LETTERS: Taxi drivers should heed simple advice

To the editor:

Regarding the article on cabdrivers (“Taxi drivers fear big shifts,” Sunday Review-Journal), if they want to compete with Uber, there are a few really simple steps they should take.

Stop long-hauling customers. (It’s happened to me twice, and I’m a resident who knows the streets). Don’t complain when you get a call to a residence; instead, actually show up for the fare. Stop refusing to give a ride at night from a hotel if it isn’t to a strip club. Stop driving like dangerous, selfish idiots. Keep your cabs clean and odor-free.

Why do you think customers are looking for an alternative? They are fed up with being ripped off and with the lousy service of Las Vegas cab companies.

BRIAN ADRIAN

LAS VEGAS

Education savings accounts

To the editor:

Glenn Cook touted Nevada’s new law concerning education savings accounts as a means for children to get quality educations by attending private schools (“ESAs can cover private school tuition”). I will not quibble with Mr. Cook on his facts and figures, nor fight with him as to the quality of private education versus public. I will simply take him at his own words, and then ask one simple question.

Mr. Cook tells us that under the new law, a current public education student can receive about $5,000 of state money, taking this money to a private school to be used toward tuition. He further tells us that the public school system will continue to receive local funding tied to the student, even though the student is no longer enrolled in public school.

Now then, Mr. Cook, here is my question: Is the Nevada taxpayer willing to accept that he will still be out between $8,000 and $9,000 for the education of the same student? Please answer this question.

RICHARD L. STRICKLAND

NORTH LAS VEGAS

Nevada nightmares

To the editor:

Nevada citizens deserve much better than what they are receiving from their state government,which proves time and time again that it cannot manage any program.

Have you been to the Department of Motor Vehicles? It’s a nightmare. Have you tried applying for unemployment benefits in this state? It’s a nightmare. Applying for jobs with the Clark County School District is a nightmare. Nevada’s health insurance exchange is another nightmare.

There must be underlying reasons for these problems. Perhaps the solution lies with Nevada’s nightmarish public education system, ranked among the lowest in the nation.

Oh well, at least the casinos win again. Keeping the citizens dumbed down increases the workforce.

BART ALEXANDER

HENDERSON

Governor’s tax plan

To the editor:

Gov. Brian Sandoval’s tax plan is one complete mess. His plan hurts the little guy while providing for special interests. Gov. Sandoval says the plan is for education and the kids. Yet residents continue to pump millions of dollars into the education system in Nevada each and every year and still come out at the bottom of the list for quality education.

A large chunk of money that Gov. Sandoval earmarks for education will probably go to the salaries, benefits and pensions of school administrators and teachers. A good deal of the tax money will go to public employee unions. The governor is looking out for public employees so he can garner their support.

He also put a burden on small business and low-income earners by increasing business taxes and raising the cigarette tax. What a joke.

What he didn’t do was raise taxes on the casinos in the state. The governor and lawmakers in Nevada constantly give gaming a sweetheart deal while gouging the little guy for more and more tax money. They also neglected to tax the alcohol industry. If they can tax us on cigarettes, why not alcohol? The gaming industry doesn’t want alcohol taxes increased.

Lawmakers in Nevada also lie to citizens, passing supposedly temporary taxes that would sunset, only to continue renewing those taxes.

Look at Gov. Sandoval’s tax plan with a jaundiced eye. The only ones who will benefit are lawmakers and public employee unions. You can bet that millions of dollars collected through this punitive tax plan on the little guy will go to them.

BRADLEY KUHNS

LAS VEGAS