LETTERS: Prudent move to halt Moapa solar plant

To the editor:

It was a surprise to see the headline, “Officials kill solar power plan,” in the Oct. 28 Review-Journal. It might be the first time that solar energy’s high costs were considered in a decision to build alternative energy facilities.

Replacing the Moapa coal-fired power plant with natural gas generation would eliminate the toxic emissions while saving consumers millions of dollars, and would still reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions.

TOM KELLER

HENDERSON

School district problems

To the editor:

The article on the problems within the Clark County School District didn’t even come close to the complete story (“Crisis deepens inside district,” Oct. 26 Review-Journal). The Education Support Employees Association never felt like it was being treated fairly at the negotiating table; once it was able to negotiate on its own behalf, the ESEA saved millions of dollars, raised salaries and added dental benefits. The ESEA also provided competition and actually offered two health insurance carriers for several years.

Anyone working for the Teachers Health Trust and being paid $500,000 annually should be fired immediately. I can handle the job for $250,000.

The taxpayers are being robbed on so many levels. The district should be able to terminate an adviser or insurance broker if it sees fit.

There is so much wasting of tax dollars. CCSD should seek a forensic accounting investigation and prosecution if any wrongdoing is found. It wouldn’t surprise me if even more players were involved than the article noted.

PATRICK A. CASALE

LAS VEGAS

Israel’s Ebola response

To the editor:

In early October, amid increased global concern about the Ebola virus, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a meeting, where it was decided to increase efforts to locate people entering Israel from the African countries hit by the disease: Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry and Health Ministry had previously warned people of the health risks involved in traveling to those countries and advised them to avoid traveling there. At the meeting, representatives of those two ministries were joined by Israeli police and the airport authority to discuss Israel’s preparedness in dealing with Ebola.

I send this because I find it refreshing to read about a situation in which a country’s leader takes charge, as opposed to delegating responsibility to others. Interesting, isn’t it?

ARLENE BLUT

LAS VEGAS

Politics and Ebola

To the editor:

There is an element of hypocrisy in the editorial criticizing President Barack Obama for his appointment of Ron Klain as Ebola czar (“Politicized response disservice to public health,” Oct. 28 Review-Journal). Put aside, if you will, the questionable argument that a medical professional is needed to manage the complex Ebola containment and prevention initiatives, as opposed to the competent organizational manager that even some conservative pundits acknowledge Mr. Klain to be.

It could be argued that a logical appointee as Ebola czar would be the surgeon general, but guess what? Due mainly to the aggressive opposition to the nomination of Dr. Vivek H. Murthy as surgeon general, led by the National Rifle Association and abetted by other gun rights groups, conservative-state senators on both sides of the aisle were cowed into assuring that the position remains vacant.

If that’s not politicizing an important issue related to protecting the health of Americans, I don’t know what is.

DAVID BERMAN

HENDERSON