Letters for September 11, 2014

Because it’s superficially deep

Re “Was it race?” (News, Aug. 28):

Why is it always about race? Was the school board racist when they appointed Superintendent Pedro Martinez to his position? Of course not. Did his “race” enter into the deliberations of his appointment? Perhaps so, considering the high dropout rate of Latino and other minority students. The real question should be whether there was legitimate reason to question his credentials and how Mr. Martinez responded when confronted with these questions. It is his conduct at that point that needs to be reviewed, not only his conduct but also that of the board members. Whether another board member of Hispanic background was present or not is not really relevant. The only matter of concern should be whether the proper procedures were followed. Based on news reports of the incident, it seems that all parties concerned behaved in a questionable manner during the proceedings. Apparently, there are still questions that need to be answered and it can only be hoped that all parties have learned a lesson so that future proceedings will be conducted properly. Stirring up questions of race are totally out of place in this matter.

Fred Speckmann

Reno

Master Tesla

Re “Nevada owned and operated by business” (Left Foot Forward, Sept. 4):

Tesla merges with Nevada Inc. to pull off a tax inversion without leaving U.S. shores, saving $1.2 billion in corporate income taxes. Watch your wallet, Nevada taxpayers. Is Tesla pledging $25 million to Nevada schools? Nice start, but $975 million short. I predict more Nevada students sitting on classroom floors, sharing outdated textbooks. But hey—finally, a no-tax environment has attracted a big fish. Shhh about Nevada’s history of “boom and bust.” And forget about updating your job resume if you have a Nevada diploma. Part of the massive tax break is $120 million in transferrable tax credits. Tesla will use them to attract the out-of-state, well-educated workforce Nevada schools can’t provide. Wake up, Nevada voters! Tesla joins casinos, mines and big box stores because you exercise little power. Nevada lawmakers refuse to properly fund education because their campaigns are financed by Nevada Inc. Nevada does not have a corporate-income tax, yet 47 states do. Really? Yes, and you, the regular taxpayer shoulder the expense of a so far, civil society. A margins tax will put an end to giant corporation tax avoidance schemes. Please vote yes on Question 3.

Doug Smithson

Reno

First, the lawyers

Re “Was it race?” (News, Aug. 28):

I think race, or more accurately, ethnicity, had too much to do with Martinez’ having been hired, but little to do with his subsequent troubles. Hispanic leaders would be better off advocating for a thorough investigation and due process for all concerned, rather than being tribal about defending one of “their own.” Martinez’ firing of Chief Mieras was baseless, so much so it should arouse suspicion of either wrongdoing or incompetence on the part of Martinez. And the Board’s subsequent firing of Martinez was so clumsy that it alone should cost chief general counsel Randy Drake his own job. Both firings indicate a CGC who’s at best incompetent, and at worst corrupt. None of this mess would have happened with competent in-house counsel. Kudos to Kent Robison for quickly supplying that much-needed competence. Robison could probably also recommend a new CGC who’s worth half a crap, ethnicity N/A.

C.G. Green

Reno

Give peas a chance

In 1981 the United Nations established Sept. 21 as the International Day of Peace. In doing so, the UN, in spite of very troubling times, has devoted itself to encouraging worldwide peace and justice. This year, in addition to Peace Day, we are also celebrating a week of nonviolent action as established by Pace e Bene Campaign Nonviolence. We are extremely proud to say that Gov. Sandoval, Mayor Cashell, Mayor Martini, and Mayor Crowell have each recognized this important day and week by officially proclaiming September 21-27 as the International Week of Peace and Non-Violent Action for the State of Nevada, City of Reno, City of Sparks, and Carson City. To culminate this week, Sierra Interfaith Action for Peace (SIAP) and other Peace and Justice groups will be sponsoring a Peace Day Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2-4 p.m. at City Plaza, 10 N. Virginia St. The theme of the event is People-Planet-Peace. This summarizes our hopes and efforts for the health and well-being of all humans, our environment, and the end of war and violence in the world. We hope you will join us.

Patricia R. Coia

Reno

Challenge authority

Advocating the FairTaxHR25 as an economic issue underestimates the impact of the FairTaxHR25 on liberty. The FairTaxHR25 defunds and disbands the IRS. This is why politicians, think tanks and lobbyist oppose FairTaxHR25. The IRS has silenced, threatened, and raped the wealth of America for over 100 years. The fear of an audit has silenced Americans, organizations and corporations. The wasted money spent on compliance is just that: wasted. If one wants to argue the benefits of the income tax over the FairTax please get in line with the socialist who want to see capitalism destroyed. Look at what the corporate gains tax is doing to corporate America and American jobs. Our style of government depends upon the availability of free speech. Citizens must be able to challenge authority in a peaceful manner without fear that their wealth and freedom will be taken from them by a tax agency doing the bidding of the highest bidder in Congress. The FairTaxHR25 may have flaws —what tax structure does not?—but it does restore liberty, something a flat tax can never do. www.fairtax.org is a good place to start your own personal quest for information about this proposal.

Beverly Martin

Fulton, Missouri

Ignorant

Re “Pawn stars” (Art of the State, Aug. 21):

Apparently, Jessica Santina went to see a play about a subject she dislikes, featuring songs she doesn’t like, in a setting she doesn’t understand (community theater). The fact that she went means she either expected to write a flop “Yelp” style review—showing off some hasty Google research and then panning it like an “expert”—or her expectations were in line with a professional Broadway production and totally out of line with even the spirit of community theater. Community theater works on a budget so set design is almost always modular. I attended opening night and thought the concept of changing a clean and simple set by moving modular pieces in front of the audience—by players in character—was a fantastic way to do something where the stage is within a couple of feet of the audience on three sides, and curtains are an impossibility. While there were some issues with volume and acoustics, I still found the whole production entertaining. I hadn’t seen the aforementioned Broadway version—and likely Santina hasn’t either—so comparing this production to a massive 1988 spectacle is just an attempt to sound like she knows what she’s talking about, which she doesn’t.

Felix Danger

Reno