LETTERS: Fraud case hurts Hispanic community
To the editor:
Regarding the July 31 editorial (“Defrauded district”), the Review-Journal rightly conveyed the public outrage related to the alleged crimes attributed to former Clark County School District employee Priscilla Rocha and four other defendants. For any public servant to betray the public trust through deceit and unlawful behavior is shameful and must be punished.
In addition, for one of the few Hispanic administrators employed by the district to be accused of such behavior is indeed a sad reflection on the good name of the hard-working, honest Hispanic community in Las Vegas. Of course, under our system of law, individuals are innocent until proved guilty, so it is possible that Ms. Rocha and the other defendants may be found innocent of the many serious charges they face. Even if that does come to pass, though, the damage already done to the public perception of Hispanics will take a long time to fix. That, of course, is the real tragedy of this sordid mess.
Ultimately, when and if any of the accused are found guilty, it is only just that those found guilty be punished and that the restitution suggested in the editorial be imposed.
THOMAS RODRIGUEZ
HENDERSON
Pedestrian safety
To the editor:
As a retired law enforcement officer, I would like to make a suggestion: There should be a media blitz to inform visitors that crossing our streets is much more dangerous than in other communities in the country. They should be informed that it is safer to walk the distance to a crosswalk than to cross in the middle of the street. We want them to enjoy their time here, rather than have the coroner inform families of a death.
RON LENENBERG
HENDERSON
Israeli leadership
To the editor:
I admire the nation of Israel and its military, and especially its leader, Benjamin Netanyahu. After being fired upon with hundreds of rockets from Gaza, Israelis warn the Palestinian civilians with phone calls, text messages and fliers before responding by to Hamas attacks. Israel tries to help people get to safety.
Israel knows Hamas’ aim is to kill all Jews, and Israel defends its country and its people. And its leaders and military officials move heaven and earth to recover captured Israeli soldiers, dead or alive. Contrast that with the United States, whose leaders leave men to die in Benghazi, ignore veterans with medical and psychological needs and don’t even speak of the young Marine who accidentally crossed the Mexican border and has been in a Mexican prison for several months.
I am embarrassed for my country.
MARY JO RHODES
LAS VEGAS
Where’s the conservation?
To the editor:
On one hand, the Review-Journal published an article on a new residential community’s housing blitz (“Inspirada revival could lift market,” Aug. 2). On the other hand, a few weeks earlier, the R-J published a story about Lake Mead’s dangerously low water level (“Lake Mead sinks to record low,” July 10).
Not directly related, but of great significance, an August 1 TV news report showed a fourth-generation rancher in Southern California mowing down citrus trees due to lack of water. He was taking this action to preserve the amount of water needed to maintain the rest of his trees. He predicted that if the drought does not ease in the West, he will lose his entire citrus grove by 2015.
We are being asked to conserve water at every level, and even though Inspirada would appear to be a great economy boost and at the same time would fill the coffers of the building industry and many other related areas, I cannot see much conservation in creating this immense housing project. Where do we go from here? Do we migrate back to the Dust Bowl?
JEAN QUERY
LAS VEGAS
