Where I Stand: A fall from grace? Not really

Tuesday, June 18, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

ONCE WE WERE ninth, now we're 114th.

What causes a city like Las Vegas to take such a tumble from among the top 10 places in the nation to live?

Not that we residents really care how we are rated. Some of the public relations guys and gals, the Chamber of Commerce and the development authorities might moan and groan over our fall from grace, but the average citizen knows what Las Vegas has to offer and we like it.

Actually the less attractive our city is to outsiders, the better some of us feel. We remember the days when traffic wasn't such a bore, water was plentiful, schools were adequate and government bureaucracies were half the size.

Even if Mayor Jan Laverty Jones is somewhat concerned that the listing might hinder efforts to attract new businesses and diversify the economy, who cares?

I feel a little like some of the people who are opposing a new development in the southwest section of the valley. The project would include 15,000 residences, a golf course, commercial buildings and a hotel-casino complex (just what we really need).

This complex would be miles from existing services, which means there are no nearby schools, no police substations or fire stations, and water is at a premium all over Southern Nevada, although county officials never seem to deny new golf courses.

New developments of any kind mean more facilities and utilities are necessary. Some of the taxpayers opposing such developments are asking officials to look closely at "the incalculable cost which will eventually be borne by all of the taxpayers and residents of Clark County."

It's called growing pains, and the time is certain to come when we might need a few doses of good, common sense to keep our valley from becoming an overgrown Los Angeles.

* Sunday was a day for sports fans.

For me, it was the U.S. Open golf tournament, the Professional Bowlers Association tournament, and the Bulls-Sonics basketball game.

It was a sports feast, with Olympic trials and a soccer game tossed in for dessert.

I couldn't help being intrigued by the contrast among basketball players, bowlers and golfers. The latter two insist on silence as they prepare to tee off or roll a bowling ball down the lane. The basketball player stands by himself at the foul line amid all kinds of noise, jeers and artificial distractions. Bowlers and golfers might do well to learn how basketball players are able to concentrate so completely without succumbing to outside influences.

* It's not on the top 20 best-seller list, and I don't know why.

Rick Hanson's delightfully funny and satirical "Still Life" is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery, excellent writing, and lots of laughs.

* Juanita Clark is adamant in her belief that what is left of the old Kiel Ranch property should be preserved.

She's having a tough time convincing the North Las Vegas City Council.

Problem is there aren't too many people who really care about some of the valley's old historic landmarks.

Frank Wright, historian for the Nevada State Museum, was right on target when he stated: "Southern Nevada is relatively new, and the community may not have a complete understanding of its historic significance. However, as the community grows larger and children learn about its history in schools, the concern over preserving such landmarks will grow."

A local longtime resident said it even better:

"The problem with too many people is they figure history didn't start until they came into the picture."

* They say what goes around comes around.

That might explain the renewed interest in consolidation of services by the city and county.

Then again it might have something to do with the efforts by some to break up the huge Clark County School District into smaller entities.

When consolidation was first broached in Clark County, arguments were heard on both sides of the issue and the turf wars began.

The Metro Police Department is a prime example of good consolidation. It has worked for law enforcement.

The Clark County School District is another matter. Has it become too big and unwieldy? Perhaps. But very careful consideration must be given to breaking the district into several separate and distinct school districts.

Under no circumstances would it be just and proper if the district was divided so that the affluent student had an advantage over those not so privileged.

Breaking up the Clark County School District is a serious matter. Consolidation of many services supplied by the county and city is an act that has been delayed too long.

* Sign in a local bar: "On the road, as in baseball, it is the number of times you reach home safely that counts."