Reid wants to drive up local energy costs
To the editor:
Sen. Harry Reid is at it again, trying to talk NV Energy into buying the power from a proposed $5 billion Chinese solar plant near Laughlin ("Utility pushed on solar project," Tuesday Review-Journal). Never mind that NV Energy would have to pass on the costs for the high-priced electricity to consumers.
Solar power is expensive. The 9 cent per kwh premium NV Energy is paying for the power from the new Crescent Dunes plant in Tonopah will already cost Southern Nevada consumers some $90 million a year more than natural gas power. A plant five times its size like this one could be expected to add another several hundred million dollars a year to our bills.
And all to guarantee profits for Chinese investors. We can't afford this, Sen. Reid.
Tom Keller
Henderson
Picture this
To the editor:
In response to your Monday article, "Buckle up and live, program teaches":
This sounds like a terrific program and will benefit many parents in our valley by educating them on the importance on buckling up their children properly. Unfortunately, the picture you chose to accompany the article is grossly out of date and shows a dangerous practice, which may lead some parents to believe that it's safe to forward-face an infant.
Child passenger safety technicians have known for years that it's safer to rear-face children well past age 2. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its recommendations in April 2011 to encourage parents to rear-face for as long as possible, despite having recommended it since 2002.
Overhead shield seats, like the one shown in the picture you used, haven't been available for purchase since 2009. Should the baby riding in that car-seat be in a crash, she could receive irreversible spinal cord injuries and head injuries from hitting the shield. The older child looking on is wearing a seat belt adjuster that will surely give him abdominal injuries in a crash. He should be in a belt-positioning booster seat.
Parents should always rear-face their infants and toddlers to at least age 2. It protects the most important parts of their growing bodies - their head, neck and back - in a crash. After an infant seat is outgrown (if used), a rear-facing convertible car-seat should be used until the weight and height limit is reached.
Heather Watson
Las Vegas
The writer is a child passenger safety technician instructor and president of Safe Kids Clark County.
Cat predators
To the editor:
Recently, I woke up to find my cat - well, the remains of my cat, which included the back legs and lower torso - dead in my backyard. As frantic and upset as I was, I had the presence of mind to call Southern Highlands security and let them know that something was in our midst. The woman who answered said, "Oh, there have been sightings of coyotes around here. Sorry for your loss. We will send out notices to let people know."
After I thought about this, I wondered: Why didn't anyone send me a notice? When the cat who never leaves the backyard ran out at night, I would have chased her across the desert had I thought for one minute she would be in danger in her own backyard. And that is where the event happened.
Now, not only have I lost a near-and-dear cat that I brought here all the way from Virginia, but the dog and other cats have lost a friend too.
If these dangerous animals are "sighted" in the neighborhood, why isn't it mandatory to let people know? Instead, I get to wake up to my slaughtered cat. I am upset beyond words, especially because it could have been somewhat prevented if someone got the word out.
Dina Heath
Las Vegas
Romney and Israel
To the editor:
Mitt Romney has embraced Israel. That's excellent. Now when we elect him president he can make daily phone calls to Benjamin Netanyahu for advice before he makes foreign policy decisions.
In the meantime, he can use his business expertise -with help from his new friend Mr. Netanyahu and his old friend Sheldon Adelson - to buy the members of Congress that aren't already bought and be free to make secret investments of our Treasury funds in the Cayman Islands, thereby generating gazillions in tax-free interest. Or he could simply let the Israelis run our country - they're doing so well with theirs.
John Dombek
Santa Clara, Utah
Outright graft
To the editor:
Where to start with Nadia Romeo's Monday letter, "GOP lies"? I don't know whether to be more insulted that Ms. Romeo thinks valley citizens are dumb, or that we're all sheep who are willing follow a Judas Goat into the slaughterhouse.
But the part that really galls me is that while she rails on and on about how the GOP wants to disenfranchise voters in our democracy, she accepts outright political graft by downplaying the ethics case against Rep. Shelley Berkley. If having politicians do "favors" for donors doesn't "disenfranchise" every other voter, I don't know what does.
Perhaps Ms. Romeo should do a bit of self assessment before calling the kettle black.
Mark Morris
Las Vegas
