Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Developer’ McDonald asks Las Vegas City Council members to vouch for him with state officials

UPDATE: Las Vegas City Attorney Brad Jerbic has pared down the letter McDonald gave to council members to sign and recommended that they don't sign the missive -- he suggested the city manager send any letter to the state. His missive differs greatly from the would-be developer's, which was a gushing endorsement of himself.

"I have just learned that many or all of you have received a request from Michael McDonald/Vegas Decatur LLC for a letter of support for the state tax credits necessary for the project," Jerbic wrote to the council. "I am concerned that the content of the letter go beyond representations that could or should be made by members of the city council. If you received such a request, please contact me. I am redrafting a version of the letter that could be sent to the state, omitted the objectionable language."

I have posted Jerbic's rewrite at right.

Former Las Vegas Councilman Michael McDonald, apparently running into some trouble in his effort to get state tax credits, has presented supportive council members with a letter he wants them to sign to boost his chances.

The letter, which I have obtained and posted at right, is to be sent to Hilary Lopez, who is in charge of federal programs with the state. McDonald and his "consultant" Frank Hawkins need the state tax credits to make the deal work that was approved by the council in April with a gift of $4 million to get them started. McDonald has failed before at a similar project and defaulted on it.

In the missive that McDonald is asking council members to sign, he is essentially asking for a personal endorsement, something I'd guess City Attorney Brad Jerbic will not be too likely to advise them to do. The letter says McDonald's company "and its development team is (sic) the correct choice to see it to completion." And this: "It would be a tragedy to the area to allow this development to fall through." A tragedy! I'd say a tragedy beyond words. And this bizarre final line that the council folks are supposed to endorse: "Finally, I fully support this project and the choice of (McDonald's company) to complete this development and ask that they (sic) be allowed to compete for the available tax credits without the incursion of politics."

I am sure Ms. Lopez will be thrilled to read that last line.

Forget the arrogance of a "developer" asking an elected official to sign a letter you have written for them — although that is hard to forget. There is simply no way all the members sign that letter as is. Just a guess.

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