Business Politics – 2006 August
August 28, 2006
SHERRIFF WANTS SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS ALONG LAS VEGAS STRIP
Surveillance camera networks installed in London continually help identify terrorists and other wrongdoing, but currently there’s no similar network in place in Las Vegas.
Outgoing Clark County Sheriff Bill Young wants that to change, and he’s in the process of soliciting casinos along Las Vegas Boulevard to finance the project.
Young wants Big Brother all along the Strip, from Russell Road up to Sahara Avenue, and he wants cameras installed on the casinos’ private property, all fed into a central network.
A consultant estimates the cost at $3 million for 120 cameras, excluding operational costs.
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August 27, 2006
EDGAR “MOUSE” HOHL’S HICKORY-DICKORY-DOCK #3
Las Vegas Skyline
RENO vs. VEGAS
Reno and Las Vegas may be in the same state, but there the similarity ends. The two towns relate like Cain and Able, Lee and Grant, Gibbons and Titus.
Reno was built by cowboys, ranchers, railroaders, and miners; hard working folks. Las Vegas was the creation of gangsters; a guy with a short stogie, no neck and a chip on his shoulder.
Raymond “Pappy” Smith, who founded Harold’s Club and made Reno “The Biggest Little City in the World”, wore suspenders, loud ties and cussed a lot. In contrast, Bugsy Segal, the mobster who started Las Vegas, preferred fine suits, silk ties and diamond stickpins. Pappy passed away; Bugsy was blown away.
Reno epitomizes the West. The place and the pace are warm, friendly, come-as-you are. Las Vegas is flash, and dash. If Reno were a car it would be a Ford or Chevy; Las Vegas would be a Cadillac or Corvette…where you either lead, follow or get out of the way.
Las Vegas has been called “the East Coast capitol of the West.” The cabbies are all immigrants from New ‘Joy-see’ or New Yawk’. People greet each other with the warmth and zeal of a Nor’easter. It’s a fast moving, fast talking, bustling, hustling town where everything goes (and sooner or later does).
“The City of Lights”, Las Vegas is the pinnacle of casino gaming and entertainment. Its mega-magnitude amazes. It’s a fantasy beyond imagination, from rollercoasters to Roman statues, jousting knights to world class fights, Pyramids to Paris. It’s a Mirage, you see it but you don’t believe it.
Visitors fly to Vegas. Folks flock to Reno. Reno has an arch; Vegas has New York.
Reno is a rodeo. It’s boots, blue jeans, beer and bulls. Stetsons and 4-wheel pickups fill its streets. Las Vegas is a James Bond epic. Action is the attraction; you’ve got super stars, expensive cars, every sin, and a few who win.
One writer described Las Vegas as “a town that faces the facts of life and lives up to them.” Las Vegas is famous for beautiful, nearly naked ladies. Around Reno, you’re more likely to see only bear breasts.
Las Vegas is an indoor destination. You can play night and day. You can wine, dine, sin and win. And remember, anything or anyone you do stays there.
Reno rests in the shadow of the High Sierras. Lake Tahoe is less than an hour drive from downtown. Skiing, hiking, boating and sightseeing are just part of the cornucopia of outdoor delights tantalizing Reno visitors.
So, if you prefer a large scale, intense, fantasy, visit Vegas. If it’s a casual, manageable, variety of indoor and outdoor activities you like, relax in Reno.
Email: mousehohl@aol.com
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August 25, 2006
VEGAS LICENSE BUREAU TO CEASE OVERNIGHT MARRIAGES
If you feel like a quick trip to Las Vegas to elope, you’ll have to do it during the daytime.
As of Aug. 30, the Marriage License Bureau will no longer service marriage licenses from midnight to 8 a.m.
This is more a cost-saving move for taxpayers, who are expected to save $200,000 per year from the closing. Last year, Las Vegas issued 122,259 licenses but only 4 percent came from the midnight hour.
You can still marry in the middle of the night, you’ll just have to wait until daylight to pick up your license.
