LETTERS: Wordsmith Glionna paints pretty picture of Goldfield Hotel

What a delight to see veteran reporter John M. Glionna suddenly have an article in the Review-Journal after taking a trip to Goldfield ("At 82, keeper of keys gives up the ghost," Jan. 18). Mr. Glionna weaves a fascinating narrative of the now-shuttered Goldfield Hotel and its ghostly guests. In the rich detail and color of his Old West tapestry, the writer brings the almost vacant hotel to life and makes me want to go there.

Indeed, any novelist would envy Mr. Glionna's skills. I hope the RJ regularly features more of his writings. In fact, I hope he's regularly paired with your other excellent panoramist, John L. Smith, whom Glionna may give a run for his money. Thanks for both Johns.

Lee Mallory

Las Vegas

Superintendent search

Regarding the editorial on the state's search for a new superintendent of public instruction ("Not super-duper," Thursday Review-Journal), it seems obvious that this inadequate search is a consequence of already having a final decision made, not a consequence of incompetence. One of the three applicants is the interim superintendent, Steve Canavero.

It appears the powers that be want Mr. Canavero to have the permanent position. Therefore, the logic goes, why pay a firm six figures to conduct a search when we already have our person? The problem is really more of appearance. Whoever is running this search should have at least given the appearance that it would be rigorous.

Michael Sullivan

Henderson

MGM parking

Regarding one of the follow-up articles on the MGM Resorts parking fee ("Murren: MGM not tone deaf," Saturday Review-Journal), I am not a local. I'm from Southern California, Las Vegas' main source of weekend casino revenue. We have suffered through resort fees, including charges for services, Wi-Fi, pools, etc. — things we get for free at hotels outside of Las Vegas.

But paying to park at a casino is obscene. Have the good people at MGM not heard the phrase "cost of doing business"? Management is probably right. We will continue to come, but hopefully, we will at some point wake up to the fact that we are being taken. Instead of parking fees, try customer service.

Laurence F. Westcott

Bloomington, Calif.

Like Atlantic City

After reading several articles in the Review-Journal regarding MGM Resorts' decision to start charging for parking at its properties, as a longtime local resident, I would pose the following questions to MGM Resorts CEO Jim Murren: Why were Phoenix and Los Angeles used as comparisons to justify the decision to charge guests who patronize MGM properties? What does either city offer that comes even close to the Strip? Has Mr. Murren forgotten Las Vegas is unique?

There is no other city in the world like Las Vegas. If Mr. Murren feels he must compare our unique city to another city to justify the parking decision, why not take a look at Atlantic City? Surely you can see the similarities, and its casinos do indeed charge for parking. Now I ask, is that the direction Mr. Murren wants to take Las Vegas?

Edith Ziskind

Las Vegas

Supporting unions

Richard Berman, a former union-busting attorney and anti-labor lobbyist, expects Review-Journal readers to believe he wants to protect union workers' rights in Nevada ("Congress should move forward on Employee Rights Act," Thursday Review-Journal). The act, sponsored only by Republicans, would make it harder for workers to organize and easier for companies to decertify a union.

Mr. Berman, who won't disclose donors to the tax-exempt organizations that pay him, doesn't tell you that union leaders are democratically elected by their fellow workers and legally bound to bargain for better wages and benefits for all their members. He complains Las Vegas has the third-most-unionized private sector in the country, as if that's a bad thing. But collective bargaining enabled thousands of waitresses, bartenders and convention workers in Southern Nevada to afford their own homes and retire with dignity.

Mr. Berman talks about bullying by Big Labor, but 90 percent of union workers polled said they would vote for their union again. Seventy-nine percent of union workers have health benefits, as opposed to less than half of nonunion workers. On average, union workers make 27 percent higher wages than nonunion workers doing the same jobs. A study by the Economic Policy Institute found a majority of nonunion workers would vote for union representation if they could.

If Mr. Berman really cared about workers, he would encourage his big corporate donors to organize and join a union.

Keith Hubbell

Las Vegas