LETTERS: Growth fuels need for More Cops tax
Ray Murphy complained in his letter to the editor that the "Clark County Commission has just picked our pockets" ("More Cops tax," Sept. 7 Review-Journal). Mr. Murphy writes that he has lived here since 2002, and he complains of sheriffs constantly asking for money for more officers.
Mr. Murphy is relatively new here and hasn't seen the explosive growth we have suffered. I have lived here for 60 years, and my wife was born here. If you want to complain about the Clark County Commission and vote out commissioners, do it for the right reason. The commissioners have allowed uncontrolled growth and building in this valley for the past 30 years, causing us to absolutely need more police officers every year. (An even more important issue is that we are running out of water.)
A 0.05 percentage-point sales tax increase will help us more than it will hurts us, as long as the money truly goes to putting more officers on the streets.
Jim Neal
Las Vegas
Traffic and teachers
I think I have found the solution to two of the major problems facing Las Vegas today: teachers' salaries and traffic.
Anyone who has done any traveling around Las Vegas over the last few months has seen all the traffic cones and phantom roadwork going on. Lanes are narrowed, lights are poorly timed and traffic is congested on almost every major (and often minor) cross-town street. Yet there are no workers in sight and no apparent progress. Try driving anywhere near the intersection of Eastern Avenue and Sunset Road and you will see what I mean.
Here is what I propose: Every day that road workers are not at any given site actually working on road repairs, the construction company should be fined a day's pay, and that penalty money should be given to public schools, with the strict requirement that it be applied to a teacher pay raise. I have a feeling we will see road work get completed a lot quicker, while giving teachers a pay raise they deserve.
Michael Ollins
Las Vegas
Refusal of service
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that gay couples may legally obtain marriage licenses. Kim Davis, the county clerk in Rowan County, Ky., is required to issue marriage licenses to those legally entitled to obtain them. Yet Ms. Davis, a born-again Christian, claims her religious beliefs prevent her from issuing marriage licenses to gay couples.
Perhaps those who support Ms. Davis would change their minds if they realized that her position is as foolish as an emergency room physician in a county medical facility becoming a Christian Scientist, and then citing her religious beliefs as a basis for refusing to provide medical care to a patient.
Steve Danning
Las Vegas
Gasoline prices
The article on gasoline prices left out one important fact: Costco has been selling regular unleaded gas for $2.64 a gallon in recent weeks ("Lower Las Vegas gasoline prices likely by late fall," Sept. 6 Review-Journal). I realize the reporter can't be aware of prices at every gas station in the valley, but Costco has been selling standard unleaded gas a lot cheaper than all other gas stations in Las Vegas. The lines have been long and steady every time I have gone to fill up.
Costco is one of the best-run companies in America and has stockholders to report to. I can't believe its stations are selling gas for 25 to 65 cents less per gallon than other stations because the company isn't making money at $2.64 a gallon. Most of the customers filling up are driving back out, not going shopping in Costco's warehouse, so the store isn't pricing it this low to drive people to shop after filling up.
I am not a conspiracy theorist, but because other stations get their gas supplies from the same supplier as Costco, one has to conclude that the other stations are ripping us off and engaging in price-fixing.
Barry Perea
Las Vegas
