Hanging on, just trying not to go broke

To the editor:

Don’t you think the owners of the old Stardust would love to finish the eyesore they started on the Strip? Across the street, don’t you believe investors would love to finish that empty, blue billion-dollar shell? Projects all around this town were stopped because of a lack of money. Businesses closed because they failed to produce enough income.

As I open my water and power bills, as I shop the sales for my groceries and pay attention to the price of gasoline, my question is: Why?

Why don’t the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the County Commission just shut down that third straw project until they have the money, let alone the need? We obviously have a water supply that takes care of the existing population – and it certainly is not growing. Let us also review the Springs Preserve, the lavish office buildings the water authority operates from and take it one step further, examining all those “water rights” the authority owns.

NV Energy officials are seeking another rate increase. Thanks to our Legislature, they are forced to buy wind and solar power at three to four times the rate that they pay for other sources. Let those who want solar and wind pay for it.

The city of North Las Vegas does not want to be broke. Neither do I. But I am strapped most of the time these days.

Every day my thermostat stays at 81, and I can remember having it set at 75. I monitor my water use and changed from grass to rock – on my own, no subsidy. I drive so much less these days, only the necessary trips.

Are we supposed to believe that the utility companies, those who control the sources at our meters, have no responsibility at all? Are we supposed to believe that $10 here, $50 there, won’t impact us while we read about half-million-dollar salaries, new solar panel fields and that third straw? That our neighbors’ businesses are supposed to suck up hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars off their bottom lines?

This has become crazy. We are not in this together. Some are going to the bank each week, depositing.

Another term comes to mind: I am mad as hell and afraid to open my own bills. I don’t know where else to cut. Cat food?

David Henry

Las Vegas

Rhodes plan

To the editor:

Sunday’s newspaper highlighted a remark by Clark Commissioner Steve Sisolak regarding a company’s decision to abandon plans for a quarry in the Sloan hills. Mr. Sisolak said, “People say you can’t move a mountain, but you can move a gravel pit.”

The parallel comparison is unmistakably clear and shouts out to any informed reader. Perhaps the commissioner will also remark about the Jim Rhodes plan to build a large development on the hill that is now open space and the east entrance to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. After all, you cannot remove or replace Red Rock Canyon and all that it offers, but you can build a city elsewhere and prevent irreversible damage to a national treasure that is Nevada’s crown jewel.

Patricia van Betten

Blue Diamond

Going bankrupt

To the editor:

Paul Carman’s June 22 letter (“Union fan”) claims it is un-American to demonize union members who enjoy the fruits of organized labor. He blames members of the public for not taking the government to task if they dislike union contracts.

Mr. Carman is correct in that the public should take government officials to task for ignoring their responsibility to the taxpayers and giving the unions everything they want in exchange for financial support come campaign time. Taxpayers should oust all incumbents who are pro-labor or are endorsed by labor organizations.

It is difficult, however, for taxpayers not to demonize union members who refuse to accept a pay freeze and insist on benefits that are bankrupting our communities.

It is unconscionable for senior citizens and the poor to have reduced social service benefits because union contracts are draining the budget. It is un-American for a union worker to walk over to his neighbor, who is struggling to hang onto his home, and tell him not to get upset because his property taxes and sales taxes are going to be increased to pay for the union member’s salary increase. It is amoral for unions to pressure government officials to reinstate union employees who are terminated for due cause.

Clark County firefighters stole 57,000 hours of sick time from the taxpayers over a two-year period, and no one was terminated. In fact, two firefighters initially terminated got a one-year paid vacation – and one of them is suing for more money. If that doesn’t upset you, then you’re dead.

Patricia Lee

Las Vegas

No progress

To the editor:

In her June 22 letter, Nancy Feldman Maheras gave her definition of a progressive ideology as someone with good intentions, I presume to “make things better” for everyone.

In political speech, that is great rhetoric. But to many, the definition of a progressive is one who supports a bigger government, approves of more government intrusion and higher taxes and seeks to impose a lower standard of living on the population.

I’ll use the new EPA standards for coal-powered energy plants as a great example. These new standards will force many coal-powered plants to close, prevent many new coal-powered plants from being built and increase energy prices.

This is supposedly a progressive policy supported by progressives.

This country currently has the highest standard of living in the world. But I don’t see how any of the above can be considered progress. Thanks to higher energy bills, the average person will have a lower standard of living and lack the ability to afford to live a more comfortable lifestyle. Those who can afford the added costs will not have the money they once had to spend to help support the economy. Please do explain to all of us how it is progress.

Rick Clawson

North Las Vegas