of us wants the drug companies to get more and more profits while helping Medicare go down the tubes.

DENISE KELLEY

LAS VEGAS

The writer is president of AFSCME Retiree Subchapter 153.

Car haters

To the editor:

In the Feb. 1 story, "County seeks new approach to developers," architect Brandon Sprague is quoted as saying, "How do we get people out of their cars? That's the million-dollar question." This is reminiscent of the misguided arrogance that turned Toronto into one of the most congested, and for many unlivable, cities in North America.

More than 30 years ago, the Ontario government posed virtually the same question when, in an attempt to woo the anti-car lobby in a provincial election, it stopped funding expressways, most of which were planned for the metro Toronto area. The metro government supported this policy even though part of its official transportation plan called for a superb expressway system and most of the land had been acquired.

Subsequently, both governments poured billions of dollars into public transit with the expectation that commuters would choose to leave their cars and this forced congestion for subways, buses and bicycles. To further discourage auto use, roads and existing expressways were left in disrepair, so-called traffic calming was constructed, parking fees were hiked and metered parking was extended to midnight in many areas.

Billions of dollars later, this grand scheme has proven to be a colossal failure. Commuters were not convinced to leave their cars. In fact, growth of auto travel in the greater Toronto area has exceeded population growth by more than 50 percent while public transit use exceeded it by only 8 percent.

Unfortunately, this forced congestion has also had negative results. About $2 billion a year has been added to the cost of transporting goods in the greater Toronto area and vehicle emissions have risen because cars burn more fuel when stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. And, sadly, Toronto commuters now measure their travel time in hours instead of minutes, something Las Vegans can expect if they allow vocal, car-hating elitists to determine their future.

Mr. Sprague says, "It's unfortunate we're being told how to live." Yet it seems he wants to dictate to those who prefer travel by automobile.

NICK FERRIS

LAS VEGAS

What's up?

To the editor:

While the NFL has prohibited Las Vegas-style ads from appearing during Super Bowl games -- featuring pictures of beautiful show girls, people having fun at the table games, golfing, dining, dancing and basically having a good time -- it seems to have no problem with beer commercials showing a dog jump up and bite someone's private parts or a horse lifting its tail and blowing flammable inner gases at a beautiful girl. What's up with that?

NICHOLAS LALLI

LAS VEGAS

Half time

To the editor:

Well, thank God the NFL protected the country from those offensive Vegas ads during the Super Bowl. Legal gaming, which takes place all across the United States, is such a serious evil that it's best to keep it quiet. MTV, however, is most graciously courted to display its tasteful, family values advertisements featuring bare breasts and crotch grabbing. Our ads didn't reach the adults, but how many kids watched the half-time show?

Good work, NFL.

NANCY THOMAS

LAS VEGAS