Letters to the editor for Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014

Dogs have taken over Sonoma Park

Just wanted to say that Sonoma Park no longer belongs to the people. A person cannot see any people play ball, fly a kite or just have fun in the park any longer. Dogs have taken it over as a giant public bathroom. What a shame.

There was a time when a person could see lots of children and adults have fun there. The parks department may as well remove the potty bags and trash cans from the entrances of the park. We taxpayers now pay to keep the park mowed and watered — not for the use of the people.

Just tired of the mess and smell.

Della Harmon

Carson City

Victims deserve treatment in Carson City

The article in the Nevada Appeal that reveals that Carson Tahoe Hospital will not do exams for sexual assault victims is heartbreaking. The fact that the only hospital in our community has decided that providing this basic service to the victims of sexual assault in our community shows a lack of understanding of the concept of providing complete medical services to the community.

When a hospital official is quoted as saying doing the exams isn’t in the victims’ best interest and CTH accepts victims, sequesters them for comfort and gives whatever aid possible, it sounds like they are quoting from a script from the dawn of the 20th century, not the 21st.

If the issue is training, as stated in the original article, then CTH needs to get people the proper training so that they can provide sexual assault victims with the resource they need locally, instead of forcing them to travel to Sparks to receive this fundamental service.

According to the article, this training is not difficult to obtain and is offered by the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. CTH’s website touts its non-profit status and their dedication to our community. I think it is time they put their money where their mouth is and take the steps necessary to offer exams for victims of sexual assault.

Gary Pulsipher

Carson City

Dems have Senate and aren’t touching climate change

I flipped through the few pages of the Nevada Appeal and came across the “commentary” written by Anne Macquarie. She says that when she became older she thought she would “get” more conservative. Before that statement, she says that it is the Republican Party that has blocked attempts to slow or stop climate change. Is she in a cave somewhere?

The Democrats have had control of the Senate for more than eight years now and they have done little to nothing about “climate change.” It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that every time a match is lit that some heat is generated, let alone the giant corporations that spill millions of degrees of artificially generated heat into our atmosphere.

Having said that, what is Anne doing to lower the amount of heat generated? If each of us just put another sweater on and lowered the thermostat one degree, would it make a difference? Has she taken into consideration that the earth, even without human interference, has had several “climate changes” in its history?

Where does the Nevada Appeal find these “thinkers?” I suggest that Anne and her fellow “thinkers” do something instead of writing about it ... just my two cents that using my computer just put another few degrees of heat into the problem. Anne, “get” conservative, and save our planet.

Richard Doke

Carson City

Carson City joins International Day of Peace

In 1981 the United Nations established Sept. 21 as the International Day of Peace. In doing so, the UN, in spite of very troubling times, has devoted itself to encouraging worldwide peace and justice.

This year, in addition to Peace Day, we are also celebrating a week of nonviolent action as established by Pace e Bene Campaign Nonviolence. We are extremely proud to say that Gov. Sandoval, Mayor Cashell, Mayor Martini, and Mayor Crowell have each recognized this important day and week by officially proclaiming Sept. 21-27 as the International Week of Peace and Non-Violent Action for the State of Nevada, City of Reno, City of Sparks, and Carson City.

To culminate this week, Sierra Interfaith Action for Peace (SIAP) and other peace and justice groups will be sponsoring a Peace Day celebration on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. at City Plaza, 10 N. Virginia St.

The theme of the event is People-Planet-Peace. This summarizes our hopes and efforts for the health and well-being of all people, our environment, and the end of war and violence in the world. We hope you will join us.

Patricia R. Coia

Sierra Interfaith Action for Peace

PUCN should say ‘no’ to NV Energy

NV Energy wants millions to pay for smart meters. It seem like every time NV Energy needs more money the PUCN (Public Utilities Commission of Nevada) says, how much?

The Nevada Appeal publishes articles saying that 35 percent of Americans are facing debt collectors. It seems like NV Energy just had a raise. People are having problems paying their NV Energy bill now and other utility bills.

It looks like we are being sold out by the PUCN. There is no benefit to the consumer by smart meters, only to NV Energy. I don’t know who PUCN is working for. This bill for millions could be overinflated by millions. Companies will take all they can get and more. This could be a factor why they want so much money.

Maybe they think the consumers are stupid. This should be looked at on a dollar for dollar basis by the PUCN. Maybe the PUCN should be more alert on how its spends our hard-earned cash. If there are any bleeding hearts out for NV Energy, request for all this money, maybe 10 percent of this should be paid for.

Rodger Rakow

Carson City