Letters

Passionate intensity

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

I’m writing this note on Tuesday, Jan. 17. This edition will hit the stands on Thursday, Jan. 19, and then the next day will be the beginning of a new era of American political life.

I imagine that the inaugurations of new presidents almost always feels momentous (I’ve only been alive for a handful), but this date seems seismic. It’s not just the new commander in chief or his administration. It’s a tonal shift of our entire culture. I keep thinking of William Butler Yeats’ poem “Second Coming,” and more specifically the lines “The best lack all conviction, while the worst/Are full of passionate intensity.”

The internet trolls have been emboldened to come out from under their bridges. The nominee for secretary of state is an oilman who doesn’t understand conflicts of interest. The nominee for attorney general is a racist.

And many of the best and brightest people I know are scared about the future—about what will happen to health care, education, peace, prosperity, science, the arts, climate change and more.

This is an important time for people who believe in these things to make sure our voices are heard.

The presence of alternative journalism is especially important in this state, where the largest newspaper, the Las Vegas ReviewJournal, is owned by a multibillionaire casino magnate who has a sycophantic relationship with the new president, promotes his own agenda regardless of the wishes of voters, and doesn’t hesitate to meddle with editorial content.

Well, in this time of great change, I’d like to renew my commitment to Northern Nevada to publish solid news journalism, well-informed opinion voices, and critically engaged arts reporting.

We will remain vigilant. Come what will.

—Brad Bynum bradb@newsreview.com

And other times, too

As the events of the last few days have shown, we need to do more as a city to provide for our homeless community. The homeless were the hardest hit by the flooding of the river. We need to provide a safeground for folks to stay without being harassed by police and arrested. We also need to put funding toward building temporary and permanent housing.

Alese McMurtry Reno

A teaching moment

Supporters thought Donald Trump wouldn’t shake hands with big business and the political establishment, but shake it up instead. I’m sad to see Trump is already doing just the opposite by appointing Betsy DeVos as secretary of education.

DeVos believes in more private control of our public schools and supports vouchers, which divert funds from public school, and do not provide every family the opportunity of school “choice.” Vouchers often leave the poorest families trapped in ever more starved public schools. I attended Galena High, where I had the privilege of taking jazz band, but the threat of vouchers means future students may not have that opportunity. Fine arts are usually the first to be cut. If DeVos is confirmed and the Trump administration focuses on expanding policies like voucher systems, we’ll be limiting resources necessary for our children to grow and expand their working knowledge.

Let’s say no to DeVos, no to ineffective and harmful schemes like voucher programs, and yes to adequate public school funding. Brendan Aguiar Reno

Monumental letter

Since 1906, 16 presidents of both parties have used the Antiquities Act to protect some of our nation’s most valuable and vulnerable natural, cultural and historic resources. Protecting places like Gold Butte just makes sense. Gold Butte saw extensive damage over the past few years and it was imperative this landscape—that is habitat for rare and threatened species, sacred to Native American Nations, and Nevada’s piece of the Grand Canyon—be protected.

In Dennis Myers’s Jan 5 article “Gold Butte preserved,” he states that “[t]he problem is that the law—enacted by Congress—authorizes presidents to act as Obama did, without congressional input.” On the contrary, the benefit of that law is that presidents can act. And they can act to protect places like the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Great Basin National Park, and now Gold Butte, especially on the heels of the Congressional inaction of the past several congressional cycles.

Senator Harry Reid and Congresswoman Dina Titus had legislation to protect Gold Butte that was stalled in Congress. So thanks to their support and the leadership of President Obama, Gold Butte will be protected for now and for future generations.

Andrea Welsch Reno

Russian denial

Re “Why publish denialism?” and “Exploding green heads,” (editorial and Let Freedom Ring, Dec. 20): It’s the job of any newspaper’s editor and/or publisher to ensure that facts, not lies, are printed for the public to read and trust. I always assumed that columnists write their opinions based on factual issues, not of untruths. Anything else is irresponsible journalism, in my opinion. If you’re going to permit Mr. Trainor to report his opinion on facts that are inaccurate, his columns aren’t valid.

Sure, you addressed Trainor’s lies in your editorial, but his fictitious column shouldn’t have been printed in the first place. You also could respond to letters that express obvious inaccuracies, such as the Dec. 29 letter that stated “Russia had nothing to do with the leaked emails.” Please set the standard for strong, honorable journalism. Mary Lee Fulkerson 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 Sales Manager Emily Litt RN&R Rainmaker Gina Odegard Advertising Consultants 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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