Letters for July 4, 2013

Honor the flag

Please notice how Club Cal Neva is exercising its freedom of speech or maybe its neglect or its ignorance. How is one of Reno’s most illustrious gambling venues exercising its freedom of speech, this most American of American ideals?

Please take notice this evening of the majestic flag being flown atop City Hall and then see if you can tell what is different with the flags flying above the Club Cal Neva parking structure. Well, this majestic symbol currently is in the dark, so the symbol of our national ideals is in the dark, at the center of our city. It’s almost like a sign saying, “Welcome to R_no,” and the city’s welcome sign is missing a letter. Can I buy a vowel anyone? It not only looks bad but it has a deeper, more profound meaning still.

The American flag is a symbol of the entire nation. This symbol represents the US in USA. So if a corporation or an individual inappropriately uses this symbol it has the meaning of being inappropriate to all of US. Also, Congress has a long list of laws pertaining to the use and display of the flag, which it does not enforce because of the one of those rights dealing with freedom of speech.

Maybe Club Cal Neva is trying to say something about all of US? And maybe that institution is correct in what it is saying about all of US. Maybe our national ideals have been in the dark for some time now. Well, they have been at the Cal Neva.

Speaking of national ideals being in the dark at the center of Reno, this could also be seen as a bad omen. If I were the mayor of this city, and I were American, I would probably ask that any commercial institution please be respectful to the residents of the city, unless of course, commercial institutions now speak for all of US.

Ben Seldkamp

Reno

Our man on water

Re “Cut off where?” (Letters to the Editor, June 27):

Thank you for letting people know about the water cut off to the homeless, but it is not over yet. Here is the latest news from the homeless front. The homeless are passing around a petition for the homeless to sign for a class action lawsuit for the following reasons.

(1) The restrooms, a.k.a. porta-potties, are only a few feet from where the food is served. (If you are there at dinner time 7:30 p.m. Mon-Fri and 5:30 p.m. Sat-Sun. You will understand by the smell of human waste where the food is being served.)

(2) The city has turned on one drinking fountain that has a leak and does not provide sufficient water to the 300 men and women who get their water from that source, and they just stated that it will be turned off again on or around the first of the month.

(3) There are only two porta-potties for 300 men and women to use for a week at a time. The portable restrooms are not meant to be used by that many people for that amount of time. The park is open from 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. If there are any concerned citizens in Reno take a look for yourself at 335 Record St. in Reno. This will not end well for taxpayers like us. Finally, city utilities told the people down there that it is illegal to shut the water off without notice first; no notice has been posted as of June 27, yet it was off for four days and turned back on after the people repeatedly complained to a lawyer and the city. What’s next? The last I heard, they have been contacted by a few lawyers so far, but they haven’t decided on which one to represent them. I will try to keep you posted.

Shawn Bruce England

Reno

All about the numbers

Re “Sandoval takes aim at democracy” (Left Foot Forward, June 20):

Gun control proponents were free to call the governor, too. If each supposed gun control proponent had called in once, then they should have overwhelmed the gun rights callers. Maybe the numbers were not really there, just made up, like Obama’s 90 percent number.

Dave Johnston

Reno

Gun rights supporters went the distance

Re “Sandoval takes aim at democracy” (Left Foot Forward, June 20):

In reference to the opinion line set up by the governor and its “absurdity,” I would contend that, though [not] scientific, it was useful in identifying which segment of the population is active on the issue and united in action. If opposition groups were as proactive as those defending the Second Amendment, the number of opinion respondents would have been much higher and the margin much narrower. If 80 percent of Americans supported such a measure, it should have been obvious in the responses. What is clear is those standing with Gov. Sandoval understood the legislative process in its entirety. They recognized that once passed by the legislature, the governor’s signature would impose the law on the people. Refusing to quit until the process ran its course, the opinion line respondents ensured their rights were protected.

All of this was doubtlessly supported by out-of-state gun owners acting to help Nevada remain a measured oasis for liberty. Supporters of the bill should have taken a page out of the opposition’s play book and mobilized as they did so successfully during election season. But apparently the motivation to fight to the end was not there. It turns out the provincials were willing to fight for their rights. The governor made his opinion clear early on, he simply provided voters another chance to speak after their legislature over-stepped its bounds. With regard to voter registration extension, there are multiple years between elections and the registrar’s office is a busy enough organization during election season. Finally, with the Supreme Court recognizing flaws within the Voting Rights Act, it is not surprising that the governor did the same with SB304. If there was misinterpretation by media outlets in reference to the content of a bill and then passing on misinformation, well chock that up to the disintegration of journalism in our community. It’s about time the people approach change more locally and build community. The Pro-Second Amendment crowd are a good example to emulate; outspoken, organized and united. I don’t see how that model can be improved upon.

Donald Stockton

Reno

Corrections

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

We reported that Renown Hospital was formerly a publicly owned county hospital that became part of a chain. Actually, it became privately owned by a local corporation.

In our June 27 Artown supplement, we incorrectly stated that the Rocky Horror picture show would be screened at Cargo at Whitney Peak Hotel at 8 p.m. on July 28. The 8 p.m. show is actually on July 27. There will be a second showing later that night at midnight. We apologize for any confusion caused by our errors.