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A non-union company gets the job done

To the editor:

I’m sure that nearly every citizen in the valley was thrilled that the repaving of Interstate 15 was accomplished in such an efficient and timely manner ("With miles of paint, I-15 flows again," Tuesday Review-Journal). Wow, they finished the job nearly 10 days early despite the rainy weather that plagued the valley. It stands as a monument to the effectiveness and professionalism of the union construction company that pulled off this coup.

What’s that? You say the company that achieved this extraordinary feat was not Las Vegas Paving, a union company, but Fisher Sand & Gravel, a non-union company? How can that be?

I distinctly remember a majority of the Clark County Commission telling us that Fisher Sand & Gravel was an incompetent bidder when the contract to complete the northern loop of the Las Vegas Beltway was awarded.

In fact, didn’t we the taxpayers end up paying not only $10 million more to Las Vegas Paving for the job, but an additional $1 million as compensation to Fisher Sand & Gravel for a rigged bid process?

If this was incompetence, then I want more of it.

Also, I hope Fisher saved some of that rubberized asphalt for the county commissioners, so they can use it to soften the damage to their collective knees when they bow in supplication to their union masters.

Mark Morris

Las Vegas

Just a game

To the editor:

Glenn Cook’s Sunday column, "Where’s the balance in youth sports?" was great. I’m 40 years old and also remember a more glorious, less serious youth sports experience. Today’s parents have jumped the shark — if not out the basement window.

In a practice that was once reserved for local hero types — i.e. Andre Agassi — more and more parents are convinced they have a superstar on their hands. This may certainly be the case, but the kids are most likely super in some area other than 12-year-old basketball that requires weekend junkets to Reno, Phoenix or Tijuana.

I hope we can all slow down a bit, take a deep breath and enjoy the ride — unless it’s a ride to the next do-or-die tournament some weekend to see which 10- and 11-year-old girls team has the best squad in the region.

Jon Sheridan

Las Vegas

Bum’s rush

To the editor:

Hurry, hurry! Step right up to see the "Latest Show on Earth." See the carnival attractions, smell the animal stench and enjoy the controlled mob chaos.

I say hurry because all this fun can’t last. They have no money. When the local politicians grow tired of these festivities, the police stand ready to give them the bum’s rush. That’s Occupy Wall Street — and anywhere else. It’s a carnival passing through.

Cecil Jones

NOrth Las Vegas

Drug companies

To the editor:

In regard to Southern Nevada’s hepatitis C outbreak, members of the medical staff involved in not using sterile equipment should be the only ones held responsible for the infection of patients who had surgical procedures. Propofol cannot be the only drug in the world that is supplied in large vials. Common sense should dictate to doctors and nurses the seriousness of contaminating those vials.

It is unfortunate that the lawyers involved see the drug companies with deep pockets as the villains (Tuesday Review-Journal). While it is a travesty that patients contracted hepatitis C from improper techniques, the medical staff involved should be held liable — not the drug companies.

Be prepared for increased drug costs, thanks to the lawyers.

Carolyn Amerman

Las Vegas

No victim

To the editor:

In response to the Tuesday story, "Pastor was gambling addict":

More enabling of the clergy, not to mention con artists everywhere. Thousands of men and women with gambling addictions who are in recovery have copped to their crimes and quietly made restitution or served time. Why is this person worthy of a tragic "back story" that does not help an addicted gambler?

The Review-Journal is guilty of paving the road to hell with good intentions.

Monsignor Kevin McAuliffe is accused of stealing a huge chunk of change from his flock and needs to feel the shame all the way before he is let off the hook as a victim. Get real.

Marti Klever

Henderson

Down to basics

To the editor:

I see the two headlines, "Fed chief says outlook bleak," then, "Corporate profits could be in trouble." How long will it take corporate America to connect the two? Our jobs are overseas. Are 34-cents-an-hour overseas laborers going to buy corporate America’s product? I don’t think so.

Keep it up, job creators. We out-of-work people will be down to the basics: beans and cardboard homes.

Go Wall Street protesters.

ROY A. WILLIAMS

LAS VEGAS

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