We recommend installing slot machines in the chapel to fund the graveyard shift.
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August 24, 2006
WYNN LAS VEGAS TO MAKE DEALERS SHARE TIPS
When Steve Wynn makes a change, people listen and people follow.
So when it’s something as controversial as sharing dealer tips, many dealers are upset at a possible upcoming trend that may spread to other casinos.
At his Wynn Las Vegas casino, table dealers will soon have to share their tips with pit bosses and floor managers.
Wynn released a memo earlier this week comparing dealers with waitstaff, saying it’s a team effort and everyone will now share as of Sept. 1. Sharing will reduce a dealer’s payday by 10 to 20 percent.
Want to complain? Competition is so great for dealer positions, that dealers disagreeing with Wynn’s new policy are allegedly being suspended or fired.
With daily dealer tokes reaching upwards of $500/day and therefore earning more than their managers, this could be Wynn’s way at solving the pay disparity. When supervisors could be making more money dealing, there wasn’t much demand for managing.
Wynn dealers are tipped more than any other casino, Vegas or otherwise.
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August 23, 2006
GO STRAIGHT TO DETENTION AT SCORES
With all the kiddies heading back to school soon, the grownups can go to Detention at Scores (3355 Proycon St.).
Tonight is Scores’ giving back to the serving and hospitality industry, by offering free hors d’oeuvres and drinks between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
RSVP by calling Shai at (702) 812-7472.
The celebration kicks off the 2006 Adult Expo, and they’ll also be raising money for the Clark County School District, because most dancers are still college students. Or at least that’s what they say, anyway.
Scores’ tagline: “get a dance from your favorite teacher or student.”
Is that a number 2 pencil in your pocket, or…
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August 22, 2006
NEW LAS VEGAS LAW: ILLEGAL TO SLEEP NEAR URINE
As an example showing our government is hard at work, a Las Vegas City Council ordinance was recently passed prohibiting going to the bathroom in public.
As part of that ordinance, it is also illegal to sleep within 500 feet near urine or feces.
Five hundred feet is an awful long distance when it comes to urine and feces, though.
Apparently the distance was a mistake and will be corrected when the council meets again Sept. 6.
In the meantime, watch for those number 1s and 2s, ‘kay?
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August 20, 2006
2006 NEVADA PRIMARY: A MIXED BAG OF NUTS
2006 Nevada Primary:
A Mixed Bag of Nuts
“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it.”-Mark Twain
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The 2006 Nevada primary exemplifies Mark Twain’s observation. The primary process to select the candidates from each party who will face-off in the Fall Election has been a carnival featuring unique characters, outrageous performances and irrelevant issues unique to Nevada. It included super stars, wanna’ be stars, and some who’s only hope is to wish upon a star!
Look at the race for Governor. Among the contenders was Melody Damayo, a former porn star. She claimed to know best how to satisfy voters. She appealed to tax payers who are tired of getting screwed and feel they’re not getting enough bang for their buck. “She promised, “the bare and honest truth”.
Also seeking top billing in the Governor’s house was GOP Lt. Governor Lorraine Hunt, a former lounge singer. Unable to find the right political note, she, too, was tuned out by voters.
State senator Bob Beers, frustrated that Congressman Jim Gibbons wouldn’t debate him publicly, instead confronted a cardboard cutout on TV of Representative Gibbons. Apparently the cutout won. Beers, too, was rejected by voters.
The Democrats saw college professor Dina Titus punish her opponent Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson for his consistent conservative support of the Bush Administration. Using a close-up of an Elephant’s ass, she declared him a closet-Republican.
Democratic primary winner Titus then fired the opening shot in the fall Governor’s race charging that the GOP candidate, Jim Gibbons, apes President Bush. Not one to monkey around, Gibbons accused his opponent of being a Liberal. In Nevada, that’s like being called a leper.
