Japan crisis should revive Yucca Mountain
To the editor:
The nuclear crisis in Japan should give Americans pause and renew efforts to solve the knotty problem of what to do with the spent fuel rods from the 104 nuclear power plants in this country. It is apparent from the ongoing Japanese experience that the biggest threat to humans comes from the uncovering of their spent fuel rods, not from the reactors themselves.
In this country, spent fuel rods are stored in pools adjacent to the reactors that produced them. As such, they reside mostly within shallow aquifers next to rivers, streams and lakes that provide the cooling fluids. Accidents resulting in loss of cooling water for these spent rods would cause the immediate release of large quantities of radiation into the environment. Quite aside from atmospheric contamination, such release would enter the water supplies supported by these lakes and streams.
Those who claim leaving the rods where they are, rather than continuing to develop the repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada, just haven't thought things through. The current situation in Japan should cause us to develop the needed repository with renewed fervor. Although not perfect, perhaps, the Nevada facility is many times safer for storage than where the rods reside.
Jim Daniel
Las Vegas
Helmet law
To the editor:
How sad that state Sen. Don Gustavson, R-Sparks, can be elected to our Legislature -- an honorable position -- to watch out for our well-being, yet choose the possibility of a few extra tourist dollars over the likelihood of more motorcyclist deaths and disabilities and push to repeal Nevada's helmet law (Sunday Review-Journal).
When my husband suffered a stroke and needed a prolonged hospital stay and physical therapy, he soon learned that there was a term for motorcyclists who did not wear their helmets: donors. Just a thought.
Mary Campbell
Las Vegas
Pointless mission
To the editor:
Please tell me what target in Libya is worth sending B-2 bombers from Missouri and back in 25 hours? Cost and money seem to be no barrier when it comes to military spending.
Now compare that thinking to what is happening in education. I imagine they feel that dumbing down the populace is to their advantage.
The Pentagon should be called something other than the Defense Department. How about the Intervention Department?
Art Guterding
Henderson
Good neighbors
To the editor:
Saturday's letter from Diana Gruber denouncing homeowner associations is typical of the thinking of anti-HOA homeowners in the Las Vegas Valley and throughout the nation.
The fact is, pro-HOA forces are growing because a strong HOA has been shown to help maintain property value and a "good neighbor" attitude in those communities. The most severely damaged neighborhoods in the valley, in our current depressed housing market, are those without an HOA or with a weak one.
Local governments everywhere encourage the formation of HOAs. Gated communities with typically strong HOAs are especially cherished because they maintain their own streets and provide security, which reduces their local police requirements. Any quality residential real estate developer installs an HOA at the outset. Smart home buyers consider only developments with a strong HOA.
The time of neighborhoods populated by long-term residents with a developed sense of mutual respect and concern for each other is no longer a significant factor in our society. The transient population of Las Vegas, especially, requires strong HOAs to ensure at least a basic level of unoffensive living in the various residential developments.
The sooner our state legislators realize the value of strong HOAs, the sooner their legislation will seek to assist rather than diminish HOA powers to regulate.
For those who resent HOAs, there exists an obvious option: Don't buy a house in an HOA neighborhood.
Don Merz
Las Vegas
Equal protection
To the editor:
Sunday's commentary by Vin Suprynowicz on Nation of Islam fundraising, "Selective enforcement or protected speech?" was great. I literally shook when I read that the Nation of Islam preaches that white people are "sub-human devils who are potential humans, but they haven't evolved yet." What kind of scary group is this?
Can anyone imagine allowing a Caucasian group that had a similar opinion of blacks to be able to knock on people's car windows and block an intersection with impunity -- and not even need to follow the law by getting a permit?
Good for Las Vegas police officer Laurie Bisch for bringing this to our attention. The police should enforce the laws without providing special advantages to certain groups -- period.
Marcia Romano
Las Vegas
Scales tipped
To the editor:
Suddenly it feels like the scales held by the blindfolded lady justice are tipping away from the citizens of Las Vegas ("Selective enforcement or protected speech?"). Justifications seem to be replacing justice.
If it is true that special-interest groups are going to dictate enforcement of the law, then my support for our sheriff ends as of today.
Jim Andreas
Las Vegas
