Symptomatic of taxpaying public’s problem

To the editor:

I see that Randall Walker, director of the Clark County Department of Aviation, has spent $13 million in taxpayer money to "improve" our airport experience by squeezing every last dollar he can from us while we use the airport parking facility that we already paid for with our taxes in the first place ("Airport opens 'Express Exit,'" Wednesday Review-Journal). Mr. Walker, who is paid a public salary and benefits package of $375,000, just wants us to all to "pay our fair share."

This is symptomatic of the problem the taxpaying public faces every day with public employees at all levels of government. Just when does our "fair share" ever end?

Perhaps Mr. Walker should take a look at cutting expenses at McCarran, starting with his 10 assistant directors with public salary and benefits packages ranging from $130,000 to $205,000 per year. Or, possibly, we could lose that "airport canine supervisor" who makes $111,000 or the "dog handler" who earns $95,000.

Take a look at TransparentNevada.com for public employee salaries -- there are 156 pages for Clark County alone.

Publicly paid bureaucrats are raising fees (taxes) at every level, in every municipality across our valley, and we as taxpayers have zero ability to vote them out of office. The only recourse we have is to starve them out by resisting the inevitable call for higher taxes at every level of government.

Oh, and Mr. Walker does not pay a dime to park at McCarran because there is a "special" parking area located conveniently close to the gates for our elected officials and executive level bureaucrats where they all park for free.

Brian Covey

Las Vegas

Trust me

To the editor:

So airport chief Randall Walker tells me that his new "system" will make my life easier at McCarran passenger pick-up. I used to be able to drop in three quarters for half an hour's parking, go inside, meet my party, then leave. Now I have to pay the minimum of $2. How is that better for me?

Mr. Walker also said it wasn't "fair" that some people drove around looking for meters that still had time left on them. So what? The airport was still getting paid for use of the slot -- and even getting paid if it stayed empty.

Finally, he said this will reduce lines leaving the parking lot. I never waited in line leaving short-term parking as a result of having to pay. I already paid when I parked. Now what I'll be waiting for is a traffic opening as a result of those who will keep driving around the airport rather than pay the increased fees.

Once again, another bureaucrat feeding us a line in the name of getting more money: "It'll be better for you. Trust me."

DAVID GIBBS

NORTH LAS VEGAS

Arizona fan

To the editor:

Your staff writer, Lynnette Curtis, did a little add-on piece to The Associated Press story about the anti-illegal immigrant law recently passed in Arizona ("Nevada advocates to join Arizona protests," April 24). But rather than only interviewing and quoting our local illegal immigrant apologist and enabler, Michael Flores, why did she not get the opinions of the majority of Las Vegans on the other side of this debate?

Because she didn't deem our thoughts germane to this discussion, may I answer some of Mr. Flores' concerns?

First, Mr. Flores, I believe Arizona's action is "scary" only if one is not legally in this country.

Second, Mr. Flores alleges that "the only good thing ... is people will realize that they need to do something now." Well, Mr. Flores, that's exactly what Arizona did. Additionally, most of the taxpaying citizenry of this country came to that realization long ago, but our gutless politicians sat -- and continue to sit -- on their hands when it comes to actually enforcing the laws we already have on the books.

Finally, Ms. Curtis, please "Google" May Day. It is not a "celebration" of immigrant workers around the world. May Day has, indeed, become International Workers Day. The old holiday, which most cultures celebrated as the coming of summer, was co-opted by the communists, socialists and anarchists as an occasion to gather, protest and riot against established order. Some things never change.

Way to go, Arizona.

DAVE DOWNER

HENDERSON

DMV workers

To the editor:

My wife and I had the experience of renewing our driver's licenses recently at the West Flamingo Road Department of Motor Vehicles office. Contrary to the many negative comments we have heard in recent weeks, we successfully completed our renewals in two hours for the "New Advanced Secure Driver's License or Identification Card."

The employees were courteous, pleasant, knew their jobs and served the many applicants efficiently and professionally. They are a credit to the state.

WILLIAM G. FLANGAS

LAS VEGAS

Tough stance

To the editor:

Kudos to Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, the lame duck, for his belated stance against the municipal employee unions and their intransigence in bargaining.

I suggest he begin the looming layoffs by starting with the most senior and highest-paid employees. This could have two beneficial payoffs: The most truculent union members would be gone, and fewer employees would have to be let go to save the same amount of tax dollars.

GROVER McBEATH

NORTH LAS VEGAS