Saturday, April 11, 1998 | 2:04 a.m.
Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones is on the right track in her efforts to remove slot machines from the floors of convenience stores. Maybe she should also remove half the convenience stores. For the first time in memory someone in charge in Las Vegas has had the courage to step back and take a look at the quality of life in Las Vegas and found it wanting.
Two years ago I visited Las Vegas while considering a job transfer there, but returned home jobless and satisfied that I had made the right decision not to move to Las Vegas. There seemed to be no history in the city, few real recreational opportunities outside of gambling, very little housing for middle-class people (what existed was of very poor quality), and an abundance of people wandering around without purpose.
I had the impression that most of the people living there would rather be living somewhere else; had ended up in Las Vegas either "on the lam" from reality or from the police; or were stuck in dead-end jobs. Several told me to stay in Ohio for my own good.
Anything that can be done to improve the quality of life, reduce the dependence on gambling, create neighborhoods, and give the people some purpose or connection with each other would be an improvement for your city.
Richard D. Manuel
Columbus, Ohio
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