LETTERS: ‘Bridgegate’ shows politicians’ motives

To the editor:

Regarding “Bridgegate” and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, this issue demonstrates how vicious and primitive some of our leaders (and/or their supporting staff) are (“N.J. governor fires top aide, apologizes for ‘stupid’ acts,” Friday Review-Journal). They would willingly punish and potentially cause the deaths of innocent ordinary citizens by delaying emergency vehicles, all for the sake of their immature personal vendettas.

It should be obvious that many of our politicians view people as mere numbers and percentages, with only political affiliations and no shared humanity. Voters are either with you or against you. On top of that, the sickening racism, ignorance and persecution of the Fort Lee, N.J., mayor and Serbian-Americans (and those who are inaccurately deemed as such) continues unabated.

Gov. Christie and his staff should be ashamed of their medieval, childish antics. The federal government should fully investigate the potentially illegal and superfluous lane closures on the George Washington Bridge and prosecute the guilty to restore trust in and clean the house of New Jersey’s government. We also need to set an example that there will be severe consequences for those who act in such a fashion.

MICHAEL PRAVICA

HENDERSON

Christie responsible

To the editor:

At the Jan. 9 news conference regarding the George Washington Bridge lane closure, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie described the conduct of his aides as “callous and indifferent.” He claimed to have been “embarrassed” and “humiliated” by the incident.

Now maybe Gov. Christie has some idea how embarrassed and humiliated other people have felt when he publicly referred to them at news conferences or public forums as “idiots” or “stupid.” Indeed, such brazen remarks suggest that it is Gov. Christie himself who has created the environment of callousness and indifference that tacitly encourages misconduct by his aides.

STEVE DANNING

LAS VEGAS

Veterans home

To the editor:

In response to a Jan. 3 column in the View newspapers (“Nursing home space lacking for veterans in Nevada”), as the administrator for the Nevada State Veterans Home, I appreciate that this important issue has been brought to light. However, I would like to clarify some of the information presented in Herb Jaffe’s commentary.

First, Mr. Jaffe stated the length of the waiting list for veterans to enter the home was “as far as the eye can see.” The implications and intended image of Mr. Jaffe’s editorial flourish are clear; however, his statement does not make clear that operating at capacity and with a waiting list allow my team to provide the highest level of care in the most efficient manner to the largest number of veterans and eligible spouses possible. It would have been more accurate to point out that of the 11½ years that the home has been operational, we have only recently been at capacity and operating with a waiting list, and even then, the wait time has not lasted more than a week or two for veterans or eligible family members to join our community.

Second, the majority of veterans that we have not been able to accommodate for admission have not met the high level of care required for a nursing home. We have not turned away large numbers of veterans needing the level of nursing home care we provide. In fact, we have successfully worked with our federal delegation over the last few years to change laws so that we can increase the number of disabled veterans that we can serve, while still offering some of the lowest rates for services provided in the valley.

I would also like to correct Mr. Jaffe’s statement that I am the person most distressed by the situation. To the contrary, I am excited to report that there has been significant progress in the past two years to prepare for the growing aging veteran population. For example, Gov. Brian Sandoval signed Assembly Bill 505 during the legislative session, appropriating more than $1 million to begin the design of a new veterans home in our state, which will be built in Northern Nevada as required by previous statute. In addition, the Nevada Department of Veterans Services is conducting a needs assessment to determine the statewide needs for future veteran nursing home and assisted living facilities.

The reputation of the Nevada State Veterans Home — in the veterans community, by word of mouth and government reports (Medicare.gov) — is that we are providing excellent care to veterans. With the strong support we have received from Gov. Sandoval, legislators and various veterans service organizations across the state, I am confident that we are on the right track to meet the future needs of Nevada’s aging veterans.

FRANK BELLINGER

BOULDER CITY

Kids need to work

To the editor:

I couldn’t agree more with Chris Klineburger’s letter (“Unemployment benefits,” Jan. 8 Review-Journal). Sixty years ago, when I was 11 years old, I got a job cleaning a men’s restroom once a day for 25 cents per day. Later, I cleaned the women’s restroom for another 25 cents per day.

When I was 13, I carried out groceries. Neither of these jobs required me to be 16 or 18. This money was very important to me, living in a two-room house with my stepmother and sister. I was able to buy my first car at 17.

Kids still need to work. Politicians, through labor laws, rules and regulations, have made it more difficult to get jobs and have made our society worse.

NORRIS INMAN

LAS VEGAS