Letters

Disintegration

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

I hope y’all survived the flood intact and unscathed.

Overall, compared to ’97 and ’05, it seemed like everyone was more prepared—from city, county and state workers to business owners and concerned volunteers. I can’t remember Washoe County schools ever being canceled days in advanced like that before. (I’m sure it’s happened, just not since I’ve had kids in the district.) I was moved by columnist Sheila Leslie’s account of canvassing homeless folks down by the river, warning them to move to shelters or, at the very least, higher ground. It’s especially remarkable to hear how some folks would refuse to respond for fear of entrapment or shame or some other reason. It’s hard to give up a patch, no matter how small, once its been fought for and won. Read Sheila on page six.

My own experience was less noteworthy. I had a mildly stressful drive across town on Sunday evening to evacuate my dear mom, who lives at a low elevation point in southeast Reno. It wasn’t a required evacuation, but they started closing up the roads near her home, and she got, understandably, worried. We figured better to get her out early before they closed more of the roads. And, either way, it was nice to bring the family together during a night like that when the weather raged with unpredictability.

The trek was strange and cinematic. I was alone in the car, and there weren’t many other vehicles on the road. There were huge puddles and twice I had to stop, turn around, and adjust my route after bumping into a section of road that had been closed off.

What’s nice about experiences like that, for me, is that it reminds me of the value of music. I had no choice but to experience that storm—and, as a loving, dutiful son, I had no choice but to rescue my mom. But I got to choose the perfect music for a stressful drive during a deluge. And I chose Disintegrationby the Cure. And I was thankful that was the biggest decision I had to worry about—unlike those folks that Sheila had to help move away from the tiny shelters they call home.

Science is heard from

Re “Exploding green heads” (Notes from the Neon Babylon, Dec. 29):

I have read both the left and right sides of the RN&R opinion pages since Brendan and Sheila have been penning them. Although I am on the left side, I found that Brendan Trainor often had some wellexpressed thoughts around which a conversation could be started.

But “Exploding Green Heads” should move the RN&R to dismiss Trainor as the alternate voice. I find nothing in this article to be suitable for public discourse, and I fault the RN&R for publishing it. Trainor is yet another climate denier, cherry picking information, and disinformation, to support deeply held beliefs on ideological grounds, contrary to facts. The global warming crisis is real, is threatening. Powerful markets and intense capitalism will not get us out of it. People who care about their children, their grandchildren, and even themselves need to hold public officials accountable to seriously address this threat. We did it in the case of the ozone hole; we did it in the case of tobacco health effects; we did it in the case of nuclear winter.

It is deplorable to suggest, as Trainor does, that the “rich and strong” Earth will simply heal itself when we let the current trajectory go unchecked.

David VonSeggern Reno

Re “Exploding green heads” (Notes from the Neon Babylon, Dec. 29):

In regards to the recent opinion article by Brendan Trainor where he, step by step, highlights his ignorance on every fact of climate science, nuclear waste and nuclear energy, and his overall mastery in complete ignorance of the subject, I’d like to step by step show how every single statement he made is part of the standard lies perpetrated by paid shills of companies like Exxon Mobil and the Koch Industries. I’d like to, but nobody is still dumb enough to believe any of the nonsense people like him have been spitting out for years. They don’t understand science, so they assume it must be fake, so deluded they are with the false belief in their own intelligence. You should be ashamed for giving such idiocy a forum to spread their agenda of ignorance.

Jeffronimo Churchill Las Vegas

Public input

Re “Gold Butte preserved” (news, Jan. 5):

Senator Dean Heller is quoted as saying, “For years, I have urged for all new land designations, especially ones in Nevada, to be considered in an open and public congressional process. ... Best of all, input from local parties guarantees local needs are addressed. In the future, I will continue to fight for an open process utilizing Congressional support to designate new national monuments.”

It is strange that Senator Heller is opposed to this designation and is adamant about an open public process for the designation of places like Gold Butte when for decades Gold Butte’s advocates worked with local governments, sportsmen, off-road enthusiasts, opposition voices, supporters, and so many more to ensure that there was a well-balanced proposal to protect Gold Butte where all voices were heard. Governor Sandoval is even on record of having input.

To paraphrase U.S. Rep. Dina Titus of Clark County, who has been a champion for Gold Butte, the only people who say there wasn’t public input around Gold Butte’s designation are just those who are opposed to it.

Cathy Schmidt Reno

Weapons of cyber destruction

Is anyone else concerned that that the U.S. has been attacked, and we lost the first battle? When Putin’s cyber attacks influenced the election process, we were defenseless. And, for those denying it made a difference, think of all those who believed the false news stories in days before the election. What’s worse is, our new Commander-In-Chief is in total deniability. Congress is concerned, but it will be years before anything is accomplished there.

Thomas C Kincaid Reno

ERIK HOLLAND

Our Mission: To publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. To create a quality work environment that encourages employees to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare. To have a positive impact on our communities and make them better places to live. Editor Brad Bynum News Editor Dennis Myers Special Projects Editor Jeri Chadwell-Singley Arts Editor Kris Vagner Calendar Editor Kelley Lang Contributors Amy Alkon, Matt Bieker, Bob Grimm, Anna Hart, Ashley Hennefer, Shelia Leslie, Josie Luciano, Eric Marks, Jessica Santina, Todd South, Marc Tiar, Brendan Trainor, Bruce Van Dyke, Allison Young Design Manager Lindsay Trop Art Directors Brian Breneman, Margaret Larkin Marketing/Publications Manager Serene Lusano Marketing/Publications Designer Sarah Hansel Production Coordinator Skyler Smith Designer Kyle Shine Senior Advertising Consultants Gina Odegard, Bev Savage Advertising Consultants Emily Litt, Brit Johnson, Myranda Keeley Distribution Director Greg Erwin Distribution Manager/Operations Coordinator Kelly Miller Distribution Assistant and Driver Jennifer Cronin Distribution Drivers Alex Barskyy, Bob Christensen, Debbie Frenzi, Denise Cairns, Gary White, Jennifer Gangestad, Lori Ashley, Lori DeAndreis, Marty Lane, Marty Troye, Patrick L’Angelle, Tracy Breeden, Vicki Jewell President/CEO Jeff VonKaenel Director of Nuts & Bolts Deborah Redmond Executive Coordinator Carlyn Asuncion Project Coordinator Natasha VonKaenel Director of People & Culture David Stogner Director of Dollars & Sense Nicole Jackson Payroll/AP Wizard Miranda Dargitz Sweetdeals Coordinator Courtney DeShields Nuts & Bolts Ninja Christina Wukmir Developer John Bisignano, Jonathan Schultz System Support Specialist Kalin Jenkins N&R Publications Editor Michelle Carl N&R Publications Associate Editor Kate Gonzales N&R Publications Writer Anne Stokes

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