How about stopping real crimes?
To the editor:
The front page of Sunday's newspaper sure cleared things up for me regarding Las Vegas police priorities ("Working girls"). Nothing could be done about my house getting burglarized, the drag racers going up and down my residential street and the average speed on Tropicana Avenue of 78 mph because our law enforcement is too busy cracking down on prostitutes.
Only a few years ago, Clark County police departments pushed through an increase in our sales tax to get more cops on the street. For this? I suppose its shouldn't surprise us when the priority is going after those involved in victimless "crimes" while real criminal behavior continues unchecked.
Just remember this the next time some government agency or special interest screams about the need for more funding for "protection" or "the children" or any other endless list of needs. This is what you end up with -- a front page full of pictures of hardened hookers.
Douglas Hunter
LAS VEGAS
Fantasy funding
To the editor:
Regarding the City Council's approved sale of Las Vegas sewer bonds for a new City Hall: Only money up front can pay the initiation and sales costs of bonds, and more must be available for maintenance pending receipt of some income from sales. And, eventually, only some form of taxation can pay off these bonds.
Mayor Oscar Goodman and his puppets on the council may say we have space on the city and/or county books for these charges, but where is the hard money? Where do our citizens, public employees and those from our business community think this money could be coming from in today's climate? Surplus payroll funds, instant taxes or more ticket amnesty?
The council claims insufficient funds to fulfill contracted obligations to public employees but can find money to build a new City Hall while circumventing approval of the voters. Is there really a tooth fairy?
Richard E. Law
LAS VEGAS
Derail Harry? No way
To the editor:
I read with incredulity Sherman Frederick's latest Sunday column, "Shall we give Harry the boot?" Any opinion is legitimate as long as it has some foothold in reality. His opinion on this day, however, lacked the requisite reality.
According to Mr. Frederick, he and his dinner companions could not think of any reason to support retention of Sen. Harry Reid in office beyond 2010. The fact that he serves as Senate majority leader was deemed irrelevant as he, in the opinion of the diners assembled, has not wielded that power for any specific benefit to Nevadans -- not even one.
Really? When, exactly, did this banquet of political notables occur? Before or after Feb. 13?
On that date, Congress sent an economic stimulus package to President Obama for his signature. It includes $8 billion in infrastructure spending for high-speed rail service. A big chunk of that $8 billion is expected to be spent on a line between Southern California and Las Vegas. This is in addition to the $45 million Sen. Reid was able to obtain for the project last year. It is an indisputable fact that high-speed rail service would bring enormous economic benefit to Nevadans for decades to come.
Now, for the coup de grace that destroys the legitimacy of your opinion, Mr. Frederick: It has been congressional Republicans, with whom you are embedded philosophically, if not also politically, most vociferously holding Sen. Reid responsible for this great benefit to Nevadans.
David O. Schueler
LAS VEGAS
No school, no car
To the editor:
Regarding Travis Bowker's Sunday letter to the editor about poor school attendance, maybe it's time for the Nevada Legislature to step up and force students to take personal responsibility for their absences. Clearly, receiving a denial of credit for excessive unexcused absences is not punishment enough. If these students cared about receiving credit for their classes, they wouldn't be missing school in the first place.
When I was living and teaching in Tennessee, there certainly were not the attendance issues there are here. One reason: Tennessee requires proof of satisfactory school attendance and academic progress for minors to obtain a driver's license:
If a student 15 or older drops out of school or fails to make satisfactory academic progress, the school is required to notify the Department of Safety. This suspends the student's driving privileges. The first time a student drops out, he or she may regain the privilege to drive by returning to school and making satisfactory academic progress. There is no second chance, however. The second time a student drops out he or she must wait to turn 18 before being eligible to apply.
I hope that Nevada lawmakers would have the bravado to enact such a measure. Students need to face other repercussions for excessive absenteeism and dropping out.
Sylvia M. Rowe
LAS VEGAS
