Opening ‘The District’ to motor vehicles
To the editor:
Known for its unique, safe and friendly atmosphere, Green Valley Ranch’s The District will forever be marred by revving motorcycle and car engines if the Phoenix-based Vestar Development Co. has its way with the Henderson Planning Commission.
The peaceful locale where visitors and locals can roam freely without dodging cars will become just an ordinary noisy shopping area, with customers fighting for the newly planned 46 parking spaces. Gone will be the fun outdoor music evenings, holiday celebrations and eating areas. Gone will be the mature trees and beautiful stone planters. Gone will be toddlers running freely without fear of being mown down by vehicular traffic. Gone will be the sweet smells.
What will destroying this soothing area accomplish? There are acres of adjoining vacant land on which can be placed tiered parking – something much appreciated in the heat of summer. What happens when the first car runs down a frolicking toddler? The death of The District is on the shoulders of those who would even entertain the insane proposal of placing a two-way street through the retail center.
I hope the Henderson Planning Commission refuses to be penny wise and dollar foolish and ruin a wonderful family experience.
BARBARA SIMMS
HENDERSON
Government expansion
To the editor:
In his Nov. 22 letter, former Assemblyman Harry Mortenson asserts the approval of state Question 1, empowering the state Legislature to summon itself into special session, will repair disastrous “conditions that existed in Nevada prior to Nov. 6.” How silly.
By comparison, Mr. Mortenson says it would be a calamity if our national Congress were to stay home for 20 out of every 24 months, unless called into session by the president.
If only.
For that would be 20 fewer months for lawmakers to do what they by nature are most prone to do – wreak grief and damage upon their jurisdiction.
The lawmaker today never feels his title justified sitting at home. Therefore, it’s only natural that any legislative body, granted the power, will put themselves to work making new laws whether or not they’re needed, nor with any regard to just how grievous or damaging those laws prove in application.
So the crux of this question is not inequity among the branches. Nevada’s constitution already has sufficient checks and balances. Rather, this is an issue of the power and reach of government.
That government is best which governs least. We Nevadans once subscribed to this venerable creed to which our country’s unique and unprecedented glory can be ascribed. But we seem to have forgotten it, or worse, rejected it.
And I think the reason for that is the same reason Mr. Mortenson cannot sympathize with the Review-Journal’s Nov. 15 editorial – that same reason Congress can’t stop from wreaking grief and damage: They’re spellbound by the delusion that it’s government’s province to solve all our problems, without which their poor childlike constituents will founder in their own irresponsible and incapable stew.
It’s a faulty, tragic notion.
JOSHUA LONGOBARDY
LAS VEGAS
No Kennedy memoriam
To the editor:
In the Nov. 22 Review-Journal, I could find no reference to or remembrance of the death of John F. Kennedy, the first president I ever voted for. Is this an attempt to revise history, or an oversight by people ignorant of history. Or is there some other reason?
GARY FOSTER
LAS VEGAS
Culture clash
To the editor:
According to Jerry Patchman (Friday letter), a college education is not equivalent to being educated. What’s more, if you are educated at one of America’s higher learning institutions, which by the way are known as some of the best in the world, you are brainwashed and now lack common sense.
Maybe, just maybe, when students get a deeper understanding of how things work, they move to the middle of the political spectrum. Right now, if you find yourself in the middle, the Republican Party is not for you.
Are you really saying that a lack of a college degree gives you more common sense? What a twisted world we live in.
JOHN PAULI
LAS VEGAS
Union workers only
To the editor
Your Nov. 21 article, “Moapa solar plant deal signed,” seems to be good news for Nevada’s struggling construction industry. Unfortunately, a closer look reveals that the 85 percent of Nevada construction workers who choose to work non-union will not be given an opportunity to work on this project, because the developer has decided not to seek bids from non-union electrical contractors.
Moapa Solar Energy Center, the developer of the 200-megawatt plant on 2,000 acres of the Moapa River Indian Reservation, issued a request for proposal that advised bidders they must use only electricians affiliated with a local IBEW union. This despite the fact that statistics show more than 85 percent of construction workers nationally and in Nevada choose to work without a union affiliation.
This was one of two Nevada solar projects that were fast-tracked under a directive issued by President Obama, ordering federal agencies to identify nationally or regionally significant projects and move them forward.
We applaud the Obama administration for being proactive in trying to spur job growth in the construction industry. However, it should not be hard to figure out that you cannot get the construction industry back to work in Nevada while telling 85 percent of the industry that they don’t get to compete for the jobs being advanced by the federal government.
The Nevada Legislature moved aggressively in the last session to ensure Nevada projects are employing Nevada-based workers. That bipartisan effort did not distinguish between union and non-union workers, but identified all Nevada construction workers as critical to the economy.
This development is counterproductive to that objective and the Associated Builders and Contractors of Nevada calls on the developer of the Moapa Solar Energy Center to allow an equal opportunity to compete to all qualified Nevada workers.
MICHELE DAUGHERTY
LAS VEGAS
The writer is president of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Nevada chapter.
