Letters for April 25, 2002

I’m an inmate at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center, serving two sentences of life without the possibility of parole. I have been at this institution since June 1994 and have been in this system since 1987. Since my incarceration, I have seen three incidents of violence that involved an inmate being stabbed, and I have only heard of a few rapes.

Your article that deals with a book written by former inmate Jimmy Lerner, You Got Nothing Coming, has me concerned. The book and the article depict the NNCC as a violent institution and the inmates housed here as animals. What Jimmy Lerner fails to state in his book is that this is a low/medium prison that houses medical and mental health prisoners as well as some fish (new inmates). Troublemakers are quickly transferred to other institutions.

Mr. Lerner would lead people who read his book to believe that there are no programs here for the inmates and that the inmates just kick rocks. Well, that is far from the truth. There are many programs for inmates, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, the drug program that is sponsored by Dr. Karen Gedney. There is an anger management program, and inmates have the opportunity to go back to school to get their high school diploma or GED.

Mr. Lerner would like the general public to believe that he survived a war zone and that this institution is a hardcore prison, when in fact, it’s not. The days of hardcore prisons are long gone. Most of the inmates here are doing their best to better themselves so that they can return home to their families.

Mr. Lerner’s book is his fantasy. All of the violence that allegedly took place while he was here is untrue. As for Mr. Lerner being called O.G. for Original Gangster, well, I think that he made a mistake because that is not a term used here. If it was, I’m sure that they meant Original Goof. I knew Mr. Lerner when he was here, and he would not have survived to write his fantasy book in a hardcore prison.

I’m concerned that your readers will get the wrong impression of inmates and that may make it harder for inmates to make parole or a pardon. Sit back and look at it from our perspective. If society reads the article and the book, they will have the impression that we are very violent people and that we should never be released back into the free world.

Joseph M. Carpino
Northern Nevada Correctional Center

At their mercy
A few months ago, my finances were nonexistent and the past due portion of my power bill was $585. Concurrently, I made payment arrangements of $100 every two weeks and received help through the SAFE program, for which I’m thankful. Sierra Pacific said I’d need to make arrangements as well on the current bill. Hello. The $100 every two weeks was my only resource. Well, despite being a customer for 31 years and never having my power turned off, despite making the two payments per agreement on time, despite help from SAFE, my power was turned off. Fine. I’ll go somewhere else for my power. Oh, that’s right. It’s a monopoly and we’re at its mercy because there’s nowhere else to go.

My daughter called to talk with them, plead with them, as there were six children living in the home, including an infant and a toddler who were both ill. The weather at the time was freezing. Sierra Pacific’s response: “Bundle them up!”

More hearings are slated, I see, regarding the power company’s rate increases. Gee, how would I vote? Let me think.

Vickie Vera
Sparks

Brothels love cabbies
Re “Taxi Trouble” [RN&R News, April 11]:

I was shocked and saddened after reading “Taxi Trouble.” I had no idea that our taxi drivers were facing such tough times and plunging revenues. As owner of the BunnyRanch in Carson City, I have always endeavored to reward and reciprocate taxi drivers who supply us (and all the brothels, for that matter) with a steady stream of customers. Here at the BunnyRanch we’ve always considered these ladies and gentlemen part of our family and have always extended to them the fullest portion of our hospitality. Apparently other businesses, who also derive profit from visitors, haven’t been as caring or conscious and don’t fully appreciate the added value drivers bring to a myriad of local establishments. It is with this in mind that the BunnyRanch is planning a “Taxi Driver Appreciation Night” at a Bully’s Sports Bar in the near future. All you drivers and all of you who recognize their significant value, stay tuned for details. My only quandary: Who’s going to drive the drivers home that night?!

Dennis Hof
Moonlite BunnyRanch owner