Letters to the editor for Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014

Focus efforts to Curry Street

Leave Carson Street alone! Instead, make Curry into a cobblestone walking street. Add benches, tables, fountains, areas where impromptu entertainers can perform. More family businesses could open. Street fairs, parties, even some of the side streets could become walking streets where the businesses could expand out onto the street. Unlimited opportunity! But, leave Carson Street alone!

Loren Boyles

Carson City

Downtown is fine the way it is

I totally agree with Ms. Williams’ letter of Oct. 8 in the Appeal. She is correct as to the treatment the east side of this town is receiving. Is it just because we are thought to be poorer than people residing in other neighborhoods? Or are we looked down on because some of us own mobile homes instead of houses? If anyone wants to see the difference, just drive around the streets on the east side. I know it isn’t just the east side in need of repair; however, I find it appalling that our streets are in such terrible shape while some are more concerned with changing our downtown image.

I personally loved the wrought iron fences that were taken down and I love our downtown as it is right now. I believe if this change had been up to the voters it would never have passed. The only real need of all this is the new animal shelter.

Why isn’t there a code enforcement used on the east side? We pay taxes just like everyone else. If you just drive down some of the streets you will see nice well-kept properties and then right next door you will see properties that resemble “junk yards” which reduces the value of the neighbor’s property.

We need some laws enforced and maybe others will take some pride in their property.

Patty Noll

Carson City

Muscle Powered endorses Carson Street redesign

I would like to address some of the negative comments about the plans for the redesign of downtown Carson City.

That it will slow traffic down and people will just go around — there seems to be some misunderstanding here. The hallmark of a successful downtown is not how fast cars can be moved through it but how many stop and get out of their cars. Wider sidewalks with trees and slower traffic will entice motorists to get out and walk, or to bike to town.

There’s nothing to go downtown for — with the wider sidewalks with pleasant plantings and shade trees and more foot traffic, businesses will have an incentive to open up downtown. The mediums with trees and plantings will be lost, but they will be replaced with trees and plantings on the sidewalks for all to enjoy.

The store owners need to pay for this — what is being planned is all infrastructure and that should belong to the city. What should be expected is that the store owners will invest heavily in making their buildings and shops more attractive and inviting to lure those customers out of their cars and into the shops.

Muscle Powered — Citizens for a Walkable Bikeable Carson City endorses this redesign.

Donna N. Inversin

Carson City

Plan reinvigorates downtown Carson City

The new “refresh”Carson City design will reinvigorate the downtown by making it a place people will enjoy. Carson City is a wonderful place to live and it would be so great to have a downtown that communicated this. Our current downtown calls for drivers to “move along”. The wide sidewalks, plantings and benches will invite lingering; it’s just what our downtown needs.

We support “Refresh Downtown.”

Dr. Sandra Koch & Dr. Tim McFarren

Carson City

Make Carson Street for the people

Recently, the Board of Supervisors worked on developing a new downtown plan to change the face of Carson Street which would encourage pedestrian and bicycle use; simultaneously, it provides some parking while slowing the flow of automobiles. This is a good plan as it will make the downtown corridor more attractive to residents and visitors alike, as they won’t be adjoining a four-lane roadway running right next to their walkway.

Since the old water/sewer lines under the street need to be replaced anyway, why not reconstruct the surface to make it more attractive? Our businesses and tourist venues depend on people coming downtown and getting out of their cars. We must build upon what we have — a historic facade of public buildings, shops and museums.

The plan will help make Carson Street more of a “destination” where people want to go. The charming state and private buildings can be viewed in a more leisurely manner, as people enjoy the restaurants and shops in the area. Make Carson Street for the people, not just for cars.

Lee Harter

Carson City

Support the Avon Walk

With October being recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month it is important that women be made aware of the fact that aborting a first pregnancy increases their probability of suffering from breast cancer in later life.

Eve Silver once worked for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, America’s largest breast cancer awareness and prevention organization. Eve was on board of Komen’s Latino Advisory Committee and worked to educate Latino women to lower their rate of breast cancer diagnosis. As a two-time breast cancer survivor, Eve had a personal desire to raise awareness of risk behavior associated with breast cancer. Then she learned that the abortion she had years earlier increased her risk of a breast cancer diagnosis.

Not only did Eve become aware of more than 35 scientific studies supporting this link, but she realized the money being raised by Susan G. Komen was funding Planned Parenthood, the No. 1 provider of abortions in America.

In 2013 Komen donated $700,000 to Planned Parenthood, an organization that does not even offer mammograms. They “refer” for mammograms — any health care provider can offer referrals.

It does not make sense to donate to a charity that funds another organization which provides services that directly harm your cause. Individuals and groups wanting to support research to cure breast cancer can support the Avon Walk. Avon Walk is a charitable breast cancer funding group that does not donate to Planned Parenthood.

More information on the link between breast cancer and abortion can be found at www.abortionbreastcancer.com.

Kate Sciacca

Carson City