Letters to the editor Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014

What’s the return on Carson Street investment?

In February of this year, my husband and I moved to Carson City. We had recently retired and for the first time in our lives, we could choose where we wanted to live.

The things important to us were a place with a dry climate (although a bit more rain would be nice), moderate cost of living, reasonable shopping, and plenty of outdoor space and mountains. After a couple of trips, we chose Carson City.

I still remember our first drive around town. We thought the town was nice and the drive down Carson Street especially lovely, with the trees in the median it could have been called a boulevard.

We know that Nevada is not a wealthy state and it looked as though the state and capital city spent its money wisely in that everything was attractive but not ostentatious.

I have many concerns about the downtown Carson Street “improvements.” While in my private life I can choose to spend money on frivolous things, there is a greater responsibility when spending public money. What is the expected “return on investment.”

First, how long will it take the street-side businesses to recoup loses that will occur during the construction? Assuming they survive, is it expected that their businesses will grow or that additional businesses will move downtown and generate new tax revenue just because of the street change? It seems that it is a lot of money to spend for something of dubious worth.

Elizabeth Thomson

Carson City

Vote and vote informed

I always vote on Election Day. It’s Monday evening. Tomorrow I will exercise the privilege Americans have with our Right to Vote.

This election is the first time in my “old enough to vote” began that I am grossly disappointed.. It seems to me it is a brutal, vicious contest

between contenders that lacks discussion about issues and differences between candidates visions of what is best for everyone, or,how to

best spend taxpayers money. Taxpayers are not even considered;and rarely mentioned.Endorsements seem to have a bigger role in the election

than voters do. I personally have changed my mind about some people because of their endorsements. I stopped trusting them.

Special interests with money seem to buy officials with no interest in actually serving the public.

Perhaps you know the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over again and expecting different results. In the area of education, I see the focus is

on more and more money for education. That has been the mantra for 50 years. Nevada ranks 51 in the nation for quality education. Instead of giving our

children a solid basics education, we keep adding things to the curriculum. I see the role of parenting being taken over by the schools. Now, every student

will be given a free breakfast., more laptops are being given to students, and expectations are focused on more tools for learning than teaching.

We have a lot of nepotism and cronyism in our government. It is not transparent, accountable, or honest. From my own personal experience departments

within the city and state do not communicate with each other. The increased regulations on business stifle and discourage people from business endeavors.

We have become seriously dependent on the Federal Government.

I often spend a lot of time encouraging people to vote informed and caution them not to be swayed by “deceptive dazzle”. This time I am encouraging all

the successful candidates to become informed, communicate with your constituents often, practice integrity in all your decisions, and quit using your office

as a stepping stone to power and fame. Do your job this time.

Ann Bednarski

Carson City