Letters

All choked up

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

I’m sending out a sympathy letter this week. Maybe I’m feeling sorry for myself, but if I am, it’s because misery loves company.

I went most of my life without any problems from allergies, but man, they’re pounding me now, sapping my strength, depressing my metabolism, and fouling my mood. I think they started about 15 years ago when the feds stopped managing public lands and the wildfires increased. I know a lot of you are feeling similarly grouchy. When people used to complain about allergies to me, I didn’t quite understand their suffering. So this is probably karmic retribution.

Does anyone know anything that works? I’ve tried most of the over the counter drugs, but I can’t take them because they mess with my ability to think and my attention to detail, which, all evidence to the contrary, I need to do my job. I know going in that I can’t take anything that has a “D” in it (Claritin-D, for example), because I can’t handle the pseudoephedrine, which messes with my sleep, compounding the fuzzy-headedness. I’ve noticed that sensitivity to one thing—say the haze in the air from these summer wildfires—seems to enhance my sensitivity to other things, like pine pollen and cat dander. This seems to go against what’s taken as conventional wisdom that exposure decreases the immune system’s reaction, which is the argument toward consumption of local bee honey and homeopathic treatments. While I haven’t spent much time researching the mainstream science or folk traditions, I can see that treatment is the American conflict between covering up symptoms and curing the root of the disease. In other words, the allergic reaction is the body’s attempt to expel a toxin or irritant, so treating the symptom may delay the body’s adaptation to the environmental factor.

Whatever. That logic takes me back to the idea of exposing myself to the irritants throughout the year, instead of just in the summer when the pines release their pollen and the wildfires fill our air with who knows what. —D. Brian Burghart brianb@newsreview.com

The truth works?

Re “Hospitals price power probed” (Upfront, June 27):

Recently, I reviewed the term “ethics” in relationship to corporations. Roughly translated, their prime directive is to increase shareholder return with no concern for collateral damage (conflict with their fiduciary duty). Reading into this, increase the costs because it does not matter. People still need medical care. Therefore, they will pay. This will result in increased premiums with insurance companies to coincide with their prime directive as medical compensation goes up. Do not forget about the attorneys who will defend, no matter what. A few years ago, I read about a county which went on a full disclosure idea. If a doctor pulled an “oops,” he disclosed it. Attorneys were in an uproar. Their litigation got cut to one-third, and premiums for insurance were cut in half. Actual litigation decreased by some 60 percent with settlements on damages filling the gap, at less than half the expected litigation amounts. Wish I kept a copy. All of us would like to earn a fair wage for the work we do. As of now, the gap is huge on the benefit vs. cost in medical care. When can we let go of the $20 aspirin? Ted Beecher Reno

Messed up priorities

Re “Stepping out” (News, July 18):

Western Nevada College president Carol Lucey is right about the misplaced priorities of the state’s budget decided by both the governor and a legislature restricted to 120 days every other year. The writer is correct about the lack of a protest culture in Nevada. It’s “go along to get along.” The short response to local input to higher education now comes through the significant tax deductible donations to college foundations. There is little to no oversight of this money now and would be even less with individual boards. The overarching structural problem is the lack of “checks and balances” stemming from the principle of three equal branches of government. Legitimate power in Nevada is centralized in the office of the governor—one election easy to control, and political party doesn’t matter. That’s the way the monied interests want it. My best wishes and interest go out to Carol Lucey for her future.

Also, regarding “Invest your privacy in drones,” by Chanelle Bessette. This is just an example of what was said above. In this case, it’s the weapons industry and virtually no citizen representation. However, I’ll be first in line to sign up for the class if possible. I like to know as much as I can when I protest something. Nancy Price Sparks

How many points for a mayor?

I watched on the news as our mayor proudly walk across the new crosswalk in front of Junkees and proclaimed, “I didn’t get hit!” I had to laugh out loud. You see, I own a business one block north with an existing crosswalk. Unfortunately, our pedestrians haven’t been as lucky. Since we have owned our business, there have been two people hit right in our crosswalk. My staff and I go out on a regular basis and literally put our hands up to stop traffic so that senior citizens can cross. Yes, I have called repeatedly to please have someone come down and monitor this crosswalk—to no avail. So you see, Mr. Mayor, your crosswalks are only as successful as your enforcement of them. Cecelia Soper Reno

A dubious connector

I would like to challenge Dennis Myers of the Reno News & Review to investigate the Regional Transportation Commission Southeast Connector. There is definitely something very fishy about the way in which the RTC is going about the construction of this poorly designed/ unnecessary six-lane highway in the middle of the flood plain, a golf course, and a bucolic neighborhood.

