Time for a moratorium on growth
To the editor:
In his critique of plans to import water from rural Nevada, Bob Fulkerson of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada concludes that the recent state engineer’s ruling makes it clear “that the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s numbers simply aren’t credible” (Review-Journal, April 29). I think Mr. Fulkerson was being nice in his assessment. I would be more prone to say that the water authority and its bosses (the Clark County commissioners) are deliberately overestimating our water resources to maintain a mindless but profitable development boom.
For example, in one week we are told that we need water from the north as a buffer against the drought. In the next week we are told that the water from the north will enable us to add another 500,000 people to Las Vegas. Adding 500,000 more people is not going to act as a buffer against drought. The deception is clear and present.
Deception is apparent in many of the authority’s pronouncements. The Review-Journal’s Keith Rogers, reporting on the newest plan, notes that it “allows the Southern Nevada Water Authority to tap its holdings in the Coyote Spring basin” (Review-Journal, April 30). The authority holds rights to 9,000 acre-feet of water, but the Coyote Springs master-planned development is going to need 50,000 to 100,000 acre-feet of water. That means the water authority will obtain a small amount of water for a short period of time — after which, the authority will become the supplier for yet another population flux that will exacerbate an already critical situation.
You can’t blame developers for pushing to extreme limits, but you can blame a body of public servants willing to turn what was once an oasis into an unsustainable mess. Because commissioners seem unable to resist development dollars, we need a ballot initiative calling for the only thing that makes sense given the facts — a moratorium on growth.
Evan Blythin
BLUE DIAMOND
Not too bright
To the editor
The Democrats in Congress do not seem to understand what our president is saying.
He said he would veto any bill sent to him with a time line for withdrawal on the Iraq war. So what do they do? They sent him a bill with a time line in it.
What was it Forrest Gump said about stupid?
FRANK EICHELE
LAS VEGAS
Belt law
To the editor:
The proposed primary seat belt legislation makes terminal dandruff from an itchy scalp.
When I was working in Germany 25 years ago, I noticed the Germans had no trouble getting people to wear seat belts: If you had an accident without your seat belts fastened, your insurance was invalid. That was motivation. It also saves the cops lots of traffic stops.
LEE R. BISHOP
LAS VEGAS
On the plate
To the editor:
Instead of the state Legislature considering useless bills, why don’t lawmakers see that the police aggressively enforce NRS 482.385, concerning the registration of vehicles of nonresident owners?
This statute states that a person has 60 days to register his vehicle after becoming a permanent resident. When the person applies for his Nevada driver’s license, the DMV is supposed to notify him of the requirements of NRS 482.385. The DMV is also supposed to keep a list of these people and send a report to the Department of Public Safety each month.
How much revenue is the state of Nevada losing for road construction by not aggressively enforcing this statute?
AARON DANIELS
LAS VEGAS
Illegal flood
To the editor:
We’re long past panic time regarding illegal immigrants. Consider that nobody knows how many there are. Estimates I’ve heard range from 12 million to 20 million or more — and that 2 million enter our country every year (in 10 years that’s another 20 million). They’ve overwhelmed the schools and hospitals in the border states, and it’s only going to get worse.
Their supporters try to claim that they’re just like the legal immigrants who came here over the past two centuries, but that’s baloney. The legal immigrants came here to become American citizens. They registered with the authorities, applied for citizenship, tried to learn the language and worked hard in their newfound land. They were proud to be Americans, and they instilled that pride in their children.
Illegals, on the other hand, can’t legally become citizens, and have to work below the radar in all of their endeavors. They are Mexicans or Brazilians or other nationalities with no allegiance to America. If America were in trouble, they could pack up and go home. How many illegals do you think filed a 1040 form and paid taxes? Yet they expect all the protections and services American citizens get.
It’s time for our political leaders to take charge and shut the borders — and, whenever possible, return these illegal immigrants to their countries.
RICHARD J. MUNDY
LAS VEGAS