Jack Carter, the former President’s son, won the Democratic nomination for the Senate. He wasted no time in revealing his strategy will be to stick his opponent Senator John Ensign with the Bush tar-baby. Carter points out that Ensign voted with the President 96% of the time. But Jack! The guy IS a Republican!
Carter, who’s only lived in Nevada three years, is trying to sell himself as a homeboy. He says Ensign is practically a White House mouse. Carter boasts, “As a Senator, the people I’m going to be dealing with are going to be people who don’t live in Nevada.” Just what Nevada needs, a guy who’s new to the state and considers never having lived here to be a big asset!
Assemblywoman Sharron Angle took on Secretary of State Dean Heller for the GOP nomination for the House from the Second District (vacated by Gibbons to run for Governor). “Right” Angle campaigned hard against illegal aliens. A very close race, she’s estimated to have lost because she alienated Star Trekkies.
There’s more! Kathy Augustine, candidate for state treasurer, received 18% of the vote, despite having passed away weeks ago! Several candidates for state offices, including state treasurer, had previously filed for bankruptcy!
GOP candidate for Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki accused his opponent Barbara Lee Woolen of profiting from porn because equipment leased from her rental company was used in the making of porno films. That’s a bit like accusing parents of creating children for the pleasure of pedophiliacs! Yet, Krolicki doesn’t have any problem becoming Lt. Governor of the only state in the Union that legalizes and taxes prostitution.
Former President Ronald Reagan, Republican icon, would understand Krolicki. Afterall, it was Reagan who confessed, “I used to say politics was the second oldest profession. I’ve come to know it bears a gross similarity to the first.”
Nevada politics is a cabaret, old chum! It’s vaudeville! It’s got sin, sex and silliness. It’s a comedy, a tragedy, a tempest in a tea pot. But it’s ours. So, when they say what happens here stays here, be glad it does.
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August 15, 2006
MGM MIRAGE TO ADD NEW CONDO TO MANDALAY BAY
Sales on MGM Mirage’s trio of 38-story Signature at MGM Grand condo towers are booming, enough that MGM Mirage has decided it needs more, more, more.
Already 1,650 units are planned for their Project CityCenter, and now MGM Mirage is seeking approval for two more towers at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, adding 2,500 condo units.
But that old MGM Grand theme park where Signature sits was only so big, so where else to put more towers?
A new 520-foot tower of 1,344 units are in development as part of Mandalay Bay and situated steps from Luxor, to begin construction next year.
That would mean residents of the tower would look down upon the Luxor pyramid, which itself stands at 350 feet. Let’s hope the rooms come with heavy-duty blinds or sunglasses to shield from the Luxor sky beam (which even the Space Shuttle astronauts can see). We’ll bet dimes to doughnuts that no other room will boast free tanning from that beam.
We’re still not used to saying or typing the uninspired name of THEHotel (Mandalay Bay’s high-end casino-hotel tower), but now Mandalay’s stuck with the THE brand and is expected to call the new tower of condo-hotels The Place.
Or maybe THEPlace.
Time to go eat THEBuffet.
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RICHARD LOOKS AT SHERIFF HOPEFUL JERRY AIROLA
A friend just called and asked me to do some work on the Jerry Airola for sheriff website. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, I’m up to my ass in alligators and can’t do it. The one thing she did say that most of us working stiffs deem to be of some importance is he can afford it, and more importantly, he is willing to pay.
Personally, I didn’t see anything particularly wrong with the site; however, I didn’t see anything particularly outstanding about it either. It’s just another, “I’m running for office and I know how to cure all the ills in the world site.” I like politicians, they’re modest.
Jerry Airola owns Silverstate Helicopters and while he has campaign fund raisers he doesn’t have to beg for money and this makes him a difficult one for the movers and shakers to keep on a leash.
He was a cop in Los Banos, California from 1988 TO 1995. Before moving to Las Vegas Jerry was sworn as a reserve deputy sheriff with the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, enabling him to keep his status as a peace officer, he is a reserve deputy sheriff for Merced County, California. His claim to fame statement, “I am currently a sworn deputy sheriff” and continuing to quote his site, “Jerry volunteered his helicopters and personal time during Hurricane Katrina. He was assigned to work with the Mississippi State Police after being deputized by the Adams County Sheriff.” All any of this proves is that anyone that can afford to donate enough helicopters can be a sworn deputy sheriff.
