Thank you to those working through the weather
A word of appreciation to those folks who collect our trash, deliver our mail and drive the snowplows and sand our streets during our lasting weather event. Thank you.
Deborah Hilderbrand
Carson City
City could do better with snow removal
I have lived in the Northeast, Midwest and West Coast, but never have I resided in a community with such unsafe conditions in wintry weather as Carson City. I find the majority of roads and public walkways in our neighborhoods and business sectors not only to be poorly maintained, but invariably remain slippery and hazardous for a lengthy period of time.
Perhaps our conscientious mayor and capable supervisors can address this issue for the well-being of our residents.
Martin J. Fischer
Carson City
Reno rally slated for Jan. 6
A year after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Northern Nevada will be sending a message that voters decide the outcome of elections.
Jan. 6 was a violent and deadly attack against all Americans – against our country, our democracy, and our freedom as voters to choose the leaders that represent us so that we have a government of, by, and for the people.
A faction of elected officials turned their backs on America by inciting armed right-wing militants to attack our Capitol and then tried to block an investigation to cover up their role in this deadly violence.
So this Jan. 6, exactly one year later, Americans across race, place, party, and background are holding vigils to say: In America, the voters decide the outcome of elections. The promise of democracy is not a partisan issue but a calling that unites us as Americans. To prevent this kind of attack from happening again, our elected leaders must pass urgent voting rights legislation that will protect this country from anti-democratic forces who are continuing their efforts to destroy it.
Reno is hosting an event at noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 6 at City Plaza, so we can prevent another attack and realize the promise of democracy for all of us — no matter our color, zip code, or income — so we all have an equal say in the decisions that shape our daily lives and futures.
Laura Hale
Carson City
Amend the Fair Housing Act
Like my fellow citizens, I have been wondering what needs to be done about the skyrocketing cost of housing here. I try not to be a complainer and instead try to offer possible solutions to problems like this.
Real estate speculators, including Real Estate Investment Trusts and other groups of investors, have been artificially inflating the prices of homes and apartments here for the past several years. While there are some other factors in play, I think it is fair to acknowledge that real estate speculators have done the lion's share of the damage to the real estate market. Curbing the activities of the real estate speculators would be a good first step in helping our citizens to once again be able to afford a house for their families.
I have suggested to U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei that an amendment to the Fair Housing Act be made that mandates that owner occupants should have the first right to buy homes for the first year that a single family home is on the market. For apartments, residents should have the first right of refusal when their apartment is put up for sale; meaning that residents should be given the right to form a housing cooperative that has the first right to buy the apartment complex when an apartment is placed on the market.
This sort of measure would go a long way to reducing the inflationary effect on prices caused by REITs and other investment firms who have been constantly speculating in, and manipulating our housing markets across America.
J. Tyler Ballance
Reno
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