LETTERS: FIFA scandal shows Las Vegas citizens knew better than mayor
To the editor:
What wonderful irony brought about by the FIFA scandal. A citizen revolt saved Las Vegas from welcoming a franchise in the world’s most corrupt sport, soccer.
I wonder, does Mayor Carolyn Goodman still regret her failure to bring in a disreputable sport well-matched to her husband’s Sin City promotional materials? And does former Mayor Oscar Goodman still believe that any great city needs a major sports team — in any sport — to enhance community identification and entice more gamblers?
Perhaps Mr. Goodman does regret losing another opportunity to defend renowned criminals, another chapter for the Mob Museum.
BENETH B. MORROW
LAS VEGAS
Strip subway subpar
To the editor:
I cannot believe we are revisiting a subway on the Strip (“Strip subway system proposed,” May 28 Review-Journal). Due to the pressure of the casino industry and the Nevada Taxicab Authority, this idea was previously squelched, and officials instead decided to invest millions of dollars to landscape the Strip median with palm trees. The money for that program was burning a hole in someone’s pocket. Major fail.
The R-J article included an illustration of the proposed subway route. It looks exactly like the proposed route for the original monorail. The RTC can’t even run a bus system. How is it going to run a subway? I also hope the Taxicab Authority doesn’t get involved with this, although the best thing about the subway, if it gets approved and built, is that it will put the authority out of business once and for all.
Are we really ready for another subsidized mass transit failure in Southern Nevada? If you think the tunneling efforts for the latest straw at Lake Mead were expensive, wait for the final costs on this one. It will have to be deep to get under all the existing utilities, probably 25-plus feet. There is a lot of groundwater the entire length of this proposed project, especially around the Strip and Spring Mountain Road.
Wouldn’t it be cheaper to just turn the Strip into a mall like Fremont Street, sans the freaks?
RICHARD W. ANDERSON
LAS VEGAS
Pedestrian-only Strip
To the editor:
Why would the Regional Transportation Commission think that tourists — who came to see the Strip — would want to travel underneath it? (“Strip subway system proposed,” May 28 Review-Journal). The current monorail goes behind everything, so it’s not much of a draw.
Why doesn’t the RTC consider making the Strip pedestrian-only, like Fremont Street? Traffic could go on a side street, which could either be one-way or not. Officials already know this is possible, because traffic is diverted on New Year’s Eve each year. I have suggested this before, but it’s either too revolutionary or doesn’t cost enough to line someone’s pockets.
VAL CAMPBELL
LAS VEGAS
Taxi driver protests
To the editor:
Coverage in the Review-Journal (“Taxi drivers protest Uber, May 30 Review-Journal” and on television showed cabdrivers marching around with various protest signs, including a few stating, “Keep our roads safe.” Those signs showed a little hypocrisy.
Most Las Vegas taxi drivers have very aggressive driving habits. I often observe them exceeding speed limits, moving in and out of traffic in unsafe fashion, talking on cellphones while driving and making many other unsafe maneuvers.
While many people may or may not support cabdrivers’ objections to Uber, I feel they are not the ones who should cry about keeping our roads safe.
JOE SCHAERER
LAS VEGAS
Clinton’s speaking fees
To the editor:
A recent issue of Time magazine disclosed that San Diego’s Qualcomm Inc., with a $9.5 million lobbying budget in Washington, D.C., was charged $335,000 by Hillary Clinton for a speech. Meanwhile, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Foundation paid Mrs. Clinton $225,000. Mrs. Clinton has been offering to make speeches for six-figure paychecks from companies and associations that have lobbyists working on federal issues which are certain to confront her should she win the presidency in 2016.
Any intelligent candidate ought to be pleased to appear at nonprofit educational institutions such as UNLV for $25,000, maybe $50,000. The UNLV event also put hundreds of copies of her new book in circulation. Could you imagine candidates Dwight D. Eisenhower (president of Columbia University when he was running for office), John F. Kennedy or Ronald Reagan demanding big bucks to bring their message to academia? I think Mrs. Clinton should contribute $100,000 to the UNLV Foundation, and soon, if she wants to remove the greed concern that many of us have.
MIKE SCHAEFER
LAS VEGAS
‘Mallard Fillmore’ as satire
To the editor:
I completely disagree with the sentiment of Ray Byrom’s letter (“Move ‘Mallard Fillmore,’” May 20 Review-Journal). Back in school, I was taught about a writing style known as satire. Satire, such as “Gulliver’s Travels,” can be pointed at government, public opinion, fashion, whatever. Satire is most often designed to be humorous and can be very pointed.
Throughout history, some of our founders and many famous American authors used satire to get their points across. “Mallard Fillmore” belongs on the comic page because it is humor.
Besides, where was this type of concern when “Doonesbury” was running daily?
MICHAEL DUNEGAN
LAS VEGAS
