Metro’s tax push jabs private sector

To the editor:

In response to the article “Gillespie confident commission will OK hike” (July 25 Review-Journal), rather than demand that our government learn how to budget money responsibly, just as we in the private sector are forced to do, the government simply goes its usual direction and promotes raising taxes. This time, it’s a call to provide more officers for Metro police. Are we going to continue to lower the financial well-being of the private sector in order to promote and grow the public sector?

Let us all hope that the Clark County Commission does not want Las Vegas to start looking like Detroit.

GORDON HURST

LAS VEGAS

Father Caviglia

To the editor:

Regarding the death of the Rev. Caesar Caviglia (“Priest loved, served parish, city,” Tuesday Review-Journal), how many people can say that their lives have been under direct mentoring and guidance of a priest? Not just any priest, but a scholar, a politician, someone who was loved by all who knew him, a true Nevadan and a straight shooter. Father Caviglia was just that to my family, and most directly to my sister and me.

I cannot remember a time when Father C, as he was affectionately known, was not in our lives. When we needed it, he was there for us, through the troubled times of typical family problems and some that weren’t always so typical. He was there through school days, marriages, children, baptisms, camping and family gatherings. He was even the go-to guy when we just needed to get away and spend some time with someone who, no matter what we were going through, would be there with an open mind and the wisdom to put us on the right track, or simply just be an ear and provide some gentle guidance.

I remember when I was young, and I used to think Father C was St. Francis. I finally admitted this to him a couple of years ago when I was spending time with him in Reno. No, he wasn’t St. Francis, but I have to say that the older I got, and the more my perception of him grew, he was and always will be the closest thing to a saint that I knew.

Father C was real. He was honest and he was opinionated. I loved that. He didn’t mince words, but his approach was so gentle that you hardly knew he was influencing you to see that there were so many ways to look at things. And in his ever-so-subtle way, he always reminded you of the true meaning of life and just exactly who the “Big Guy” really is.

I will always remember Father C as he was my entire life. Loving, strong, tough and non-judgmental. His spirit will always be strong no matter what. He will always be a part of me and my sister, and he will forever be etched into the history of Nevada.

I know he is finally where he belongs, with the “Big Guy.” Heaven is dancing and celebrating right now, of that I am sure.

NEENA LAXALT

RENO

XpressWest

To the editor:

The founder and CEO of XpressWest, Anthony Marnell, leaps to defend Sen. Harry Reid’s continuing support of the project, and to damn any assertion the good Senator could be motivated by personal gain (“Reid’s motives pure on XpressWest” Review-Journal Friday letters). To quote Mandy Rice-Davies, the young lady from an infamous 1960s trial in England, “Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he?”

Let’s put this thing to rest, Mr. Marnell. Publish a list of the owners of every acre of land along the proposed XpressWest route.

GRAHAM H. TYE

NORTH LAS VEGAS

Everyone’s a critic

To the editor:

I attended the Las Vegas Little Theatre’s production of “Xanadu.” Previously, I read a negative review of the play by your critic, Richard Davis, so I was not sure what I would think of the production (“Audience, cast enjoy ‘Xanadu’,” July 15 Review-Journal). Well, to put it politely, Mr. Davis must have been on Twitter throughout the show. This was one of the best productions the Little Theatre has done. Audience members were having the time of their lives. The laughter was contagious.

I have to give credit to the cast for doing an excellent job. The young lady who played Clio/Kira was fantastic. At the end of the show, there was a very long standing ovation. As cast members repeated the last song, everyone was dancing and singing with them.

Before going into the show, I met a mother and her young daughter, whom the mother wanted to expose to live theater. After the show, they said they loved it, and the little girl asked mom to get a pen so that she could have the cast sign her playbill. This only goes to prove that you can’t always believe a critic, especially Mr. Davis. He would do better writing obituaries, seriously.

JOHN M. COONEY

LAS VEGAS

Driving in Las Vegas

To the editor:

As a passenger in a van on the Summerlin Parkway, I recently observed a woman, probably in her mid-30s, in a black car texting as she drove along the parkway. Her eyes were on her phone and definitely not on the road ahead of her. As I viewed the nightly news and saw the report about the train crash in Spain, I was reminded of her actions. She might not have caused a train crash, but she surely could have caused an automobile crash that could have jeopardized the lives of innocent people.

It is my hope that her family — her spouse, children, parents or siblings — is prepared for the loss of a loved one. And I hope when they get the call, they understand that this woman had little regard for her life or the lives of others.

JUDITH ANN RUF

LAS VEGAS