LETTERS: Uber stealing from taxis in already over-competitive market
To the editor:
After doing a double-take at the headline, I had a hard time believing there was nothing more newsworthy than Uber drivers and how they are, admittedly, looking forward to “having fun.” (“Authorities warn Uber drivers,” Oct. 24 Review-Journal). What Emerlita Torres failed to mention was that her renegade group is a scam designed to get attention, which Richard N. Velotta and the Review-Journal were all too willing to give her and her part-time fun seekers.
She also failed to mention that those taxi drivers at the airport are stuck there until they get a fare, and they don’t get paid while leaning against the fender of idling cabs waiting for them to be summoned forward. Ms. Torres is taking advantage of that for her own gain, by what amounts to illegal stealing from businesses in an already over-competitive market.
We travel several times a year and have never had trouble getting a taxi to the airport or from the airport to our home. If we wanted a cab to go from our home to any other point in Las Vegas, we have never waited more than 30 minutes, and the drivers knew exactly where they were going, unlike Ms. Torres and her half-baked Uber drivers, who operate on a hit-or-miss basis. Does Uber have photos on display so that their customers know who is driving them around?
We have always enjoyed our drivers and their conversation as part of our vacation. I don’t want a real-estate pitch, which would certainly be offered by Ms. Torres at one point or another.
When I was discharged from the military in Orlando, Fla., I drove a cab. I know that it is not an easy job, and most of my income came from tips, not from the 40 percent of what was on the meter. I had to put up with drunks and other unsavory people, including lowlifes who wanted to jump out of the car without paying for the ride — not to mention the danger that all cabdrivers face on a daily basis. Give it up, Ms. Torres, and shame on you, Review-Journal.
JIM ARMBRUST
LAS VEGAS
Judge’s bias
To the editor:
Am I the only one who noticed that Judge William Potter is running for Family Court judge in Department M, for a six-year term? He was endorsed by both the Review-Journal and the Las Vegas Sun.
Instead of holding a child custody hearing prior to the Air Force deployment to Cuba of the mother, Michelle Angeles, Judge Potter opted to delay the hearing until Oct. 15, after the deployment (“Gay mom accuses judge of bias in custody ruling,” Oct. 23 Review-Journal). The hearing date of Oct. 15 was on a Wednesday; two days later, the emergency appeal on behalf of the mother was rejected by the Nevada Supreme Court.
Is it really a coincidence that the Family Court judge and members of the high court were aware that their names were set forth on the early voting sample ballot that had already been mailed out, and voting began on Saturday, Oct. 18? Further, this story did not appear in the Review-Journal until Oct. 23. Do you not think there was an overall bias against a gay, active-duty mother by both the courts and the Review-Journal?
Even the attorney for the biological father agreed that Judge Potter should have held a hearing before the mother’s deployment. Further, we are talking about a balance of three months in remaining deployment, causing the disruption of the life of a 7-year-old. And just where is the LGBT community at this time?
JUDY MORRIS
HENDERSON
Yes to margins tax
To the editor:
Even though I am on a fixed income and do not have any children in any Nevada school, I support Question 3 on the November ballot to fund our schools. If Gov. Brian Sandoval and the Nevada Legislature had done what was truly needed to adequately fund Nevada schools, this measure would not have been necessary.
The businesses complaining say nothing when utility rates are increased or gasoline taxes are increased or their salaries are increased. These costs are just passed along to the consumer. At least this increase can give our failing students a chance to turn around and be successful.
Nevada’s business taxes are lower than those in most other states, so the threat that business will leave is not realistic. Should this measure pass and the state politicians circumvent the bill’s intent and give the funds elsewhere, then there will always be another November election.
Nevada schools rank near the bottom nationally, while our wealthy business owners rank near the top nationally. Come on folks, stop waving the red flag and wave the stars and stripes for our schools.
MARION SWEENEY
LAS VEGAS
Solar and power rates
To the editor:
Rep. Steven Horsford’s commentary covered just half of the story and left out the impact it will have on all NV Energy customers (“Paiute-NV Energy solar plant merits approval,” Oct. 27 Review-Journal). While Rep. Horsford uses the word “clean” six times, nowhere will you find a single word about the cost in future power rates.
Solar power is clean but expensive, and most plants do not provide power around the clock. When the cost of electricity goes up, everything will cost us more. Big government seems bound and determined to force NV Energy to use more and more solar power, no matter what it will cost all of us.
Keeping our electricity rates low should be a higher priority for Rep. Horsford than an expensive solar plant.
WILLIAM ANDERSON
LAS VEGAS
