LETTERS: Race won’t damage national monument

I read with interest the Wednesday article about the Best in the Desert race through the national monument (“Input sought on proposed race through monument”). Many people misunderstand in that they think there will be 300-plus vehicles running through virgin desert, but that is not how it works.

All racing is on existing roads, trails and washes so vegetation is not damaged. The portion through the monument is on an existing road that has been raced on in the past without detriment. Furthermore, few people are aware that after the race, Best in the Desert grades all the roads over which it races.

As Casey Folks, director of Best in the Desert, has said, “We leave the roads better than they were before we got there.” The race will improve the road and not damage the desert. The monument will better because of the race.

Douglas Roorda

Las Vegas

On the plate

I absolutely agree with Annoula Wylderich’s Wednesday letter to the editor concerning the state charging to replace faded plates. I have had the same license plates since 2002 and there is nothing wrong with either one of them. My car is garage kept and the plates have the raised letters and numbers, a type of plate the state doesn’t even produce anymore.

Ms. Wylderich is also correct that there are more cars with no license plates then with faded plates. I have also seen a number of expired temporary plates, yet no one questions them.

Every vehicle goes through DMV so let’s enforce fines for the people who have not registered their cars, drive with expired insurance or have out-of state-plates. The state can certainly pull in more revenue from the drivers who are breaking the law than it can from those with a faded plate.

Barbara M. Trella

Las Vegas

Elephants fighting

I read with utter dismay the news item about the political dispute between Clark County and city of Las Vegas officials over Metro funding (“County withholds funds for police” July 6, Review-Journal). Clark County officials have declared that funds they allocated last month own’t be released without the corresponding $620,000 contribution from the city.

I find this move ridiculous and irrational. I think the release of the funds should be contingent on whether there is an urgent need for it and whether they are available, not whether the city puts up its contribution or not.

Sheriff Joe Lombardo has been dealing with a spike in local violent crimes. Every day we hear about shootings, home invasions, armed robberies and many other crimes committed in our neighborhoods. The crime situation is getting to be alarming. As a resident, I am starting to get worried about the safety and well being of me and my family.

We need a police force that is well manned and adequately equipped to fight crime and to look after the safety and security not only of the residents but of the thousands of tourists who come to Las Vegas every day. The last thing we need are officials bickering and fighting like children.

As they say, when elephants fight, the grass below suffers. In this political squabbling between the county and the city, the real victims are the people of Las Vegas.

Jimmy Viernes

Las Vegas