Thursday, January 29, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

LETTERS: What's the fascination with Rick Rizzolo?

To the editor:

Can someone please explain to me what this Rick Rizzolo-Golden Nugget thing is all about? The Golden Nugget's new owners Tom Breitling and Tim Poster are not allowed to know him? Why? They are limited to a one-year license? Why?

Can anyone out there please explain what in the heck Rick Rizzolo, owner of the Crazy Horse Too, has done or what he is being accused of? He has been investigated by every law enforcement agency in Las Vegas. He has been in business for many years in Las Vegas.

Now here is another question: Rick Rizzolo has a business as well as a liquor license, yet because one of the new Golden Nugget owners knows him, the duo is having trouble with their own license? Does that make any sense?

Why does the government continue to burn up our money on useless investigations like the one at the Crazy Horse? We, as everybody knows, have a major crime problem in Las Vegas -- rape, drugs, gang-bangers, armed robbery, political corruption, home invasions, car theft. So I guess going after the Crazy Horse and Rick Rizzolo is really going to stop the crime problem in Las Vegas. Yeah, right.

It's time law enforcement and our justice system -- as well as our politicians (the ones not going to jail) -- stop the useless time and money going after people who really have no effect on our crime problem or our daily lives.

Also, I want to know: Will I be investigated if I talk to Rick?

TED BOMMARITO

HENDERSON

Rate hikes

To the editor:

I empathize with the consumers who are feeling the pain of increased utility rates.

I only hope that those voicing the loudest objections to rate increases are not environmentalists. These people consistently oppose every attempt to expand exploration for additional resources, to relax onerous regulations that impose expensive modifications to utility plants, and to build nuclear power plants. I assume that a significant percentage of the increased utility rates can be attributed to the cost of paying for the above.

I empathize the most with those who do not support environmental extremism. We have to pay the increased rates for them.

ALBERT LINDAHL

LAS VEGAS

Mars shot

To the editor:

What in God's name is the president thinking about when he suggests we spend tens of billions of dollars or more on some lunatic space exploration to Mars? With a deficit of $7 trillion and the prospect of unbalanced budgets for years to come, this is not only idiotic but plays right into the hands of his political foes, who rightly claim that we have myriad problems right here on Earth which require our immediate attention.

Thirty four years ago, we landed on the moon at great expense -- and what have we got to show for it? Sand and rocks and little else. We haven't been back since, and why should we? There is no reason and the same will hold true for a Mars excursion if it ever comes to fruition.

The president has enormous political capital with the American public today, but he's in dire danger of losing it if he doesn't keep his eye on matters that really count. I don't think I am alone on this.

PETER S. FISCHER

LAS VEGAS

Mrs. God

To the editor:

The new book by Dan Brown called "The Da Vinci Code" (reviewed in the Review-Journal Jan. 8) is apparently bringing "shocking" news to readers of the world (telling that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene), but not to Mormons.

The LDS people have always believed that Jesus was married. Also, in one of the church's beloved hymns by Elisa Snow it states clearly that God himself had a wife, who is our heavenly mother. We have both a father in heaven and a mother, too (Mrs. God). The name of the hymn is "O My Father" written in 1840: "Truth is reason, truth eternal, tells us we have a mother there."

RUTH JOHANNE HUFF

LAS VEGAS

Juice job

To the editor:

Regarding your Feb. 28 article about people going to job fairs and never hearing from the companies looking to hire:

Those people older than 50 most likely will not get called. It's a "young person's world" and it's going to take a few years of rejections before they finally realize that fact. This sounds cruel, but a companies will tell you you're "over qualified" or "under qualified" but never the truth about you being "too old" -- mainly to protect themselves against an age discrimination suit.

My advice to these "over 50s" is to find a friend or someone they have worked with in the past who knows their good qualities and will put them to work. In this town, it's called "juice." I've lived through this, have accepted it and am doing just fine.

CHARLES BERBERIAN

LAS VEGAS

Interesting thought

To the editor:

Congress held an impeachment trial for President Bill Clinton because he lied about having sex with an intern. President George W. Bush has lied about weapons of mass destruction and got us into a war which has so far cost the lives of more than 500 military personnel and billions of dollars. Think about it.

JUDITH LaCHANCE

LAS VEGAS

Took offense

To the editor:

Kobe Bryant's defense team on Friday raised the issue of race, saying black men have long been falsely accused of rape by white women. This could very well be the most racist remark ever made by a public figure, and it has been ignored for the most part. I would be curious to know what research or statistics his attorney based this statement on.

Let's turn this statement around and see how it sounds. Imagine for a moment, if you will, the prosecutor in his opening statement said that there is a long history of black men raping white women. He would most likely be disbarred, and rightfully so.

Why does the defense get a pass on this? There should be an outcry, yet there is only silence. I'm offended by this and I think that this attorney owes us all an apology.

DAN CARR

LAS VEGAS