He says that all he’s ever wanted to be is…not a cop, but the Sheriff. Sounds like a power trip to me.
I do love the statement, “As sheriff of Clark County, I will not tolerate criminal activity.” Well, Duh.
Bad news Jerry, the old west just ain’t what it used to be, Doc and Kitty retired to Florida, Festus is selling used cars, and nobody steps out into the middle of the street at high noon, not with our traffic.
My friend says Mr. Airola is a nice guy, who’s a lot less arrogant and a lot more pragmatic than his site makes him seem. God, I hope so.
My heartfelt advice is to loose that picture of him standing in front of a Mississippi cop car, after all, he’s running for sheriff of Clark County Nevada and besides, the picture is a rather pathetic cliche’. Makes him look like a real dork.
I know he wants to be known as a cop first, but even he admits he became a reserve deputy sheriff just to keep holding some kind of a badge, makes him sound like nothing more than a well connected wannabe. If he actually did something in California law enforcement while he’s been living in Nevada (besides bragging about having a reserve badge), he should put it on his website. Just some thoughts.
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August 14, 2006
HICKORY-DICKORY-DOCK: NEVADA POLITICS – OSCAR GOODMAN’S PROBLEM WITH HOMELESS
A Modest Proposal by The City of Las Vegas
Las Vegas has once again distinguished itself in the eyes of the world. Or, was it a global cringe?
The city dedicated to glamour, greed and gluttony has declared war on hungry homeless people. A modest proposal that would do Jonathan Swift justice has become law! It’s now a misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine AND 6-months in jail to feed a hungry homeless person in Las Vegas. Arrests have already been made!
Mayor Oscar Goodman and the City Council should get a lot of credit for their “perfect solution”. In a city that works 24hrs-a-day, 365 days a year, contributing to the homeless herd, the Mayor says, “people who feed the homeless in the parks aren’t really helping them”.
The Mayor wants the homeless to depend on his System for food and care. Will give ’em COOKIES, Oscar declares.
But homeless aren’t inclined to trust the Government; many have been “institutionalized”, too large a number are disillusioned war veterans (this is the fastest growing group), and the rest include ENRON investors, Katrina victims, and Liberal Democrats.
Of course, many legal questions remain. The ACLU has already filed suit. They think an individual’s Right to Eat is protected by the Constitution (the pursuit of happiness includes eating) and the Bill of Rights.
Another grave legal question standing in the wings of this drama is just what is a “homeless” person? If you’re home is a VW Bus, can you legally accept food? Or, what if you have a home, but they haven’t foreclosed yet? Or, maybe you have a home, but your wife won’t let you in it?
If confronted by the Police, do you have to show the title to your home? Will a photo do?
Does it matter how much food you charged with giving the hungry homeless? If an apple is a misdemeanor, then Thanksgiving dinner must be a felony!
Are we only talking only about food, or is drink included in the offense? Does Ensure count?
Imagine! You can go to jail in Las Vegas for slipping a banana to someone who doesn’t have an address! A lot of people are in trouble!
You could be locked up with serial killers, perverts, and the criminally insane. Do you really want to tell them you’re there for feeding a homeless guy?
So, what you do in Las Vegas stays there… unless you feed the hungry homeless. Then you get arrested, finger printed and a mug-shot. If you can’t control your feeding frenzy, you might find yourself featured on America’s Most Wanted!
Las Vegas is like the City of Oz. It’s a fantasy beyond imagination; from rollercoasters to Roman statues, jousting knights to world class fights, the Pyramids to Paris. It’s a Mirage; you see it but you don’t believe it.
That, too, has been the reaction to the new ordinance making it illegal to feed homeless people in public parks. People don’t believe it.
