Harrah’s in dispute with Reno councilwoman

Friday, Jan. 2, 1998 | 8:44 a.m.

Pearce said it was unfair for Satre to put the burden on the city for reversing casino fortunes. Competition from Las Vegas and its megaresorts has led to a decrease in Reno gaming revenues and jobs.

"Gaming needs to be responsible for gaming," Pearce told the Reno Gazette-Journal. "The citizens should not have it as their top priority to make gaming healthy. That's the industry's job."

Satre told an economic forum meeting here on Dec. 4 that Reno suffers from an identity crisis and won't thrive unless it stimulates progress.

Urban renewal, safer streets, more downtown retail, aggressive master planning and tax incentives are key to that goal, he said.

But Pearce, a former Harrah's publicist who's considering a run for mayor this year, said Satre shouldn't come to town to tell Reno what to do.

"There are a lot of casinos in Reno that are dirty," Pearce said. "When Phil says do this or do that, why doesn't he expand the cleaning department at Harrah's?

"That casino is dirty. I think the city council and local government have been used for a whipping boy."

Pearce also criticized the company for moving its headquarters from Reno to Memphis, Tenn.

"It's amazing that somebody comes back after what they did and tells us how to run the city of Reno," she said. "When they packed up, they didn't care. They can start telling us when they start bringing money back to town."

But Reno City Councilman Tom Herndon, whose district covers downtown Reno, said Satre's statements needed to be made.

"Phil Satre is right. He hit the nail right on the head," Herndon said.

"She (Pearce) is reflective of a whole group of people that feel gaming should just go away. That doesn't address the question of what the hell would we do without it."

Harrah's Reno general manager Jim Rogers said city leaders and gaming executives must work together if downtown Reno is to prosper.

Cleanliness is a top priority at Harrah's Reno, he added.

"It's even more significant than when Candy Pearce worked here," he said.