Letters to the editor
Massive Illegal Tire Dump
creates health, safety hazards
Thousands of cars pass by each day the fenced-in, now-defunct El Capitan mobile home park on Bonanza near Nellis, and probably no one realized what was behind that temporary fence. In fact, until this past week, there was a massive illegal tire dump so large, numbering some 2,000 discarded tires, that it could clearly be seen from satellite photo imagery on Google Earth.
A few weeks ago, returning home by way of Bonanza, in front of me sat a fire engine from Station 16 and an ambulance parked at the entrance of the former mobile home park -- and the temporary fence was down. Presumably there had been a health concern with one of the resident homeless individuals.
And there it was. Past the old clubhouse that served as a homeless cabin of sorts, were rows and rows of dumped tires, some sorted, some piled six feet tall -- all illegally dumped in our neighborhood.
Nevada state law, under NRS 444A, requires that all tires be properly disposed of by each county and not placed in a dump. In fact, each tire customer at legitimate tire businesses in Nevada pays a disposal surcharge up front. In turn, each tire business pays a fee to have those tires properly disposed of by an entity that will essentially recycle them into running paths, playgrounds, parks, et al., and not place a hazardous material, a tire, that won't break down for decades, into city landfills. Some of the hazards associated with waste tires are the high potential for fires that spew toxic chemicals in the air which are difficult to extinguish on a large scale and as a breeding ground for mosquitoes carrying the West Nile v irus.
The entity that is charged with enforcing the s tate provision within Clark County and selecting an adequate disposal alternative for discarded tires is the Southern Nevada Health District . According to the list at SNHD, only Phoenix Recycling Technologies and Lunas Construction Cleanup can recycle. To report possible violations, call 799-0600.
-- Martin Dean Dupalo
Las Vegas
Mother is an inspiration
for raising awareness of bullying
How devastating to read about a mother dealing with the aftermath of her daughter's suicide, the traumatic result of bullying ("A mother's mission: Henderson woman works to increase awareness of bullying," Nov. 8). And then to find how patently irresponsible the Henderson Police -- turning away in the face of a crime. A travesty on top of a tragedy! Have we learned nothing since the Phoebe Prince suicide? Other communities are facing the music and holding bullies accountable. Why not us?
What about Foothill High School? Ten people at a meeting following this suicide! Really? Not even the faculty rallied? Parents in Henderson -- a showcase for ideal family living -- don't come out en masse? What about community leaders? The m ayor? Seven student suicides this year in Clark County? Just because we're desert doesn't mean it's acceptable to keep our heads in the sand.
Helen should be commended for carrying on in the face of tragedy, in spite of the added insult of some degree of indifference. Picking up that torch and trying to save others from such a fate. Inspiring! Kudos to Green Valley (High School) and Miller (Middle School) for pioneering anti-bullying agendas and protecting their students.
Then the irony. A letter to the e ditor extolling the Metro Police. Do they deserve glowing accolades in part because they actually investigate bullying, a crime now in most locations? If any of those six other student suicides were in Metro's jurisdiction, and if bullying was involved, are those cases being investigated now? Should that be the case, Henderson needs to take a page from that book and protect all the children who live here. If not, what happens in Vegas (and Henderson) stays here ... to forever condemn us.
We all need to contact (Henderson View reporter) Michael Lyle to find out how to join Helen's crusade and support Nevada's kids. Let me be the first.
-- Melinda Sleight
Henderson
Letters and questions are always welcome
View encourages readers to send letters to the editor on local issues. Have a gripe? Want to weigh in on a local matter? Have an opinion about a story you read in View? Join the conversation about making the Las Vegas Valley a better place to live. Please keep letters to no more than 300 words. Email letters@viewnews.com, or mail to Letters to the Editor, View Newspapers, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070.
View also seeks the answers to questions residents have about the community. Have you been wondering what's going on in the vacant lot down the street? Do you want to know when that city project is expected to be finished? Send your questions about the Las Vegas Valley to asktheview@viewnews.com, or Ask the View, c/o View Newspapers, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070.
The first week of every month View runs stories on the history behind street, building and place names. Send "Naming Las Vegas" topic suggestions to editor Steve Blust at sblust@viewnews.com or write to him at P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070.
