Letters to the editor for Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017

Editor’s note: Michael Goldeen sent the following letter to Gregory Graves, vice president of the U.S. Postal Service Western Area Office.

Mail delivery being bungled in Carson City

Dear Mr. Graves,

The quality of mail delivery in my neighborhood and, judging from a letter written by John A. Sheridan, in Carson City at large has deteriorated badly in recent weeks.

It is more usual now than not for the letter carrier to make his/her rounds in the dark. There was not delivery at all on Dec. 6. Delivery of weekly periodicals to which my wife and I subscribe is sporadic. No issues can appear for a period, then two or three weeks worth are delivered at once.

Recently even first class mail is affected. Correspondence which normally arrives at the beginning of the month — no later than the 6th or 7th — now does not appear until the 10th, if then.

It’s true, some of this correspondence comes from as far away as Omaha, Neb., but so far this year there has been little in the way of weather to account for the delay.

More aggravating than lack of timely delivery is the lack of any published explanation for the increased delay.

As I understand it, the United States Postal Service enjoys a monopoly. If so, we, its captive customers, deserve better treatment than we are getting here in Carson City.

It is clear to me, and from my letter it should now also be clear to you, that corrective steps are called for and that you should be the one to take them.

Thank you for your help.

Michael Goldeen

Carson City

Waiting for response from Attorney General’s Office

So Adam Laxalt wants to be the next governor of Nevada. If elected, I hope he will be more responsive to the public than my recent experience with his Attorney General’s Office has shown.

In August, I submitted a complaint to the Attorney General’s Office about a business that appeared to be scamming the public. I never received an acknowledgment of my complaint nor one word about its status.

After four months of waiting, I contacted Mr. Laxalt’s office requesting an update on the status of my complaint. Over a month has passed now and still not a peep.

Admittedly, I am not a casino owner or some big shot who has dumped thousands of dollars into Mr. Laxalt’s coffers in exchange for favorable treatment. Yet, at the very least, I would expect his office to provide a token response to my complaint and inquiry rather than just blowing me off entirely.

Really, Mr. Laxalt, is it that difficult for one of your many staff to give me the courtesy of a response?

Michael J. Casey

Minden

Appeal to Congress to prevent escalation of drug crisis

Our nation faces the worst drug epidemic in its history, so severe, in fact, that President Trump elevated it to a national emergency. Policymakers are discussing approaches to combat healthcare prices that would jeopardize the health and safety of the American people, as legalizing the importation of prescription pharmaceuticals from foreign countries would result in unintended consequences that far outweigh any benefits.

Two hundred and seventeen tons of illegal drugs are consumed annually in the United States, contributing to more than 50,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2016 alone. Increasing the volume of drugs coming from overseas would expand an already existing market and we would see an explosion of the incredibly lethal drug, fentanyl.

Lowering the cost of pharmaceuticals would also shift the cost to law enforcement. In order to protect public safety and the integrity of our drug supply, it is imperative that Congress does not pass importation legislation which unwittingly contributes to the massive opioid problem and undermines efforts to combat it.

Dr. Bruce Fong

Medical director at Sierra Integrative Medical Center and immediate past president of the Nevada Osteopathic Medical Association

Sexual harassment claims lack credibility

Lately, claims of sexual harassment have been made against several prominent men. As a former prosecutor in Kern County, I would like to point out their weaknesses.

The statute of limitations exists for good reasons. Defending against an old accusation can be impossible. Memories dim, people move or die, and physical evidence disappears. The older the accusation, the less likely it is trustworthy, and the more likely it is brought for unscrupulous motives.

Consider that the charges tend to be exceedingly vague. “He groped me,” for example. When and where did it occur? Who witnessed the touching? Was it reported to anyone at the time, such as the police or other authorities?

If no one was notified at the time, the assertions are truly feeble. Is there any physical evidence or any supporting evidence at all?

An allegation more than 10 years old, not reported at the time, and unsupported by evidence, is probably an invention. Innocent until proven guilty is the Constitutional demand, and proof is not one person shouting guilty.

If words alone comprise the harassment, it will seldom rise to a crime and, without evidence, should not disgrace or injure the accused.

Alan Dale Daniel

Dayton

Post Office personnel doing their best

Just read another letter bashing the Post Office. I know that the staffing and hiring process is no longer handled locally. So when carriers retire or move on, our local office is at the mercy of people in Las Vegas and Denver to replace them. So in the meantime it just adds to all the usual challenges of getting the mail delivered. It is not unique to Carson, I see carriers out at night in Reno also. When you see those carriers out there in the cold and dark that you find so inconvenient to walk to your mail box in, realize that they are probably working on their second, third, or fourth route of the day and they would probably rather be home with their families but they are out there doing their best to get you your mail. Have a little compassion and maybe thank them! Merry Christmas!

Vincent Barnes

Carson City