Letters to the editor Oct. 27

Guy Farmer, get the facts on Downtown project

Sorry, Carson City. Bear with me one more time.

Mr. Farmer, you asked former mayors, who are not involved in the details of the Downtown project, for their opinion. Why not ask the present mayor, who knows the issues and has been doing his own research?

You quote candidate Rob Joiner, who states, "It's one of the poorest designs for an urban center project I've ever seen." There has been no basis for this claim. In fact, you first noted that quote during the public input stage of the design, prior to the experts even formalizing a design. The design still is not formalized even to this date.

You then quote another casino owner, who does not know the details of the economics of the plan, as saying, "It's the most ridiculous economic business project I've ever seen."

Not one of you has ever discussed the project with me or the experts. You and yours are against the project for reasons other than the facts, with which you don't want to be bothered. You opine without knowledge of the details of the plan. May I ask what the real motive is behind all of your cooperative efforts?

An unbiased, responsible opinion should at least require that one meet with those who have been working for a year getting input and developing the details. At least put on a reasonable front, Mr. Farmer! You have not been fair-handed; instead you have become a mouthpiece for those who want to create controversy for their own purpose.

Steve Neighbors

president, Carson Nugget

Masto ad misrepresents facts on Barrick

I was a bit surprised when our incumbent AG's TV ad came out claiming that Travis Barrick served time for harassing women. Upon checking the San Luis Obispo Tribune article, I discovered he was arrested for blocking the entrance to a San Diego abortion clinic in 1989, and chose to do 45 days in jail for misdemeanor trespassing rather than pay the fine.

According to a Las Vegas Review-Journal article, the clinic was notorious for performing late term abortions. While many may disagree with me, I have respect for this man, and I now have less respect for Ms.Cortez Masto for running an ad that misrepresents what Mr. Barrick was actually trying to do - save unborn babies who have no representation. I know whom I will be voting for in the upcoming election.

Cheryl Fleming

Carson City

Sen. Reid has served Nevada well

I am a native Nevadan who has spent most of my life in Nevada. Now, as I listen to the campaign rhetoric going on prior to our election, I find I must make some comments. Granted, I am a Democrat and have been active in my party through the years, but I have always kept an open mind.

However, in years past Nevada had a very low population and as a result needed good representation in Washington to protect our interests. We have always been fortunate in that respect, and now we have a situation where again we have to make a choice between having one of the most influential men in Congress represent us or again be relegated to the category of a less-populated state.

I presume that many of you do not follow politics closely, but you really should stop and think about your welfare and the welfare of the state you live in, then choose your senator very carefully.

I have known Sen. Reid for a good many years and know him to be a dedicated public servant who has served Nevadans very well. It would be a tragic loss for Nevada if he is not returned to the Senate to continue the work he does for us and our country.

Gertrude Gottschalk

Carson City

Reid's attack ads distort truth about Angle

Harry Reid has strongly attacked Sharron Angle. But are his attacks warranted? Does she want to eliminate Social Security? Not on your life. Her real stance is to put a lockbox on it so that liberals like Harry Reid can't raid it to fund other programs. She also supports giving people the option of creating private Social Security accounts, so that their money remains safe from re-distribution to someone else.

What about the ad accusing her of forcing innocent rape victims to have their babies? The truth is, this is just a mean-spirited way of saying Sharron is pro-life.

How about Reid's accusation that she doesn't support job creation? Another distortion. Sharron believes it is the task of the private sector to create jobs. The role of government is to provide an economic climate conducive to business growth and job creation. Reid is a socialist and Sharron a free marketer. Socialism impoverishes a nation, but the free market empowers people to prosper.

Lastly, some Christians worry that she is a Scientologist. She is not. This is a false rumor. She is a Southern Baptist. When in the Assembly, she proposed that lawmakers investigate a program (sponsored by Scientologists) that helps prisoners kick drugs. The Democrats nixed the trip. That is all there is to it.

I can't touch upon all the attack ads, but the bottom line is that they are all severe distortions of the truth. Don't believe them.

Lona White

Carson City

Candidate touts experience in race for assessor

My name is Ian Mindling. I am running to be your next assessor. We've endured enough of the incumbent's experience. We need a change and a new attitude.

When a financial institution improves a property, doing their best to sell a home at market value, don't you think the assessor should consider that sale when setting your home's value? I will correctly include, not exclude, foreclosure sales.

I've heard a lot of disgruntlement from both outside and inside the office. People aren't having a good experience. Generally speaking, the issues include morals, human interaction and management ability.

I am a quite different person. My background includes nearly two decades of management and training experience. That's far beyond an air traffic controller's experience of "watching green blips on a screen," as the incumbent assessor touts. Important work, certainly, yet different in every way from interacting with the public and working with and managing an office of individuals. For me, this was blatantly obvious from the very first related experience. Now, the sum of what I've heard is simply intolerable. Taxpayers are owed far higher standards and deserve better, at every level.

More than just an acceptable and positive influence, I feel my integrity, morals, analytical mind, computer expertise, management/training skills and real estate experience provide a comprehensive skill set that is superbly suited to the office of assessor. I will provide superior and courteous service.

Thank you for your vote.

Ian Mindling

Carson City

Looking for intelligent signs of life

Dear Nevadans, I just beamed down from a solar system far away and am trying to understand your state's election system. I saw a wild-eyed woman by the name of Sharron Angle speaking to a group of white, elderly folks who were wearing tea bags suspended from their antennae. Her message was that your state's current economic troubles appear have been caused by your brilliant president, who has sponsored refreshing health care legislation, banking reform to prevent Wall Street crime, stimulus funding which prevented a wholescale economic depression, the termination of one illegal war and hopefully another, small business loans and increasing job creation.

My planet's review of your history indicates that the previous Bush/Cheney criminal administration caused your nation's economic woes by deregulation of the banking industry, conducting wars without mandated funding, outsourcing jobs, protecting corporate interests, and violating several principles of the Constitution (unwarranted wiretapping).

I further searched your television system to gather information, but all I could find were dancing programs, sexual enhancement ads, and the "Fox News Channel" which showed a lot of screaming, hateful bigots who kept using the same words repeatedly and featuring a few hot, dumb, morally challenged Republican chicks.

We were considering colonizing Area 51 in Nevada, but are reconsidering since your state ranked so low in education, environmental concerns, health status, enlightened tax policy, and displayed an extreme amount of stupidity which may be only enhanced if the Angle is elected.

Sincerely, E.T.

John Sesney, Ph.D.

Carson City