LETTERS: Silverstone residents deserve better

Saving Silverstone

The editorial on Silverstone and Badlands golf clubs ("Vanishing golf course views," Sept. 20 Review-Journal) suggests that homeowners living next to golf courses are angered over the potential loss of their views to development. At Silverstone, it's not about that.

It's about the involuntary transfer of wealth from existing homeowners to a Beverly Hills speculator who has no connection whatsoever to the community. The mere threat of increasing housing density by building over the golf course has already lowered property values dramatically and caused transactions to fall out of escrow.

Most of the 1,600 homeowners here are nongolfers. We are retirees who, after decades of working, look forward to living our golden years in a community that offers a golf course ambiance. We enjoy walking, biking and the wildlife environment in the neighborhood. Many are military veterans. Several families still have fathers and mothers serving at Nellis and Creech Air Force bases, protecting our nation. And, yes, some of us play golf.

We chose to live here and paid a premium to do so because our homeowners association contract assured us that no changes could be made to the golf course without the agreement of at least 75 percent of homeowners. Now this criminal defense attorney of dubious distinction, who is attempting the same speculation with a California golf course and community, is challenging the validity of our HOA contract.

Hopefully the courts will uphold the contract. Silverstone is in the rapidly growing Centennial Hills area. Thousands of homes are being built here. The previous golf course owner was a landscaping company that didn't have the acumen to tap into the growing economic potential of this community. The same company has also driven Badlands, a premier facility just outside Summerlin, into the ground.

What we need is a white knight who sees our potential and can take Silverstone to the next level. Not a Beverly Hills carpetbagger who is out to featherbed his wallet.

Robert Gomperz

Las Vegas

Nevada politics

I used to think of getting into politics when I was younger. That has changed, as I now have higher standards than most politicians, and I refuse to lower myself. Is it any wonder that in this 2016 election cycle, outsiders are in the lead in both major parties?

I am dumbfounded by the politics statewide and in Las Vegas. We resemble Chicago more than any other community. We have elected leaders to do a job for us, and they instead choose to snow the people they work for. They refuse to be accountable.

We have the Michael McDonald nonsense. He has been involved in countless questionable transactions and associations that should make any statesman blush. He heads the Republican Party in Nevada and was recently hired for an administrative job with the state treasurer's office (which he has since resigned).

Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Dan Klaich cost taxpayers money through his dismissal of one study pointing out problems within the system and the subsequent whitewashing of that report with another inquiry. The system's Board of Regents also handled that situation poorly. Instead of appropriately answering concerns, the regents and Gov. Brian Sandoval lauded Mr. Klaich's' character, ignoring the issues before them.

In North Las Vegas, we will have a self-described cowboy in Tom Collins running for mayor. Never mind that he quit the Clark County Commission in a huff before his term was finished. Never mind that Mr. Collins didn't see anything wrong with firing a weapon on his North Las Vegas property. I know the unions like him, as he sides with them regardless.

It is time to change things.

Darrell Welch

North Las Vegas

ESAs steal students

In response to Ed Wagner's letter ("Private vs. public schools," Monday Review-Journal), I'd like to add my opinion about Education Savings Accounts. Almost all parents who want to use these state funds are parents who care about and support their child's education by communicating with the school, seeing that their child attends school every day possible, encouraging their children to do homework and providing an intellectually stimulating home.

If we take more of these students out of public schools, then it will become more difficult for public schools to succeed. Curious, rested, well-fed and prepared students benefit every classroom. They answer and ask questions and encourage participation by others. I think there will be no chance for public schools if we continue to rob them of the very students who would help other students (and teachers) to be successful.

Expecting ESAs to create competition and therefore improve public schools is not realistic. Reform could come with more support and help for beleaguered teachers, but that will not happen by taking good students from public schools through ESAs.

Pam Selby

Las Vegas

Iran will be ally

George Evashwick misrepresented the facts on Iran, and the Review-Journal published his letter, thereby spreading misinformation ("Obama and Iran," Sept. 19 R-J). Mr. Evashwick stated that Iran backs ISIS. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Anyone who understands what is going on in the Middle East knows that Shia Iran and radical Sunni Islamists are mortal enemies. Iran was and is enemies with the Taliban and now ISIS. The most evil regime on the planet is ISIS, not Iran.

Iran is helping Iraq fight ISIS, as is the United States. Iran used to be our ally when the shah was in power. When the mullahs are forced from power by the Western-leaning Iranian people, Iran will return as our natural ally in the Middle East, along with Israel. I believe that the nuclear pact recently signed with Iran will help make that happen.

Marvin Saines

Las Vegas