Many virtues in imperfect appeal process
To the editor:
In response to your Feb. 28 report, "Property owners seek to cut taxes":
I appealed the assessments of several Clark County properties before the Board of Equalization. My hearings were on Feb. 28, with approximately 300 other properties scheduled for that day. Some properties I appealed were reduced, while others were not.
After leaving the hearings, I read that day's article about the appeals. I read several online comments. I also listened to the board members' comments at the start of the day. Although I did not agree with several assessor positions and some Board of Equalization decisions, I can appreciate several factors.
The article stated that the board members "scolded, acted impatiently or spoke sharply," and that some property owners were "peeved." It is natural for owners to be passionate and sometimes overwhelmed by the system. More importantly, the public must understand that while the process is inherently adversarial, it is, fortunately, affordable and professional.
The appeal results cannot please everyone. I was surprised to learn that the board members, who were obviously professionals in several real estate fields, are volunteers who are not paid for their service to the community. Considering the appeal volume, they were required to run efficient hearings. They should be applauded and appreciated by all for their willingness to give their time. I am certain that there are more enjoyable activities for these individuals.
Likewise, I found the assessing staff to be professional. The changing real estate markets, volume and short appeals time frame make this more difficult. The assessor's office has to value more than 700,000 properties every year. Human mistakes will occur. You can disagree with the valuations and results.
But be thankful that you live in a country that allows one to disagree with the government and has professional people willing to give of their time freely so that you can be heard by an impartial and knowledgeable group.
Thomas Naifeh
TUCSON, ARIZ.
THE WRITER IS TAX CONSULTANT WITH CLIENTS IN NEVADA.
Transition pains
To the editor:
In response to your Tuesday article, "Portable medical information helps ER care":
A portable disc with personal medical information carried in one's wallet is a great idea -- if it only were acceptable to the medical profession.
My primary care physician is an MDVIP member. He keeps all my information on his computer, and each year, I get a new compact disc.
I'm 70 years old, and I take 12 medications daily. My doctor is always monitoring and changing them, so sometimes I can't remember what the new medicine or its dosage is.
In the past year, the disc has been refused many times, and as a result I've had to fill out paperwork and try to remember everything. The disc was refused at University Medical Center eight months ago when I registered for a pre-operation procedure. It was refused at MountainView Hospital's emergency room when I accidentally inhaled a chemical and couldn't breathe. It was refused by a urologist and dermatologist within the past six months. It was refused by Walgreens when I needed a prescription filled.
I carry it in my wallet and hope that someone in an emergency room would access it in an emergency. But I've given up using it most of the time now, and fill out the paperwork despite knowing that it is probably incorrect and incomplete.
Alice Rapp
NORTH LAS VEGAS
Thanking sponsors
To the editor:
In response to Review-Journal motorsports writer Jeff Wolf's coverage of last week's NASCAR festivities and race: Good articles, and good guys that he wrote about.
As an added thought, members of our Congress should be required to wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers -- we would be able to identify their corporate sponsors.
AL CIRICILLO
LAS VEGAS
Our new comrades
To the editor:
Now that even the Republicans are calling for a normalization of our relations with Cuba ("Policy on Cuba needs new look," Feb. 23 Review-Journal), I find myself in agreement.
As we move from a capitalist system to a socialist one, it is only logical that we join hands with our worldwide brethren in the cornucopia of socialism. After all, we can see how that system has worked for its adherents in Cuba.
It took a little more than 200 years for us to reject capitalism, but less than 100 years for the world to seek the benefits of socialism.
As peasants, comrades, citizens, or whatever names we Americans choose to name ourselves now that we embrace the new world, it is time to merge with the masses for all the benefits, rights, privileges and entitlements that tax money can provide.
KENT RISCHLING
LAS VEGAS
Deep cuts
To the editor:
Here's a pop quiz for the public school teachers of Nevada who oppose the 6 percent pay cut proposed by Gov. Jim Gibbons.
Which of the following employees received the deepest cut in pay:
Employee A no longer has a job, which equals a 100 percent pay cut.
Employee B is working 32 hours a week instead of 40, which equals a 20 percent pay cut.
Employee C is a teacher in Nevada with a 6 percent pay cut on the table, yet to be enforced.
The bleeding from a 6 percent pay cut can be stopped with a Band-Aid compared with the 20 percent amputation and the 100 percent decapitation.
I speak as a member of the Employee B group since November 2008, with no end in the foreseeable future.
Tell you what. You get on my bandwagon to toot your horns and I guarantee that not only will you accept the 6 percent pay cut, but you will accept it humbly.
B. WALSH
HENDERSON
Obamanation
To the editor:
President Barack Obama's new 10-year budget projection is aiming toward 12 percent unemployment in 2012, indeed probably a higher rate. With his vast expansion of the social welfare state with his health, student loan, carbon and income tax proposals, he is compounding the gross errors President Franklin Roosevelt committed in the 1930s.
Mr. Roosevelt still had 17 percent unemployment after seven years as president. Why? Instead of limiting taxes and focusing spending on employment expansion, he inaugurated the social welfare state in the United States in the midst of the Great Depression. By thus raising business costs, he prolonged massive unemployment and the Depression. Only the advent of World War II saved him and solved unemployment.
Now President Obama proposes to repeat the grave errors Mr. Roosevelt made. What an "Obamanation."
JOSEPH A. MENDENHALL
LAS VEGAS
Intestinal fortitude
To the editor:
I doubt very much that the environmentalists will ever see the light, but there may be hope for President Obama.
I say this because, when watching TV on Feb. 27, I almost fell out of my chair. I saw and heard with amazement President Obama professing the need for us to continue using our most abundant source of energy: coal.
Now, if President Obama has the intestinal fortitude to take on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and their environmentalist minions and allow the resumption of drilling for oil and gas in our most productive areas -- which are now off-limits -- I would applaud him, with millions of other Americans, for doing so.
A moratorium on all environmental regulations until there is an improvement in the economy is mandatory. Drastic times require drastic measures, not only for individuals, but all levels of government. Resumption of environmental regulations could then be reinstated when the economy improves.
President Obama, we are watching and listening.
CLARENCE LANZRATH
LAS VEGAS
