Letters for June 4, 2009

Change in the weather

Nevada isn’t the easiest place to be an environmentalist. Surrounded by mountains and desert with limited, fresh water sources, and a ton of natural resources, the engines of our economy, from mining to urban sprawl, have historically been—and continue to be—hard on the environment.

Times are changing, though. Now our precious natural resources are solar, wind and geothermal. Our geography suddenly can help our economy, while benefiting the environment. Last week, the Waxman-Mackey climate bill, which uses cap and trade to create incentives to shift America to renewable energy, made it out of committee.

The House will vote on the bill this summer, and Senator Reid has pledged to lead the charge to pass climate legislation this year. This will mean a cap on emissions in this country, emissions reductions, and a demand for renewable energy that didn’t exist before now. It is time to build solar fields, wind farms, transmission lines, retrofit buildings and build green. It is a good time to be a Nevadan.

It is important to understand our expectations. This doesn’t stop pollution altogether. It limits it. This new climate policy starts the process to transform our energy supply from different sources. In doing so it creates jobs, infrastructure and demand on renewable resources. It isn’t the end to preventing global warming. It is just the beginning, and we’re lucky to have Majority Leader Reid to get us started.

Kelsey Ligon
via email

Support local business

Re “Death star” (Feature story, April 23):

Thank you for the wonderfully written “Death Star” article. I hope our local leaders read it as they don’t seem to have a clear understanding of what they are doing to Reno/Sparks by promoting these projects. I don’t know why someone would choose Sparks as a vacation destination based upon stores that are available in most other areas of the country. Or how our leaders can justify destroying local businesses and turning our existing shopping districts into ghettos to give the rich new buildings at taxpayers’ expense. What I do know is that not one penny of this local business owner’s shopping or entertainment budget will be spent at Legends.

Shelly Sedran
Reno

More Dan Brown, please

Re “Cardinal sins” (Film, May 21):

What is Bob Grimm’s basis that The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons are two of the worst movies? I’ve watched both movies, and they’re great. The story is great. It’s not boring nonsense.

Pao Manzano
Quezon, Philippines

Crusty reviewer

Re “Crust issues” (Foodfinds, May 21):

I believe you are completely incorrect with your observation of Uncle Vinny’s restaurant. My husband and I love Uncle Vinny’s, not only for the pizza but also for the owners and their commitment to customer service along with the fresh ingredients they use in their kitchen. I make it a point to always take new people to Uncle Vinny’s so they can try the best pizza in the Reno-Sparks area. I have never had a bad experience there and moreover highly encourage everyone to go and have lunch or dinner at Uncle Vinny’s. I have an extensive background in the culinary field, and I am shocked about the “crust” comment. When visiting Uncle Vinny’s, the crust was the first thing I noticed about the pizza. The crust is high-quality and tastes great! I am sure any pizza enthusiast will agree that the crust makes the pizza, and Uncle Vinny’s has gotten it right!

A. Penkal
Reno

From the heart

Re “Positively 4th St.” (15 Minutes, May 28):

Jonie Blinman is an amazingly talented artist so I can imagine with all that brilliance swirling around in her head that stopping to interview for five minutes is like trying to make a freight train stop on a dime. Brad captured her unique personality which made the article more realistic and not so impersonal. Imperfection is what makes us artists, not perfection.

JD Delacruz
Reno

Worth the drive

Re “Crust issues” (Foodfinds, May 21):

This article sounds like the author was having a bad day. We have eaten at Uncle Vinny’s several times, even having birthday parties there, and the staff and food have always been amazingly great. I don’t know why you’re so harsh, but anyone I’ve spoken with when I mention Uncle V’s always rant about how good the food is and how courteous the people were. I really feel that this article was extremely harsh

We live in Dayton now and still drive to Sparks just for Uncle V’s Pizza. It’s well worth the drive!

Christina Wilson
Dayton

More to hip hop

Re “Bandita” (Musicbeat, May 28):

Bandita … she’s wack! I understand you are trying to help expose the local scene and all, but I don’t think Angie Compton deserves an article just yet. There are a lot of talented musicians, across all genres, in the Reno area. I can think of several in the hip hop genre that would have been better for the article. Angie’s lyrical content is non-existent, and she doesn’t have any charisma. I’ve seen her perform in town a few times with other local artists, and each time she was a weak point of the show. So I’ve taken the liberty of mentioning some local hip hop artists who’ve been doing shows and putting out albums locally for some time now who I’d like to see covered (in no particular order): Yan Doe, Key Ringz, WES Pro, Venomous Ink, J1, Lord Mecca, Bonafide Hustlas, Westyle Virus, GMB, Paycheck Game.

Dennis Cole
via email

Editor’s note: Thanks, Dennis. Your opinions about the Compton article aside, it’s emails like this that often get us started on stories. We depend on our readers to help keep us abreast of what’s going on around town.

Too many people

Re “An Outsider’s View of Earth” (Feature story, May 21):

Thank you for publishing Fred Branfman’s essay. I thought the piece provided a good overview of our most serious challenges. However, I would submit that when the causes of these challenges were detailed, several conspicuous omissions were evident.

Mr. Branfman’s hypothetical extraterrestrial “briefer” makes only passing mention of the Earth’s current population of over 6.6 billion.

He speaks eloquently of pollution, depletion of ocean fisheries, global warming, etc; but ignores the important fact that these problems are greatly accelerated by overpopulation.

Regarding “the rise in power of violently anti-American forces in the Middle East,” the briefer mentions Iraq and Afghanistan. These wars certainly have fueled anti-American sentiment. However, no mention is made of another factor which is perhaps more significant: Our support for Israel’s illegal and brutal occupation of Palestine.

It would seem from this essay that political correctness is found not only in the United States, but on other planets, as well.

Paul Vandervoort
Reno