They have received no permits from the National Environment and Planning Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, Army Corps of Engineers or any other governing entity that would allow them to construct “Phase II” of this throughway, but they have already committed millions of dollars to complete Phase I. Phase I leads nowhere—it stops in the middle of the University of Nevada, Reno farm. What is the thinking behind such a commitment of dollars to something that may or may not ever be completed? Is there money changing hands? Are there power or promises of economic rewards being exchanged? Why would the Truckee Meadows Flood Project not be daily and publicly complaining about the placement and design of this project? The statement by the RTC that the road is “floodable” makes one wonder about the sanity of the engineering department of the RTC. The floods of 1997 and 2005 completely filled Rosewood Golf Course, as the course was meant to do. However, with six lanes plus of fill, asphalt, and other accoutrements of highway build-out, the flood plain is basically filled up. Where will the next 50, 100, 117-year floods go? How will the residents of City Council-approved development survive such floods? How will the businesses in the southeast area protect them selves against the floodwaters?

I believe that the RTC has shotgunned this whole project through the City Council, the voters, the community. There needs to be a thorough investigation of what exactly is driving the construction of such a huge project through flood retention basins, threatening the survival of thousands of homeowners and business owners. I hope that the RN&R will be brave to go up against the political powers who are pushing this down our throats. Thanks for listening—and hopefully for doing something about this travesty. Janet Pederson Reno

Or how about an opt-out choice?

We can save the U.S. Postal Service, Saturday delivery, some of the world’s forests, much of our valuable time, and provide some alternative energy.

Daily, we receive large amounts of junk mail, most of which is rejected and goes to the city dump, but could be used as fuel in a wood-burning stove.

We suggest, as a deterrent, that postal rates for junk mail be doubled, tripled, or best of all, quadrupled. The added revenue would be an economic boost for our postal system. Walden and Betty Joura Reno

End the filibuster

Lighting fireworks on the Fourth didn’t restore freedom taken by the tyranny of the IRS. Reading the Declaration of Independence underscored this nation’s return to conditions founding fathers found intolerable: government use of fear to take property and control citizens.

The tax code threatens liberty. It cannot be understood by those who must comply with that code or live in fear of penalties imposed by the IRS. A law that cannot be understood is not a law derived from the consent of the governed. If audited, the basic principle of trial-by-jury is replaced by presumed guilt. The accused must prove his innocence. The 16th Amendment must be repealed. End the IRS.

Missouri’s Lt. Gov. Kinder recently said, “No law abiding American should ever have to fear a call from a government official.” The IRS, a tool of fear used by politicians to control citizens, businesses, reward friends and punish enemies, has no place in a free society.

Only the FairTax HR25/S122 ends the IRS and supports the repeal of the 16th Amendment. End direct taxation on jobs and income. Call Representative Camp, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee (202-225-3561). Demand FairTaxHR25 be brought out of committee. End the IRS. Beverly Martin Fulton, Mo.

Our Mission To publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. To create a quality work environment that encourages people to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare. To have a positive impact on our communities and make them better places to live. Editor/Publisher D. Brian Burghart News Editor Dennis Myers Arts Editor Brad Bynum Calendar Editor Kelley Lang Staff Writer Sage Leehey Contributors Amy Alkon, Chanelle Bessette, Megan Berner, Matthew Craggs, Mark Dunagan, Marvin Gonzalez, Bob Grimm, Michael Grimm, Sheila Leslie, Dave Preston, Jessica Santina, K.J. Sullivan, Kris Vagner, Bruce Van Dyke, Allison Young Creative Director Priscilla Garcia Art Director Hayley Doshay Design Melissa Arendt, Brian Breneman, Vivian Liu, Marianne Mancina, Skyler Smith Advertising Consultants Meg Brown, Gina Odegard, Matt Odegard, Bev Savage Senior Classified Advertising Consultant Olla Ubay Office/Distribution Manager/ Ad Coordinator Karen Brooke Executive Assistant/Operations Coordinator Nanette Harker Assistant Distribution Manager Ron Neill Distribution Drivers Sandra Chhina, John Miller, Jesse Pike, David Richards, Martin Troye, Warren Tucker, Matthew Veach, Sam White General Manager/Publisher John D. Murphy President/CEO Jeff vonKaenel Chief Operations Officer Deborah Redmond Human Resource Manager Tanja Poley Business Manager Grant Ronsenquist Business Mary Anderson, Tami Sandoval Systems Manager Jonathan Schultz Systems Support Specialist Joe Kakacek Web Developer/Support Specialist John Bisignano 708 North Center Street Reno, NV 89501 Phone (775) 324-4440 Fax (775) 324-4572 Classified Fax (916) 498-7940 Mail Classifieds & Talking Personals to N&R Classifieds, Reno Edition, 1015 20th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 or e-mail classifieds@ newsreview.com Web site www.newsreview.com Printed by Paradise Post The RN&R is printed using recycled newsprint whenever available. Editorial Policies Opinions expressed in the RN&R are those of the authors and not of Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact the editor for permission to reprint articles, cartoons or other portions of the paper. The RN&R is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. All letters received become the property of the publisher. We reserve the right to print letters in condensed form.

