Without higher taxes, bond is pointless
To the editor:
The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce has announced its support for the November election's school bond, which will allow the Clark County School District to build new schools and renovate older campuses (Thursday Review-Journal). On the surface, this support appears to be a wonderful thing, however, I notice there is no mention of the Chamber of Commerce supporting an increase in business or casino taxes to help fund education.
So the question remains: Who is going to staff these beautiful new schools? Unless and until Nevada steps up and offers salaries to teachers that allow them a reasonable standard of living, to put down roots and raise their families as well, there is no point in building additional campuses. We already have many classrooms permanently staffed with substitute teachers. While these substitutes may do their best in difficult circumstances, they are not highly qualified teachers in these subject areas.
When will Nevada voters realize that the business community is shortchanging our children? Local taxpayers have continued to pay their fair share; when will the businesses that continue to benefit from the Las Vegas market finally step up and pay their fair share?
Liz Goodman
LAS VEGAS
Lesson for Gibbons
To the editor:
When I was a young man, my grandmother taught me a saying that has stuck with me for many years. I think our governor might find it useful if he memorized it and pondered its meaning ("Governor calls texts 'mistake,' " Thursday Review-Journal).
It goes like this: When we practice to deceive, oh, what a tangled web we weave.
Enough said.
David Logan
LAS VEGAS
Family failure
To the editor:
I am not sure what the punishment should be for Stan and Colleen Rimer for the death of their 4-year-old son after he was left in their car, but I do know for sure that just because you have seven children, you should not live in squalor and not know where your child is for 17 hours ("Parents can't have four boys," Thursday Review-Journal). That is equivalent to two eight-hour work shifts.
Family spokesman Michael Gonzalez should have kept his mouth shut. This could not happen to anyone, nor do normal people need their church to help them clean their home. It does not get much worse than this.
I raised six children and two grandchildren, and all of them were put together and were never out of my sight, hearing or calling distance for 17 hours in their life at the age of 4.
I hope the court does the right thing, whatever that may be, and we get justice for Jason Rimer.
This story is unbelievable.
Cecelia Scribner
HENDERSON
A much-needed laugh
To the editor:
We enjoy reading John L. Smith's columns in the Review-Journal. He always has an interesting topic that we discuss during the early morning hours as we sip our coffee.
However, on Wednesday, he outdid himself with the column headlined "Gibbons' fingers must be nimble, but his brain is another matter." Way to go Mr. Smith. The "Love Gov" story was priceless. You gave us a laugh that we desperately needed in this time of government officials begging for more money.
I wonder if Gov. Jim Gibbons asks his "best friend forever" for ideas on the economy. At least we might feel we were getting something for paying for his cell phone.
Can we believe anything Gov. Gibbons says?
Judy Laughery
LAS VEGAS
Good Day
To the editor:
I loved Jim Day's editorial cartoon in the June 10 Review-Journal, which showed folks shunning gas priced at $4.16 per gallon in favor of a station selling it for $1.09 per quart. The only thing missing to make it perfect was a "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign in the lower left foreground.
If you have not been getting letters pointing out how perfectly it matches what is happening today in this valley, other than the obvious problem of gasoline prices, don't spoil the joke (truism) about education here in Las Vegas by giving away the punch line.
Allan Ginsberg
LAS VEGAS
The devil has a soul
To the editor:
I am a lifelong Democrat and have been an unabashed and unapologetic liberal for the greater part of my life. I find it educational and interesting to read the views of Review-Journal Publisher Sherman Frederick and his minions on the editorial board. I am also an ardent detractor of the publisher and his editorial board for their political views.
However, in the June 8 Viewpoints section, Mr. Frederick showed us, to my surprise, the human side of a man I often denigrate for his hard-nosed political views. His column was what a lover of poetry would term as "An Ode to a Young Graduate." The essay was a tender and heartfelt message to Mr. Frederick's granddaughter on her high school graduation.
I will still be opposed to Mr. Frederick's political viewpoints to the end of my life, but he has earned my respect and admiration for showing us his humanity.
Kudos, Mr. Frederick, and pen more of the kind of essays you are capable of.
Joe Beltran
NORTH LAS VEGAS
