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Opinion
Mar. 11, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

LETTERS: County isn't 'sitting' on anything

To the editor:

Your Saturday article and Monday editorial about the draft Kessler report concerning how Clark County handles building complaints need clarification.

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    • First, consultant Michael Kessler submitted a draft of his report, we reviewed it and then made suggestions last week on how to improve its accuracy and formatting. Mr. Kessler took in that feedback, and now it is entirely up to Mr. Kessler whether he decides to incorporate our suggestions in his final report or not.

    Contrary to what you wrote, the county is not "sitting" on a final report, for Mr. Kessler has not yet delivered it. We are as anxious as you to receive it -- we did, after all, commission it.

    Your articles suggested nefarious motives. In fact, it is commonplace for the authors of such reports to prepare drafts so that they may be reviewed for accuracy. It is the responsible thing to do. Further, there has always been an understanding that the county would receive a draft report to review for accuracy. Mr. Kessler must ultimately determine when his report is final, and he alone is responsible for its contents.

    The county funded this report to evaluate the Building Division's handling of a citizen's complaint. Our goal is to determine what errors occurred and what changes can be made to improve the handling of similar complaints in the future (including those received by our Fire Department). These are important matters for this community and we look forward to receiving and sharing Mr. Kessler's report with our citizens.

    Erik Pappa

    LAS VEGAS

    THE WRITER IS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR CLARK COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

    Release report now

    To the editor:

    Cark County Manager Virginia Valentine has been walking around with the "Kessler report" in her purse for three weeks ("County yet to release audit," Saturday Review-Journal)? She refuses to let the commissioners or the taxpayers sneek a peek at the report until she and other administrators are done "editing" it?

    This "Kessler report" tells us exactly how knee-deep in dung her friends at the Building Department and Harrah's really are. We paid for a report that could save tens of thousands of lives. Whip it out, Ms. Valentine. This game is over.

    We're all in harm's way, and she doesn't want to tell us when and where it's going to happen next? Talk about a game of Russian roulette. I can hear the tourist flight cancellations from my bunker. Has this town lost its mind?

    I demand an answer from the Clark County Commission. You hired her, right?

    What other reports are in her purse? While you're in there, grab the "Desai report." How long has that been collecting dust? Grab the "Sunrise Landfill report." What's that smell? Grab the "UMC report." Untold graft and corruption.

    I remember when the feds finally gave us the "Galardi report." People went to prison. That's where this one's headed, my friends. We need to to see the original Kessler report. Anything less should be considered a crime.

    I'm asking on behalf of the 40,000 (and counting) people who never would have gone to the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada if they would have been warned in advance. You're killing us.

    John Dempsey

    LAS VEGAS

    Fool me twice

    To the editor:

    I just read the Saturday letter by Rajendar Singal regarding the closing of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada. Mr. Singal was in favor of reopening the center, as the damage has already been done and corrective actions were now in place. He praises Dr. Dipak Desai for the good he has done for the community.

    I wonder if Mr. Singal would feel the same if he had been one of the 40,000 patients notified about their risk of infection after undergoing procedures at the center (as I was).

    I agree with Mr. Singal that the clinic should be reopened so that patients who require its services can have their procedures performed. However, the center should be reopened only after there is new management and a new staff in place. Dr. Desai has already demonstrated his lack of concern for human safety and desire to make a quick buck. How dare he have the audacity to ignore common-sense medical practices and expose his patients to potentially deadly diseases? Dr. Desai and those people who followed his procedures should have their licenses permanently revoked. The world will be a much safer place.

    Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!

    Bob Wells

    LAS VEGAS

    Citizen action

    To the editor:

    The shoddy and illegal practices of some Las Vegas medical clinics is reprehensible. The public sector seems impotent. Because government isn't working with the sense of urgency demanded by this crisis, perhaps ordinary citizens can help clean up the mess.

