LETTERS: ‘True school choice’ not quite here yet

To the editor:

I must admit that my heart soared when I opened the April 16 Review-Journal and read the headline of the editorial, “‘True school choice’ arrives.” Yes, “up until this moment,” Gov. Brian Sandoval said when he signed Assembly Bill 165, “we have not had true school choice in Nevada.” Finally, private schools have been put on the table for middle- and lower-income families — although it’s only 640 of them for now.

But we should be happy with that. At least it’s a start.

The best part of this program is that it will be funded by donations from businesses. No taxpayer money will be used, as long as you don’t count the offsetting tax credit these businesses will get for their donation. This is such a good deal that it should be opened up to individual taxpayers. I know I would donate to the fund as long as I got an offsetting credit against my property taxes.

The most curious thing about this program is that it is being hailed as “true school choice.” The program assumes that a parent’s “true school choice” will be a private school. What if the parent’s true choice is to take their child out of a two-star public school and put him/her in a five-star public school? This would actually save the state money, rather than costing the state $7,755 for the scholarship.

As the Review-Journal’s Glenn Cook so elegantly pointed out in his “Numbers don’t lie” column last October, our best-performing schools are among the worst-funded in the state, and our worst-performing schools are among the best-funded campuses in the state. So it would seem to make more sense to close all of our one- and two-star schools, and give the parents the choice to send their child to any four- or five- star school. This would give true school choice to more than just 640 lucky students.

RICHARD PRATT

LAS VEGAS

NV Energy kudos

To the editor:

I was surprised to read about the discontent with NV Energy by some of the Las Vegas hotels (“Gaming companies want out,” April 10 Review-Journal). As a homeowner, I have always been treated well by NV Energy. Its customer service is among the best I have ever encountered. NV Energy has my complete confidence and support.

NEIL HOWARD

LAS VEGAS

Solar power play

To the editor:

The solar metering program capped at 3 percent, supported by NV Energy, seems almost criminal (“Metering program might be quashed,” April 16 Review-Journal). Along with that, we have a governor in Brian Sandoval who remains neutral of any political positioning on this matter. Sadly, politicians only have enough foresight to cover two to four years into the future.

NV Energy says the net metering cap for rooftop solar is a complicated matter. Really?

It looks like there’s good chance Lake Mead might, in the near future, go to dead pool, causing electrical generation from the Hoover Dam to cease. It is not a matter of if, but when, all the data come in that fracturing the earth to extract gas and oil will prove to be an environmental disaster. In the meantime, Gov. Sandoval chooses to remain silent on net metering.

NV Energy’s purpose is to send electricity through power lines for consumer use. What sources they acquire that electricity through should be what are best for the planet and people served. This public utility is clearly not functioning in the best interest of Nevada, and our governor chooses to do nothing. Clearly, fossil fuels are a limited resource, and continued drought in the West will limit hydropower production. Now is the time for forward thinking, not protecting the wealthy corporations.

STEVEN GINTHER

MESQUITE

Why is PERS special?

To the editor:

Regarding Paul Aizley’s letter (“PERS not in need of major reforms,” April 16 Review-Journal), he writes, “Each payday, the salary is paid to the employee, and an agreed upon amount is put into the PERS account and held for the employee. Once these amounts are paid, the money no longer belongs to the public. The PERS account is not the public’s money — the money belongs to the employees. It is their retirement money.”

What if PERS made bad investments and was unable to make payments to its retirees? Why are taxpayers contractually obligated to guarantee the bailout of mismanaged retirement investment accounts?

PERS accounts are guaranteed by the taxpayers. My 401(k) account has no guarantee. It appears the Social Security system has no guarantee. Why is PERS so special?

KELLY SMITH

LAS VEGAS

Clinton’s candidacy

To the editor:

So, Hillary Clinton has announced she’s running for president again. Isn’t she collecting enough government pensions? Until she answers for Benghazi and the scandal involving her personal email account, she won’t get my vote.

This country doesn’t need four more years of President Barack Obama’s philosophy. Hopefully Democrats won’t nominate her and will find a candidate who will work for the people, not for a personal agenda. Voters need to inform themselves and let their respective parties know Mrs. Clinton is a poor choice.

MARLENE DROZD

LAS VEGAS