April 16, 2025, Letters to the Editor

Notch another rescue

Editor:

The folks in Sheridan want to thank Nevada Department of Wildlife Game Warden James Mortimore for coming out on April 8 after some of the residents noticed one of our resident deer “Notch” had caught her head in a piece of decorative garden fencing, as it may have been used to keep the deer out. It unfortunately was caught around her neck, front legs and unable to free herself limiting her mobility. She also had an 8-month old fawn with her which would not leave her side. After a few hours, a couple tranquilizers and patience Mortimore successfully got her down and removed this wire from around her neck and front legs. She had many scratches and scrapes from the piece of wire fencing but feels much better it has been removed. We the neighbors of Sheridan appreciate the game warden and thank him for successfully freeing the deer. 

Christine Evanchik

On behalf of the thankful residents of Sheridan

Why all the traffic?

Editor:

In speaking with other locals, I’ve heard a common thread: why is there so much traffic on 395 every day? Since the biggest part of my job is to attract visitors to Carson Valley, I pay particular attention to this question as I want visitors to be well-received. The economic impact of tourism is a tremendous boon to the Valley and the lifeblood of over an estimated 150 local businesses.

Back to the original question: why all the traffic? I went to the Census Bureau to help find insights into this question. Every five years, the American Community Survey is conducted, and one aspect of that survey is a study of commuter traffic flows.

From the 2015-2020 ACS Commuting Flow study, a statistically viable estimate was made on the flow of commuter traffic into and out of Douglas County. Would it surprise you that only 63.5% of the active workforce of Douglas County actually works in Douglas County? That suggests that we export over 36% each day. Granted some of that is as easy as stepping across the Douglas County line into El Dorado County. Yet each vehicle leaving Douglas County in the morning and returning in the evening adds to our congestion.

Let’s take it one step further. If we export 36 percent of the workforce out of Douglas County each day, how much do we need to import to fill the jobs in the Valley? This creates the reverse traffic flow of the previous example.

Now add in the pass-through traffic and visitors coming into Carson Valley. Our roads start to fill up and some start to ask the question of ‘why is there so much traffic?’ So, what’s the solution?

Do we need to focus on more local job creation, so we don’t need to export over a third of our workforce each day? If we keep more workers close to home, can we then fill the jobs for which we normally import workers?

Regardless of the answers, a few things can make our daily drives better: 1) slow down and obey traffic laws 2) be courteous to other drivers 3) pay attention 4) take a moment to enjoy the beauty that we live in.

The American Community Survey is coming to the end of its 5 year cycle this year. Though the survey data will take a few years to become available, I’m curious to see if our traffic patterns have changed or if we’ll still be asking the same questions then.

Josh Rudelbach

Gardnerville

How much is too much?

Editor:

In response to David Hussman’s comments on the budget deficit, I agree that addressing it is going to be difficult.  

However, I wonder why, if cutting it is so important, MAGA supporters do not seem to have an issue with the Republican passed budget? Estimates are that the proposed budget will add $4.5 trillion dollars to the deficit in the next 10 years, and an additional $17 trillion more between 2035 and 2055. 

Most of that results from tax cuts to the rich.  Why is that so important when cuts are being made to Medicare, feeding children, health and safety, cancer research, education, arts and science?   Why is reducing foreign aid - which is historically about 1 percent of the budget more important than assisting allies and being a source of compassion in the world and building good will?  Why is Defense Spending (over 13 percent of the budget) not being addressed and why are DOGE and their ilk not looking at waste and fraud in the military?  Doesn’t anyone remember the $600 toilets from decades ago, which by now have probably doubled or tripled in price?  

Why are we looking at potential cuts to Social Security and Medicaid which are not entitlements but programs into which workers have paid their whole lives?  Would we rather have billionaires buy more yachts or planes than have senior citizens live with dignity and not face bankruptcy from medical debt?

What do MAGA supporters hope to gain by further enriching the top 1 percent? “Under what set of values does a budget target those who struggle to pay their bills for severe cuts, while giving an annual tax cut averaging $62,000 for those who make $743,000 or more a year?“ (Center for Budget and Policy Priorities). 

When did we become a country more concerned with the interests of the wealthy than those of average Americans?  Is the hatred for immigrants, the LGBTQ community, our European allies, and non-Christian Americans a good reason to destroy our democratic republic and harm the most vulnerable in our society?  I, personally, don’t think so and it horrifies me to see this happening under Trump.

Patricia M. Cuocco

Minden

Done with the Journal

Editor:

I have been reading the WSJ since the 1980s and have always felt that I was receiving straightforward news without a slanted view, but no longer.

I am wondering how much longer readers can expect your constant anti-Trump tirade to continue. Your articles are either overtly anti-Trump agenda, or subliminally anti-Trump agenda.

Take a look at last weekend for instance: “Market Carnage”, “Trump Heads to Golf Club Amid Turmoil”, “GOP worries Musk a Liability”, That’s just page 1. Let’s look at page 4: “Voters Sour on Trump”, “Executive Branch Power Should be Curbed”, “Tariffs likely to Limit Economy”, Let’s try page 16,, “Trump’s Trade War a Gift to Chinese”….I could go on, every day it’s like this. 

Not a single positive article. Nothing concerning Trump’s goals to bring manufacturing back to the United States. Nothing about his goals to curb fentanyl and the deaths it causes. Nothing about working towards controlling the Chinese theft of intellectual property. Nothing about the massive infrastructure improvements that the trillions of dollars flowing into the country will bring. Nothing good at all, in other words.

If I, a stalwart 40 year WSJ reader am getting tired of this, I’m sure I am not alone.

You need to wake up before your publication is as irrelevant as MSNBC.

Edward Gray

Gardnerville