The Laughlin Herald

Letter To The Editor

RE: OUR TOWN ADVISORY BOARD AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

(December 1^st, 2009)

I recently read Mr. Frank Pilz’s letter to the Editor and your response.  I concur with the majority of the items discussed; however, I feel I must comment on a couple of points.

First of all, we never had a “right to vote” to elect the Laughlin Town Advisory Board (LTAB).  In Ordinance 490, which was signed in February, 1976 and formed the unincorporated town of Laughlin, it states that the LTAB will be appointed by the Clark County Commissioners.  At that time, the citizens did not push to have the LTAB elected, which was an option as provided in NRS 269.576.  Had they done so, we would have the “right to vote” today for the LTAB.  It is my belief that we are the victim of our own negligence.

Letter To The Editor

RE: WATER DISTRICT BILLING FORMULAS

(November 28^th, 2009)

Proposed Water District Billing Formulas

In July of this year, Bronson Mack of the Las Vegas Valley Water District/Big Bend Water District made a comprehensive presentation of the Water District’s $12 MILLION capital improvement requirements for the Township of Laughlin.

The presentation included a billing scenario which was ill received by both the members of the Laughlin Economic Development Corporation and the residents.  Bronson, both in that meeting, and in subsequent meetings and conversations, has encouraged all individuals and entities to submit their suggestions for billing scenarios.  The issue is really one of fairness - who should pay the bulk of expansion; current users or new developments; residential or non-residential.  There needs to be a formula that is fair among all parties.

Letter To The Editor

RE: CHANGES IN LAUGHLIN TRASH COLLECTION

(November 27^th, 2009)

My understanding from the Town Advisory Board Meeting was all that was needed to bring the new recycle program to Laughlin was a letter from the Town of Laughlin requesting the program.  So I assumed that a real quest to get Laughlin's true response would be launched.  By your article it appears that the Town Board thinks that they represent the people of Laughlin and were going to act in their behalf.  Are they now the City Council?  I don't remember voting them in to office. 

THE TOWN CRIER

Report From Town Hall – November 2009

(November 10^th, 2009)

The Laughlin Town Advisory Board held its regular monthly meeting today. After a no doubt much appreciated absence from the pages of The Laughlin Herald, the Occupation Board will now have to once again have a voice speaking that their puppet master, Democratic County Commissioner and Harry Reid Commissar Steve Sisolak can’t muzzle. This was a more sedate meeting as they go, but nonetheless, there were plenty of issues residents of Gulag Laughlin should be aware of.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

They’re After Us Again

(September 14^th, 2009)

Virtually unnoticed recently, the Clark County Board of Commissioners approved a 'plan' from the County Clerk's office, which severely cut back on the office hours of the Clerk's offices in outlying communities.  Laughlin was cut back to three days a week (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday).  The chief reason given was that those offices being cut back were not doing enough business to warrant remaining open every day of the week.  Supposedly a study was done in coming to these conclusions, but it is doubtful that much thought was given to the hours involved.

THE TOWN CRIER

Report From Town Hall

(July 28^th, 2009)

The Laughlin Town Advisory Board recently held its regular monthly meeting. Despite the fact that the Board is filled with Quislings doing the biding of everyone but the voters of the township, this last meeting was a two thumbs up performance not to be missed. The Occupation Board is starting to come into its own, sort of like how a new soap opera needs a few episodes to find its feet. So much went on that this will be the longest article I’ve ever written for The Laughlin Herald.

Letter To The Editor

The Chamber Should Change

(July 4^th, 2009)

The Laughlin Chamber of Commerce should change its name.  It does not represent Laughlin Commerce.  Its Board of Directors is controlled, and must always be so, by the casinos.  The vast majority of its members are Arizona businesses.  In an interview on TV2, the full-time executives of the Bullhead City and the Laughlin Chambers agreed that Arizona was for retailing and residences, while Laughlin is for gaming, entertainment and the jobs they provide.

RESTRICTED HOUSING

The Last Thing Laughlin Needs Is Another Black Hole for Police Resources

(June 11^th 2009)

Laughlin has only recently discovered the full truth about a government funded housing project, The Vista Creek Apartments. Despite a series of misleading presentations and assertions we now know it for what it is – another black hole for police resources at the expense of millions of taxpayer dollars.

PARSE THE DIFFERENCE?

