Rail would be a boon to North Las Vegas

Your Sunday article on “transforming” North Las Vegas left out an important step that would make all the difference. They had little success a few years back with a proposed $100 million retail complex. But if the city had spent that money on a light-rail system, it would have drawn people like a magnet.

In other cities, they entice people who are able to jump on a trolley and ride. They don’t have to fight traffic or look for parking when they get there. It is the look of the future, as our cities get more crowded.

Years ago, I took a bus down the Strip, but they were packed even then. It’s too hot to walk and too expensive to take a cab. It just makes sense to put in light rail and North Las Vegas can be the start.

Businesses flock to rail lines and there is a good reason they do. Instead of spending money on squeezing traffic to slow it down, North Las Vegas could get rid of it by creating an easier system of getting there and back. It would pay for itself in the end.

After our experience in Portland, my husband and I are sold on the idea of light rail. The platform at the airport was even with the trolley and we rolled our suitcases right on to it. It took us into the heart of the city, and our hotel was a short block away. The cost was only a few dollars.

Everyone wants to have a home or business within walking distance of that line, and we should have a system like that here.

Janice Herr

Las Vegas

Public funds

Here we go again. Billionaires and millionaires arguing how to fleece the taxpayer into funding the proposed NFL’s $1.5 billion stadium. Each of the entities involved could and should pay for the project.

If this project is so hot, why not invite the NFL to pay for it and have the Oakland Raiders pay the league back? I am sure the NFL has the resources at hand to accomplish such a feat. That way, the Raiders — or whatever team decides to move here — will have a great interest and desire to made it a success and stay through good and bad times. The taxpayer will not have the burden to carry if it all goes south.

The money proposed for this project could be spent on more important items, schools for example. Even raising the room tax still puts the burden on the wrong entity. As Mayor Carolyn Goodman stated, Bill Foley did it right (no public funding). He is taking the risk and will reap the well-deserved rewards.

Thomas C. Malich Sr.

Las Vegas

Stadium fan

Some in the media are trying to demonize the fact that $750 million of tax money may be spent on our new stadium. They are acting like this money is all to benefit the (potentially) Las Vegas Raiders.

When this stadium was proposed, it was noted that the facility would house 40-50 events a year, and be viable regardless of whether we landed an NFL team. At best, the Raiders will be a minority tenant, using 20 percent or 25 percent of the dates. In addition, our own UNLV Rebels may utilize around 20 percent of those dates.

Let’s compare that $750 million to the (roughly) $150 million that I understand it took to buy the Riviera and knock it down. That doesn’t even include the construction costs for a convention center expansion on that property some time down the road. No one whined about that.

The $750 million in room tax money — the same funding source used on the Riviera — will provide our area with 40-50 major league events per year, most of which are not being hosted in our fair burg because we lack an appropriate venue.

The Raiders would simply be the icing on the cake.

Ted Newkirk

Las Vegas