This ModERN WoRld by tom tomorrow

Asked at Outlook Restaurant, Artemesia and North Virginia streets

Garrett Felling

UNR student I liked high school. The party never stopped, and the consequences were a lot less severe than they were after I graduated high school.

Jordan Deweerd

Facilities drafter I liked high school. I don’t know, I just didn’t have too difficult of a time. I thought it was manageable and lots to do, and I had a good high school. It was pretty much all academic for me. I didn’t participate in too many extracurriculars. But I had a nice, supportive high school.

Bike curious? How was high school?

This is going to be a very bike-rich weekend with the Tour de Nez running on July 27-28, www.tourdenez. com, the Reno Bike Project’s Bike Swap being held on July 28 at Barbara Bennett Park, http://tinyurl.com/ ko8astp, and Cyclectric’s block party on July 27 (see 15 Minutes, page 35). There are going to be more bicycles on the street than usual, so drivers, please keep your eyes open for bike riders.

This newspaper has supported creating a better and safer bike culture in Reno for going on two decades. The efforts of more people than can be mentioned in one editorial—including volunteers, elected officials and bureaucrats—have resulted in huge improvements. Frankly, it’s hard to believe how far this city has come in these last 18 years. There is still, it does need to be said, a long way to go.

We’re going to keep pounding on officials to further enhance the bike-riding environment in the Truckee Meadows, and we have no reason to believe those interested parties like the Regional Transportation Commission and the Reno Bike Project won’t continue their good work. We owe thanks and congratulations to everyone who’s worked to make this city safer.

We would like to see a service that is available in other cities come to Reno: a bicycle registration site. On this wish list item, someone, possibly the University of Nevada, Reno, which already has a large collection of serial numbers, or the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County, would create a web database in which people could register their name and the description and serial number of their bicycle. The idea is to prevent theft, the sale of stolen property, and to give people the ability to tell if a used bicycle they’re buying is stolen. It would be an additional tool for police to use against criminals.

While some registration programs like this have met with failure, it’s generally because the entity tries to make money off the registrations. For example, the National Bike Registry charges about a dollar per year per registration. San Jose charged $3 per registration. What we’re picturing would be a database created and maintained by either government or a non-profit because everyone in the community benefits by less theft and by putting thieves out of business. The entire bike-riding community would be grateful.

And finally, every time we write one of these pro-bicycle editorials, we end up coming back to the riders. The vast majority of bicycle riders ride safely and follow the rules of the road, but there are those who don’t pay attention to stop signs or exhibit common courtesy.

Until the day that every road has a bike lane, automobiles and bicycles are going to have friction. As everyone who’s ever been run into loose gravel or narrowly missed a collision with a clueless driver can attest, it’s incumbent upon the bicycle rider to always be aware of his or her surroundings. Yes, the law says cars must give bike riders three feet clearance, but the bottom line is every time an automobile and a bicycle tangle, the four-wheeler wins. A defensive attitude and helmet are a bike rider’s best hope against a major injury. Ω Allura Addington

UNR student I liked it. I was thoroughly engaged in activities—many clubs, many organizations. I was pretty much at the school all day. And I did attend classes.

Allison Ford

UNR student I thought it was OK. I went to a non-traditional high school, so I didn’t really get the typical high school experience. High school’s a very different community than colleges. Being in a university, you can choose your friends more. There’s more of an option to the classes you take and the people you hang out with, so I think it’s a lot nicer, in that sense.

Glen Atkinson

Economist I just attended my high school reunion in Crescent City, California, this past weekend. I liked high school. It was fun. I didn’t learn enough, but I liked my high school life. It was probably half social, half academic.