LETTERS: PUC commissioners should be elected, not appointed

Gov. Brian Sandoval’s hand-picked “gang of three” on the Nevada Public Utilities Commission do not serve in the public’s interest, as witnessed by their recent votes to punish and eliminate all rooftop solar customers in Nevada (“PUC OKs new solar rates,” Dec. 23 Review-Journal). Therefore, these commissioners should not be appointed positions. The Legislature needs to make these publicly elected positions so that we, the public, can choose qualified candidates to represent the public’s interests, not the interests of NV Energy.

Gov. Sandoval should be required to convene a special session of the Legislature to fire these biased commissioners and let the public have a real voice in controlling the NV Energy monopoly. The only other alternative is for the public to initiate a ballot measure for the upcoming election, requiring that PUC commissioners be elected officials.

We should seriously consider recalling Gov. Sandoval for supporting his commissioners and for his bait-and-switch policies regarding rooftop solar systems.

James Collier

Henderson

Deeds, not words

The editorial board of the Review-Journal is to be commended for its strong assertion of a commitment to not be influenced, directed or coerced by the newspaper’s new owner (“We will continue to fight for your trust every day,” Dec. 20 Review-Journal). And let’s face it, Sheldon Adelson is the new owner, regardless of how the purchase may have been structured.

However, one has only to look at other publications owned by Mr. Adelson, his family and associates to see what such ownership creates. Most notably, Mr. Adelson’s Israel Hayom publication has been a brash and histrionic supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud party; no need for balance or a judicious editorial approach in that case, apparently. Judging on Mr. Adelson’s deeds rather than words, I am deeply concerned about the ability of the RJ to continue its stance, particularly as we enter what will be a deeply contentious year in politics — a field in which Mr. Adelson has long been among the most active in the country.

Having grown up in St. Louis during the heyday of the Pulitzer-owned Post-Dispatch and its polar opposite, the ironically named Globe-Democrat, I am well aware that all newspapers bear their owners’ stamp, as well as that of their publishers and editors. Gentlemen and ladies of the RJ, we will all be looking for deeds, not words. Good luck.

Tony Higgins

Las Vegas

Private vs. public

I’d like to rebut Robert Bencivenga’s letter, which stated the Review-Journal was hypocritical in refusing to identify its new owners, while at the same time demanding the contents of the Clark County School District teacher contract (“Transparent Hypocrisy,” Dec. 19 RJ). The RJ is a privately owned business, while CCSD is “owned” by the taxpaying citizens of Clark County.

The RJ was under no obligation to immediately identify its new owners. But since CCSD is funded with tax money, the citizens have every right to immediately know the content of any new contract. There is no irony. The contract is legally required public information, while a change in ownership of a private business is not.

Patrick S. Cater

North Las Vegas

Bundy as Bush

The drama of the front-page headline, “Mission: Oregon,” brought a smile to my face (Jan. 4 Review-Journal). The puffery of it struck me as something written by an aspiring screenwriter. I was ready for an Ammon Bundy cavalry charge. Besides, the two words smacked of an imperative and reminded me of the pomp and bravado of President George W. Bush, in his flight jacket on a U.S. carrier deck, declaring our Iraqi action a “mission accomplished.”

As for Mr. Bundy, I have no clue what he’s trying to do. It’s just a smaller version of our former cowboy president, again gone terribly wrong.

Lee Mallory

Las Vegas