Letters for October 20, 2016

Bet we do

Re “Vote against” (Notes from the Neon Babylon, Sept. 22):

Now you’ve gone too far, Van Dyke! Telling us to run out and vote Democratic. Low end Demos have had enough. No white man can even find the fruit factory any more. That’s not you out looking for rock-bottom jobs around Reno (might look like you), but no, you’re probably out, way out of town on a ranch with that pot pipe. Ask the bottom half what they want. Guns (hey, if the pres is armed and crazy…), jobs and a big fence. If all the newcomers to this country were journalists, then—hmm, how would you feel? Bet you don’t publish this one. Ha!

Laurie Sherrill

Longview, Wa.

One man’s spoof

Re “Best of Northern Nevada Winners Guide” (supplement, Oct. 6):

In this political season of hyperbole, hypocrisy and hoax, the RN&R’s “Best Of” issue fits right in. The problem with this spoof issue is that many people take it seriously, not in the spirit of ballot stuffing, and nepotism for advertisers, with which it is so clearly constructed. Much like the national election, it’s funny. But it’s not.

Dean Hinitz

Reno

Sales tax

Re “Stop Making Cents,” (cover story, Sept. 22):

Rather interesting, however some important data is missing. U.S. Labor Department wage calculator shows that families earning minimum wage have less than 20 percent purchases that are taxable. There is high correlations for federal and/or state aid. You fail to mention that 37.4 percent of items in Washoe County are actually taxable. You fail to mention that sales tax is deductible on you federal return if you itemize. You fail to mention the following: “Much of the state’s general fund is supported by taxing the gaming industry in tandem with hotel occupancy taxes, so the overall burden is diffused away from residents of the Silver State to those more easily able to pay. In terms of real savings, a family of three earning $25,000 will save $266 a year in tax burdens over the average American city dweller, and a family of four bringing in $150,000 can expect to bank over $6,300 in savings, which makes Reno the third lowest in the nation for tax payments.”

You fail to mention the Senate Bill 411 committee spent 11 months looking at every possible solution, property taxes, room taxes, real estate transfer tax, developers fee. All in all sales tax was the best. You don’t mention that Nevada Revised Statutes has a property tax cap, no developer fees for our area and they require all school districts to come up with their own funding methods for capital infrastructure. The larger the town the higher the property taxes, so in an effort to compare apples with apples, contrast Reno’s 220,000 populations against cities of similar sizes yields the following comparisons.”

Finally, as usual with the opponents of WC-1, you fail to offer a solution for the overcrowding, the 10,000 new students coming to our area, the backlogged repairs. Why not write an article with your solutions. Until then we need to embrace WC1 as it the only viable solution. While it’s a good article, you fail to mention important facts.

Jack Bauer

Reno

Re “Stop Making Cents,” (cover story, Sept. 22):

Dennis Myers’ story has, once again, reminded us of our humanity. Yes, the schools are disgustingly overcrowded, and yes, we need money to fix the problem. But as Myers so eloquently pointed out, we are raising money on the backs of the poorest people. I can remember as a young mother having absolutely no money until payday and having to steal peaches from a tree so we could eat. Taxing every citizen the same amount regardless of their income is poor tax policy. The legislature appointed committees to study the problem over the years and eventually tried to fix it, but the governor vetoed their plan. I’m voting yes on WC-1, but I agree with Myers. It isn’t a fair tax. Thanks for reminding us.

Mary Lee Fulkerson

Reno