County has handle on growth? Ha!

To the editor:

The Dec. 19 letter from County Commissioner Rory Reid, “County has a handle on growth issue,” begs some questions and comments.

The only mention of water had to do with “improvements to the long-term quality of our drinking water from Lake Mead.” There was no mention of the long- or short-term supply of drinking water for the exploding population in the Las Vegas Valley. The quality of water doesn’t seem to be all that important without an adequate supply for that exploding population.

Surely, there has to be a “balance between the economics fueled by growth and its impact on the quality of life we enjoy as residents.” Balance would indicate that economics fueled by growth and its impact on the quality of life are weighted about the same. Without plans for adequate water, the balance is tipped in favor of growth and that has — and will have — an adverse impact on residents who are here now.

Are there any funded, current or viable plans for additional water to fuel the unprecedented growth in the valley? Are the economics fueled by growth worth the impact on quality of life we enjoy as residents? It would appear not to be a real interest of the County Commission.

Commissioner Reid writes that: “Since 2003, seven new land-use plans designed to protect the integrity of our neighborhoods have undergone updates in unincorporated Clark County with significant amounts of input from residents.” The irony of this statement is that the inputs of residents may actually be included in the land-use plans. However, the inputs are pushed aside when a smooth-talking developer comes along with a plan that deviates from the county-approved land use plan.

Residents are treated like third-class citizens by both the Planning Commission and the County Commission. The commissioners could legally (according to the plan they themselves have approved at a significant cost to taxpayers) act to reduce growth in the valley, if they made decisions based only on their own approved land-use plans. However, additional tax dollars and pleasing developers seem to be sacred cows.

Yes, Commissioner Reid’s comment that “the county will continue to encourage public input and involvement in balancing the needs of our community” may be true. However, if the county’s very own plans that reflect public interest are ignored, what good is the plan? Where is the handle on the growth issue?

Jerry Smith

LAS VEGAS

Stop growth

To the editor:

In response to Rory Reid’s Dec. 19 letter on growth:

With the Clark County Commission in the back pockets of the casino giants, how can you expect the taxpayer to get a fair shake?

The growth issue is way out of hand in this town and the fault lies with the politicians. They have run wild with our money and have dug us into a hole that I don’t think we can ever get out of. Like his dad, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, Commissioner Reid thinks money grows on trees and will take care of all the problems.

Let’s stop the growth in the next couple of years, get a handle of what we have, and finish the projects we have on the board, including all the street projects.

Dave Mesker

LAS VEGAS

Lane change

To the editor:

Whose idea was it to add the carpool lanes to the widened U.S. Highway 95? It seems that this was a very wasteful use of the space that should have gone toward alleviating traffic congestion stemming from the rapid growth in our city.

Take a drive on U.S. 95 in that area and you will rarely see the HOV lanes being used. Oftentimes when they are used, they are being used by vehicles occupied by only one person.

Shouldn’t the decision of whether to have HOV lanes have been left to the people who are paying for it with their tax dollars instead of some invisible bureaucracy? Maybe it should have been put to a countywide vote.

BRAD NICKELL

HENDERSON

Ungrateful Ely

To the editor:

I read the recent letter from a resident of Ely disgruntled about the possibility of coal plants being built there. Many of the residents of Ely come from Las Vegas. They make their money here and retire there.

And yet when Clark County needs something from White Pine County, they respond with the typical “not in my back yard” attitude.

When Ely starts to donate to state funds even a fraction of what Las Vegas does, then they can snub us.

PATRICK LEE

LAS VEGAS

To the test

To the editor:

Thanks so much for including the “Putting candidates to the Test” commentary by Christopher Hitchins in the Dec. 23 Review-Journal. It serves to remind me that God deigns to allow “opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11). Even to him.

Kelly Warburton

LAS VEGAS