Slicing The Casinos Out Of A New City Isn’t Ideal – But It’s Not A Deal Killer Either

(May 3^rd, 2009)

AB 383, the Laughlin incorporation bill, didn’t make it out of committee on its own, but a parliamentary maneuver may move it along as a rider to another bill soon, thanks to the tireless efforts of Assemblyman Joe Hardy. The key to this may be a compromise idea of not including dissenting casinos in the new city. This may not sound like the best possible solution and frankly it’s not, but it’s infinitely better than remaining as serfs to Lord Sisolak and getting no city at all.

IT COUNTS MORE THAN YOU THINK

Voting This Wednesday Will Speak Truth To Power

(March 30th, 2009)]

This Wednesday Laughlin citizens will have yet another opportunity to vote for local representatives. An ad hoc straw poll will be held from 7:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M. at the Laughlin Community Church at 2910 Needles Highway, next door to the Mobil Gas Station. Every registered voter is eligible to cast a vote. As I said back in October, it really does matter who sits on the Town Advisory Board. Many have felt that the Occupation has become a fact of life and we’re helpless to do anything about. And yet already, one illegitimate Board member has been forced to resign. So everyone needs to vote. For the record, I will once again list the candidates I endorse – and why.

NOLI NOTHIS PERMITTERE TE TERERE

An Open Letter To The Reverend Gene Lee

(March 27^th, 2009)

Dear Gene,

I feel compelled to say a few words about some unfair criticism that has come your way in the last week or so. First the straw poll on the 1st and the inaccuracy of the statement about violating your tax exempt status. This is a clearly non-partisan event. Many churches tread on far shakier ground when they host events chaired by the League of Women Voters which has lied for years about their 'impartiality". But that's a left leaning bias so I'll assume that a few of our more radical residents find that acceptable. Secondly I find it disconcerting that some residents either can not or will not understand the distinction between the various events that collectively comprise Townfest. It is not a monolithic event, although I understand that socialists prefer to manage society in that manner. I am given to understand that the Carnival has always been a separate church event that takes place simultaneously during Townfest, but is not a specifically Townfest event, anymore than the various events that Kiwanis or Rotary put on during those days. Are Laughlin's service clubs next to be audited? Lastly there seems to be a few voices who object to the Townfest, the Carnival and the Town Advisory Board all being run by the same general group of people, even though the first two are private events. So I have an idea to address this objection.

Why don't we have a vote about it?

Gene, I'll see you on April 1st. Have a swell weekend!

We welcome the public’s feedback. Please send your Letters To The Editor to editor@laughlinherald.com

STAND UP AND BE HEARD

Testimony Before The  Nevada Assembly Committee of Government Affairs

(March 27^th, 2009 )

Last Monday I exercised my right as a citizen and traveled to the Grant Sawyer State Building in Las Vegas as did two other somewhat more prominent Laughlin residents, Former Laughlin Town Advisory Board Chair Kathy Ochs and Dick McCall who has been active in civic affairs for many, many years. We were there to support Assembly Bill 383 which would allow Laughlin residents to choose the option to incorporate. Below is the text of the comments I made.

FAKE FINDERS

A Political Sleight Of Hand Show

(March 15^th, 2009)

As if the Occupation of Laughlin wasn’t bad enough, radical left wing Democrats in the county bureaucracy are mobilizing a propaganda effort to hypnotize the citizens of Laughlin from escaping from behind the partisan Iron Curtain that the All Democratic Board of County Commissioners have lowered on our town. The so called “fact finders” as they call themselves will have an illusionist show filled with fake facts open to the public on Monday, March 16th, 2009 at the Laughlin Public Library at 3:30 PM. I strongly urge all Laughlin residents to attend this meeting and keep the facts in front of the public. KLBC-TV will be there, the “fact finders will perform their feats of prestidigitation and I will play the role of the skeptical debunker who turns on the lights in the middle of the performance and shows everyone how the trick is done. A good time should be expected by all. Except for the fork tongued collaborators putting on this dog and pony show. Them I don’t promise a good time.

We welcome the public’s feedback. Please send your Letters To The Editor to editor@laughlinherald.com

SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE

All Laughlin Citizens Need To Sign The Petition Against The Occupation

(22 February 2009)

If you haven’t signed the recall petition against the election vandals who stole our Town Advisory Board, (except for the one who simply bought her seat) now is the time to step up to the plate. Don’t let them serve one single day thinking they got away with the heist. Any Laughlin citizen may now go to the business office of KLBC-TV Channel 2 in the Aldapes shopping center during normal business hours and ask to sign the petition. It asks the Board of Commissioners to remove the current illegitimate board, appoint the rightful winners of the straw poll and pass an ordinance guaranteeing election rights in the future. Your signature really does matter because it help keep the light of liberty alive in Laughlin. Don’t let Commissar Steve Sisolak crush us under the heel of his storm troopers jack boot.

