LETTERS: Mayor shows she needs challenger
To the editor:
While I have always admired Carolyn Goodman and liked her tremendously as a person, I am thrilled that Stavros Anthony is challenging her for mayor of the city I have called home for most of my life. I have never understood why something as important to the taxpayers as spending $56 million on a downtown soccer stadium — plus all the money that is not being spoken about — is not automatically placed on the ballot, so that the people have a say in these decisions.
It is one thing for Las Vegas City Council members to vote on day-to-day business. That is why they were voted into office in the first place. But when they are reaching into the pockets of the people for a project — in this case, the stadium — the people should have the right to say if they want that project or not.
The stadium has been a dream of Carolyn and Oscar Goodman for many years. We should not need 2,500 or 8,500 petition signatures in order to get it to the people, to see if they want it and if they would be interested enough in soccer to attend games at a downtown stadium. I believe that there should be a threshold for spending tax dollars on any given project, and any amount over that automatically goes to a vote of the people before approval — no petition needed!
RANA GOODMAN
HENDERSON
Soccer stadium unwanted
To the editor:
It’s pretty obvious from all the comments from Review-Journal editors and readers that the people of Las Vegas don’t want a soccer stadium. I can’t recall seeing one letter in favor of it. It’s too bad there isn’t a law forbidding a city government from forcing something down its citizens’ throats.
Please don’t say people deserve this government because they voted for it. They wouldn’t have if they had known a majority of their elected officials would use their power to try to take it to the taxpayer. Now they’re trying to prevent the people from getting a chance to vote on this issue. Is this democracy? Whatever happened to government of the people?
JERRY GORDON
HENDERSON
Miss Universe coverage
To the editor:
The main headline on the front page of Monday’s Review-Journal, “Las Vegan captures runner-up,” is the worst example of journalism I have ever seen. Ninety-five percent of the article is about the runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant, Las Vegan Nia Sanchez, with only a very short paragraph about the winner, Colombia’s Paulina Vega.
It would have been more appropriate to provide unbiased coverage of the Miss Universe pageant on the front page, give the winner her due credit, and provide an article on Ms. Sanchez in the Nevada section.
ROGER WITCHER
LAS VEGAS
R-J changes displeasing
To the editor:
I agree with previous letter writers about the changes to the style of the Almanac and Road Warrior columns in the Review-Journal. Change the Almanac back to what it was. Regarding the Road Warrior appearing in the Monday edition, rather than Sunday, people read it on Sunday to see what routes they will need to take come Monday morning. More people read the Sunday edition.
Wouldn’t it be more advantageous for the Review-Journal to poll the readers, rather than arbitrarily changing formats? After all, the Review-Journal benefits from the people who subscribe.
JIM CENCER
OVERTON
New Almanac a chore
To the editor:
I am sincerely disappointed at the lack of quality in the revised Almanac column. The old format was entertaining and fun to read, and I looked forward to it every day.
The new format is convoluted and a chore to read. Please consider returning to the old format.
CLIFFORD F. BAUMAN
LAS VEGAS
Military and education
To the editor:
To those who want the minimum wage increased to $15 an hour, I say this: If you want a job that pays more than minimum wage, then increase your education and marketability above minimum competence. A minimum wage is paid to minimum competence workers who fill entry-level jobs.
If you don’t like that, then do whatever is necessary to improve yourself. Get the education you need to rise above minimum wage jobs. How can you do that? An easy way for anyone to earn college tuition assistance, health care benefits and a retirement pension is to serve your country in one of its armed forces for a minimum of 20 years.
That’s what I did, and that was how I completed six college degrees while on active duty. During that time, I also earned my health care benefits and retirement pension. Anyone can do the same.
STEVEN G. HAYES SR.
LAS VEGAS
