LETTERS: UNLV basketball coach Rice needs to go

To the editor:

Regretfully, I have reached the conclusion that UNLV men’s basketball coach Dave Rice must either resign or be fired. His teams have consistently underperformed, often looking ill-prepared, and Coach Rice seems unable to make in-game adjustments. He doesn’t seem to have control over the team, as evidenced by players not being benched when they ignore his instructions or depart from his game philosophy.

Even recruiting, which was once considered one of Mr. Rice’s strength’s, is turned on its ear when one considers how many talented players have transferred from UNLV. Coach Rice is relatively young and may yet grow into a good or even great college basketball coach. However, right now, he is wasting the talent of his players, the money of the university and the time of UNLV fans.

GREG GRANT

LAS VEGAS

Stop soccer stadium

To the editor:

Regarding Las Vegas City Councilman Bob Beers’ petition against the downtown soccer stadium, I have been collecting signatures, and I would like Mayor Carolyn Goodman to know how much we don’t want to pay for her stadium (“Beers challenges clerk’s ruling,” Tuesday Review-Journal). I haven’t talked to a single person who isn’t eager to sign the petition.

No one feels that we can afford to pay so much for a stadium, when there are many other things that need to be paid for. I am grateful to Councilman Beers for sticking to his guns. I think the City Council will be surprised to find out how much we are against having this jammed down our throats.

BEVERLY COPE

LAS VEGAS

Stadium or schooling?

To the editor:

Why is Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman pushing so hard to get this $56.5 million in funds pushed through for a downtown soccer stadium? What’s in it for her? Why won’t the City Council extend the time for Councilman Bob Beers to get more names signed on the petition to stop this stadium, which nobody in Las Vegas cares about?

We have the worst-educated children in the country. We should consider using any money from the city to help educate these kids, so that they can compete with others to get good jobs when they graduate and be able to support themselves.

No one wants to be transferred here for job relocation when they see our school ratings. You’ll never get into a decent college. Let’s fight this money for a stadium and win against the politicians, who are only out for themselves.

SUZY EINHORN

LAS VEGAS

Sales tax for education

To the editor:

It seems to me that no one can think of a simple and fair way to raise funds to improve schools in this state. But no one seems to be mentioning raising the sales tax. If you raised the sales tax by 0.2 percentage points, that would only be two cents on $10, or 20 cents on $100. Food and medicines are not taxed, so such a tax would not be a burden on lower-income earners. In fact, a great deal of the tax would be paid by tourists buying goods here.

One other way that seems fair relates to sales at big-box stores. For instance, if you buy new kitchen cabinets or flooring, you pay tax on your purchase. If instead you have the big-box store install your purchase, you don’t pay any tax because it is considered a service. Is that fair?

These are just a few ideas from a taxpayer in this state on how to improve education — by having everyone pitch in.

CHARLISE BUTLER

PAHRUMP