Must we always have a camera in our face?

To the editor:

In response to Sherman Frederick’s Sunday column on traffic cameras: Egad, Sherman, what are you thinking about? You say you want more traffic cameras on the streets? Who is paying for this spyware? The public already has six or more of these intrusive little devils sitting perched at every intersection as it is.

Who gave the OK for these in the first place? What company has the contract? Now you want to have even more of these Orwellian intruders forced among us? Have you ever seen the movie "Enemy of the State?" Is that what we are becoming, a country where we can’t move without a camera in our face?

I believe the answer to improved traffic enforcement is to implement a vigorous enforcement program, not a spy program. Although there may be one upside to the cameras — if people realize they will be having their picture taken as they run a red light, at least they will be smiling.

Ron Moers

HENDERSON

Boyd tribute

To the editor:

Few current Las Vegans will realize the significance of the recent announcement from Bill Boyd that he is handing over the reins of his and his father’s namesake company to another (Saturday Review-Journal).

I have walked the sands of Waikiki with both Bill and his father, Sam. In my 28-plus years in the casino business. I counted both as my friends and mentors. This is a memorable day: the last of "old school Las Vegas" is changing — but, thankfully, still with us.

A firm handshake and full eye contact used to be our contract. If it was not good for the customer, don’t bring it up. If all parties did not share in the spoils, it was a bad deal.

Bill, you will always be in the hearts and minds of us still here with you — as a friend and as a builder of business, buildings and people. Thank you for so many great years.

John M. Blink

LAS VEGAS

Misleading headline

To the editor:

I was very interested to see on the front page of the Sunday Review-Journal a headline that read: "Poll finds more Americans uneasy with recent rulings, seeing them as ‘too conservative.’ " While flipping to the article I imagined riots in the streets as large numbers of people protested the "far right court." Then I noticed from the byline that the article came from The Washington Post, and the red flags came.

As I read the article, I noticed that the numbers from the poll didn’t match the headline. The poll found that 31 percent of those polled believed the court was slanted to the right, while 47 percent believed the court was balanced (I assume the other 22 percent is not aware that a Supreme Court even exists).

This is the sort of misleading journalism that we’ve all come to expect from The Post and The New York Times, but hardly from the Review-Journal. No wonder consumer confidence in the mainstream press is at an all-time low.

RICK BURNAM

HENDERSON

Gravitational slur

To the editor:

I am no fan of District Judge Elizabeth Halverson. In fact, I believe that if she has done the things that she is accused of, she is not qualified to be a judge. However, I feel that the description of her weight had no place in last week’s article about her. In my opinion, that was the same as an ethnic or racial slur and has no place in responsible journalism.

MARJORIE GUIHN

LAS VEGAS

Lawn problem

‘To the editor:

"Waterlogged yards" in the Sunday Review-Journal reinforced what we already know but can’t seem to get serious about: Grass in the desert is incompatible with the valley’s future.

Bob Fulkerson of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada was not afraid to call it as it is when he said Las Vegas needs to get rid of its lawns. The problem pointed out in the article is the unwillingness of homeowners and politicians to take the next step. The Southern Nevada Water Authority’s $2-a-square foot grass conversion subsidy is a good start, but is still just a start.

Most people don’t want to spend the additional dollars it takes to convert to desert landscaping without some kind of payback. If landscape watering costs are doubled or tripled and people are made aware that it is going to cost them several thousand dollars per household if the water authority has to build its pipeline project, the lawns would disappear.

Tom Keller

HENDERSON