Lawmakers criticize Frontier

Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998 | 10:51 a.m.

CARSON CITY- Several Las Vegas assemblymen sharply criticized gaming regulators for not penalizing the Frontier Hotel for incidents during the 2-month-old strike.

"I don't understand why the license hasn't been pulled," Lou Toomin, D-Las Vegas, told State Gaming Control Board Chairman Bill Bible Wednesday.

Assemblyman Bill Petrak, D-Las Vegas, recalled a Frontier ad in the Los Angeles Times that critics said gave the false impression that the strike was happening all over the Strip. That had a "negative impact" on Nevada, he said but the Control Board not only failed to move against the Elardi family owners of the Frontier, but it licensed them to operate another casino, he said.

You gave them a slap on the wrist and then you give them another license," Petrak said. "I get upset at this. We don't defend our (gaming) industry."

Toomin, Petrak and others aired their concerns Wednesday during an Assembly Judiciary Committee debate on AB312.

The bill would expand the authorityof the gaming regulatory board, when considering a casino's gaming license, to take into account its record of compliance with federal and state regulations regarding alcohol, health and safety, environmental protection, consumer protection, false advertising and, in some cases, labor relations.

Organized labor is pushing AB312, complaining that the Frontier has violated federal labor laws, state fire codes and engaged in false advertising.

The National Labor Relations Board has ruled the Elardi family illegally terminated the workers'pension plan. In other cases, an administrative judge haa ruled against the Elardi family but no final decision has been made by the NLRB.

Bible said state regulatorsalready have the authority to consider these items when licensing or taking disciplinary action.

Bible, who said he shared the lawmakers' frustrations over the bitter strike, said he reviewed the union's allegations in 1991 and they did not rise to the level that merited disciplin action. He added that some of the allegations are not yet resolved. "They have not worked their way through the system."

But Richard McCrackdii, attorney for the Nevada State. AFL-CIO, complained to the committee that the Control Board has shifting standards. For instance, he said, if a person is convicted of murder, the board doesn't wait for the individual to exhaust his appeals before taking disciplinary action.

John Bonaventura, D-Las Vegas, said the last time the Control Board reviewed the Frontier's license was two years ago.

"I have heard all the testimony and I still don't see why the commission has not revoked the Elardis' license," he said.