We welcome the public’s feedback. Please send your Letters To The Editor to editor@laughlinherald.com

ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL

A Key Social Service in Laughlin Now Has No Choice

(February 1^st, 2009)

I’ve never been a particularly fervent proponent of government solutions to societal problems. Ronald Reagan’s voice still rings true to my ear when I recall the words from his 1981 inaugural address, "Government is not the solution to our problems; government is the problem." But conservatives have their compassionate side as well. If you survey most reasonable people and ask them if they support giving welfare to people, a majority will say no, but if you rephrase the question and ask the same people, should the government help the truly needy, a majority will also agree. And that’s where we stand today with trying to find an alternative to our gutted mental health clinic. It’s broke, broken and discredited.

THE TWO FIFTHS COMPROMISE

What’s Next? Separate Drinking Fountains?

(January 26^th, 2009)

In 1787 our nation crafted a political compromise at our Constitutional Convention that was not one of our nation’s finer moments. It was known as the Three Fifths Compromise. Reduced to its most basic, it said slaves counted as three fifths of a person for voting, not that they could vote in the first place of course. Steve Sisolak seems to think that the serfs of Laughlin should be happy with his own Two Fifths Compromise.

TO THE BARRICADES

Preparing For A Long Protracted War

(January 22^nd, 2009)

THE LAUGHLIN HERALD APOLOGIZES FOR THE DELAY IN THIS SPECIAL EDITION

Over forty of Laughlin’s dedicated citizens made the trip to speak to the Clark County Board of Commissioners this last Tuesday. We made this town’s opinions heard in a dignified but firm manner. But the reaction of Commissioner Steve Sisolak afterwards made it clear that he will not budge in his dictatorial abolition of our voting rights. He has already tried to co-opt some citizens to give the impression that some compromise offering us second class citizenship would be magnanimous. Rosa Parks wouldn’t accept that and neither should we.

JOIN THE RESISTANCE!

Free Transportation To Las Vegas To Protest The Occupation Government

(January 18^th, 2009)

Today is a brief comment and a call to arms. Tuesday morning at 7:00 A.M. a caravan of buses and cars will leave the parking lot at Aldape’s Supermarket to bring outraged Laughlin residents to the meeting that day of the Clark County Board of Commissioners to protest the illegitimate violations of voting rights of the people of Laughlin. If you want a ride on the bus, you must make a reservation by calling The Laughlin Herald at 298-5791. The ride is free, but bring lunch and snack money as it will be a long day. A special edition of The Laughlin Herald will appear on Wednesday to update citizens on what transpired in Las Vegas.

We welcome the public’s feedback. Please send your Letters To The Editor to editor@laughlinherald.com

LIBERATE LAUGHLIN

This Tuesday Laughlin Will Be Occupied By A Hostile and Illegitimate Government

(January 11^th, 2009)

This Tuesday at the Laughlin Town Hall, a dark day will dawn. As Eastern Europe collapsed in the vanguard of Communist armies in the waning days of the Second World War, the people of that unfortunate part of the world had governments, not of their choice, imposed on them against their will. On this Tuesday in history, that grim scenario will play out again in our own community.   

WEBSITE GROWING PAINS

It’s Time That The Town Government Website Live Up To Its Potential

(January 4^th, 2009)

The Township of Laughlin has a website. Really I’m not kidding. Not easy to find and when you do, it’s, well, let’s say a little underwhelming. I’ve been having some trouble deciding if it sucks because the public sector is usually about twenty years behind the real world or because county staff doesn’t want to provide a real source of government information to citizens. After all, if you do that, the damn citizens might start showing up and getting involved.

LAUGHLIN IN 2009

Challenges in the Political Landscape in the coming year

(December 28^th, 2008)

A host of public problems will face Laughlin residents next year and some of them may actually be acknowledged as existing by both civic leaders and local media. There are actually some recent signs that political discourse in our Township is going beyond polite non-discussion. Here’s what’s at the top of the non-polite discussion list for The Laughlin Herald in the annus novus.