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WHY DID BOYD GAMING SELL SOUTH COAST BACK TO MICHAEL GAUGHAN?
Just a casual drive-by past the South Coast, and you wonder how a big box casino like that could have cost $583 million.From points east in Henderson, the glowing light still beckons like a lighthouse highlighting a Bellagio or a Mandalay Bay with a Southern California architectural twist.
The closer you approach, the more of a facade it appears, until you realize just how many corners were cut on its wrapping. Aesthetically pleasing, this casino is not.
But regardless of its dressing, South Coast is a locals casino, and outside is not what matters.
Inside, it’s a recognizably average Coast casino with much of the floor devoted to slots and video poker, with the middle section reserved for table play. A sportsbook and poker room anchor the south end. You will certainly not get lost at South Coast, nor will you quite shake that mouse-in-a-warehouse feeling.
For a space that size, though, it’s eerily quiet. Even on a Saturday night.
Or so thought Boyd Gaming, owners of South Coast, who announced they’re selling the casino after just over half a year of being open. The underperforming casino was bringing in an expected return of 6 percent of its investment.
That puts them on track for about $32 million their inaugural year. Not the expected $50 million or even the 15 percent lobbied around to investors.
Still, though, is South Coast’s sluggishness enough to warrant dumping the property after only 7 months of existence?
Many factors contributed to the low return: high gas prices are keeping away locals, lots of construction (which also hinders the entrance to Silverton), there’s no access from I-15 (the exit of which is still a year away from being completed), competition from the newly opened Red Rock, there’s no strong restaurant/nightclub anchor like at Red Rock or Green Valley, and that ugly facade that we’re again compelled to mention.
Let’s think back to what led up to this.
Michael Gaughan, owner and founder of Coast Casinos, built locals-oriented Barbary Coast, Gold Coast, The Orleans, and Suncoast. He had the land and plans for South Coast, and just as building began on his pet project, Boyd Gaming (Fremont, Sam’s Town, Stardust, Main Street Station, The California, among others in Las Vegas and around the country) swooped in with their big pockets and bought up all of Coast for $1.3 billion. Coast Casinos was now a wholly owned subsidiary of Boyd Gaming. And Gaughan suddenly found himself with bigger pockets himself as well as a major stockholder of Boyd.
That was two years ago.
In the interim, Gaughan was kept onboard and continued to run the Coast’s operations.
Once South Coast opened in December 2005 and preliminary numbers were released, perhaps Boyd felt it time to cut their losses and focus on the $4 billion Echelon Place.
Of course, that’s the spin.
Could it be that Boyd never wanted South Coast nor Gaughan, but kept both onboard to appease investors and not affect the stock price too drastically?
A couple weeks ago, it was announced to surprised investors that Gaughan would be taking over South Coast, trading almost all of his Boyd stock (about 15.8 million shares) for the privilege.
Which means not only will South Coast no longer be part of Boyd, but Gaughan will also be severing ties with Boyd.
Perhaps Boyd didn’t want South Coast and Gaughan, but we think it was part of a shrewd master plan set forth by Gaughan himself.
In a statement, Gaughan said he was eager to get away from corporate life and return to casino operations.
And that may indeed be true, yet without the hovering partners Gaughan was saddled with during the Coast years.
Gaughan and Boyd have a friendship dating back 40 years. With Boyd buying Coast for cash, all parties including Gaughan’s partners no longer had ownership.
Flash forward a couple years later, and now Gaughan is sitting pretty, wholly owning his favorite casino debt-free, which he’ll be able to run independently without any partners, rebuilding his empire solo. While it hasn’t been official, reports are that Gaughan will call his new casino South Point or Michael Gaughan’s South Point (reminiscent of his father’s Jackie Gaughan’s Plaza).
As part of the agreement, Gaughan is not allowed to sell the casino for at least five years. And, Boyd still has options to buy it back a couple years after that… say, after the dust settles and Echelon Place is up and running.
Pretty sneaky, eh?
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