Letters to the Editor

Parents: Make sure kids are dressed for winter

Attention parents of teenage boys: Your children are freezing. I drive home from work at 7 every morning, and continue to be amazed at the apparel worn by children waiting for the bus. Without fail, at least a third of these kids are wearing shorts. This morning, they were standing around in four inches of snow, wearing shorts. Rarely do I ever see a jacket on these children either ... a hoodie and no gloves, but not a jacket to be seen.

I realize we are talking about teenagers who are more concerned about fashion than their own well being, but that's what parents are for. Please stop sending your children off into blizzard conditions wearing shorts, it's irresponsible.

Maggie Cox

Carson City

Mine on the open land Nevada has to offer

Monday, my 5-year-old granddaughter and I attended a hearing on Senate Bill 86 introduced by Sen. Sheila Leslie. The bill proposes to abolish a law that allows mining companies to exercise the right to condemn the private property of citizens in order to use the property for mining.

I like to envision a mining industry thriving in Nevada that respects the rights of communities, private land owners and the environment. That sounds socially responsible and a lot like a good neighbor. Is the mining industry socially responsible and a good neighbor?

I also want to say a few words about eco-terrorists. It looks like a terrorist hit Gold Hill in Storey County. That community is not thriving from many jobs created by the mining activity that left giant gaping holes in the landscape and history. I don't believe that Storey County or Nevada realized meaningful tax revenue either. It feels like terrorism to have a mining company almost in your front yard, creating day in and day out noise and dirt and God only knows what kinds of toxins flying through the air onto my home and family.

The mining companies can buy or not, just like everybody else. They can do business where it is good to do mining and make plenty of money in the vast open lands of Nevada, which can preserve our history and communities and rights of citizens too. It's about fairness, balance and people's rights.

Allison Woodman

Silver Springs

Repealing minimum wage law is a slap in the face

I am beginning to hate the Legislature more and more every day. What really makes the Legislature believe that reducing the minimum wage law would help our unemployment percentage? Wake up. We are living in a world where not only is our state having financial hard times, but the nation is as a whole.

I work for little over minimum wage now, and it has taken a year to get there. Employers won't be more apt to hire more with a lower wage set. Many businesses out there are doing good to keep their doors open now. What makes you think that a dollar less an hour would help?

Reading the article in Thursday's paper was a joke. People voted this change, but leave it to the Legislature to question what people think is best. I have a thought. How about taking the pay of those in the Legislature and give them the pay of minimum wage? I don't care who you are, what makes you righteous enough to take this from us?

People today have lost their jobs making good money, and now have to accept reality that minimum wage is what they have to work with right now to keep food on the table of a house that is being foreclosed on.

We the people have petitioned to get where we are and you the Legislature want to repeal it. Thank you for the slap in the face.

Thank you, Danny Thompson, you seem to be the only official that seems to think the way the people do. My hat is off to you.

Krysty Mulkey

Dayton

Democrats' creating jobs initiative is lacking

The budget for Nevada is linked directly to our household budgets. Read more than the headlines about what is being proposed. Truly the devil is in the details.

The Democratic Legislature's approach to jobs sounded hopeful, Feb. 11 Nevada Appeal. Then, as I read on, it stated the people of Nevada are to pay $10 million from general funds for these jobs - mostly public works jobs requiring only 50 percent of those hired to actually be residents of Nevada.

Worse, only 25 percent of the materials used on these jobs will be purchased from Nevada business. Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, calls this the Creating Nevada Jobs Initiative. I call it Nevada rip-off - we pay 100 percent of the costs, other states get 50 percent of the jobs created, and our Nevada government OKs 75 percent of all goods used on jobs be purchased from other states' businesses.

We should have 75 percent of people hired from Nevada and

75 percent of goods purchased from Nevada business. Much more help like this and Nevada will be bankrupt and unemployment will be 20 percent.

Jane O'Neill

Carson City