    Pickets with signs reading "This clinic is dangerous to your health" should surround each offending clinic. Similar pickets could encircle the residences of the offending doctors. Now wouldn't that be a great picture for TV news? Maybe that would cause more offending clinics to be closed and some doctors' licenses to be revoked.

    Government doesn't work. Citizen action is required.

    Jim Stockdale

    HENDERSON

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    Mark Schaffer wrote on March 11, 2008 10:34 PM: foaf,
    Now who was the next major scientist to begin to draw conclusions about the effect of adding deep sequestered carbon back to the atmosphere? Hint: Won a rather recently created major prize.


    foaf wrote on March 11, 2008 08:26 PM: I like that..."might"

    Come on, without looking it up, gimme Pascal's Pressure Law. Verbatim. I know you can. Somehow I can't figure out why I can recite it from memory after so many years after I learned it. Just a kid I was...


    foaf wrote on March 11, 2008 08:22 PM: Sheesh, buddy...

    I'll wager a guess, but during my HTFF (hey, that's heat transfer and fluid flow for the dunces) studies in a certain area of the physical sciences, I recall Fourier getting tossed into the mix.

    I'm not so sure you wanna go the advanced mathematical route(s) with me, though. Never can tell what a bored educated person with a Ti-89 and a bottle of wine and disposable income can come up with...


    Now...Powerball numbers???


    Rotten wrote on March 11, 2008 06:31 PM: Tens of thousands of lives at stake, and you window lickers get a call from the County to destroy this forum. Unbelievable. Read between the lines folks. Don't be afraid of this attack.
    Virginia Valentine is due for a check up from the neck up. Global Warming? 40,000 plus and the County tries to trash this forum . What a shock.


    William Conger wrote on March 11, 2008 06:24 PM: My wife and I were patients of the clinic on Shadow Lane that is now under investigation for putting patients lives in danger. My wife was going to avail herself of the free Doctor's exam at the UMC Quick Care at Tropicana and Rainbow as I had already done. After waiting an exceptionally long period and seeing other patients come after her and leave before her, she asked why she was not being seen. She was told that they were seeing paying customers first and since she did not have to pay she would have to wait. Since there was no guarantee when she would see a Doctor she had to leave. If UMC Quick Care is going to advertise free treatment, they should also inform the public that the patients receiving this free treatment are not a priority and therefore should not expect the same courtesy given paying patients. I would hate to think this situation was racially motivated, but the medical community in Las Vegas is (in my humble opinion) certainly not above reproach. It is bad enough to have the fear and anxiety of a possible infection of a deadly desease, but to be publicly humiliated by being told "YOU DONT HAVE TO PAY SO YOU HAVE TO WAIT" is most certainly uncalled for.
    BILL CONGER
    LAS VEGAS


    howard wrote on March 11, 2008 05:39 PM: Mark, it took you an hour and a half to come up with that? Genius.


    Mark Schaffer wrote on March 11, 2008 04:32 PM: OK foaf,
    I'll take you up on that. First question:
    What French researcher first discovered " in 1824 that gases in the atmosphere might increase the surface temperature of the Earth"?


    ace wrote on March 11, 2008 03:38 PM: are you holding your breath mark, until we all go away? please tell us more.


    howard wrote on March 11, 2008 03:27 PM: Mark, maybe it is time you go check yourself into Rawson Neal hospital and take a little valium holiday. I don't think you are mentally well. You can get free meds and talk it all out with a quailfied professional. They will even let you wear your tin foil hat. The hospital is named after a republican state senator who in your world had to be "evil", "stupid" and an "idiot" but they can help you get over that. Good luck in your recovery.


    tim wrote on March 11, 2008 03:11 PM: mark show us your stats proving nv.is last in spending on schools, that lie has been exposed just like all the budget cuts you rant about. spending has gone up every year,in gov. and schools.try preaching to your fellow airheads,they are the only ones who would agree with your more money mantra.you must work in the public sector,couldnt find a real job could ya?


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