Goodman keeps State of the City speech short, focused on downtown

Erin Neff and Jace Radke

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2000 | 11:05 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman proved himself again the anti-politician with Tuesday's State of the City address.

He glanced at his wristwatch 20 minutes in and declared he would wrap it up so the 300 in attendance could grab dinner and he "could go out for a martini."

"I'm not joking," he said to applause.

As long and wide-ranging as President Clinton's final State of the Union was last week, Goodman's inaugural city address was short and focused on one theme -- downtown revitalization.

Goodman began his address five minutes early after Palo Verde High School's Vocal Infinity singers warmed up the crowd at the Reed Whipple Cultural Center downtown.

Standing in front of a blue backdrop featuring the city's seal, Goodman spoke directly to the audience, ignoring his staff's request to use a TelePrompTer.

Highlighting his speech were four projects he said should "no longer be considered amenities, but necessities."

For starters, he said, the city needs a downtown arena to house both National Basketball Association and National Hockey League teams and prove Las Vegas' stature as "a major league city."

Secondly, Goodman said, the city needs a performing arts center to bring culture to all city residents, not just those who can afford high-priced tickets.

Goodman cited as his third goal a desire to turn downtown's Stewart Avenue post office branch into a museum bounded by a city park.

"I can't think of another city in the world, especially in the country, that doesn't have a park downtown," Goodman said.

Lastly he said local governments needed to "bite the bullet" and construct a fixed guideway transportation system to help ease traffic, alleviate pollution and ensure continued federal funding of transportation projects.

Although he offered few specifics on how to accomplish goals such as "attracting dot-com businesses" to revitalize downtown, Goodman's generalizations were met with enthusiasm.

"I'm excited the mayor is excited about downtown," said Earl White, a housing coordinator with a corporation that provides affordable housing nationwide through joint ventures with local and state governments. "I see a lot of potential in downtown, and a lot of our residents who live down here are often forgotten.

"Now we can go back and tell them that at least the mayor isn't forgetting about them."

Al Gallegos, a downtown resident who is active on community boards, said he would love to see a revitalized downtown.

"If he got an NBA team here, I would be the first in line to buy a season ticket," Gallegos said. "I think his goals are achievable, but I hope he remembers that downtown stretches to both sides of Fremont Street."

Goodman looked out at the crowd of residents, politicians, activists and bankers and asked them to partner with him.

Specific initiatives pledged in his address include setting aside $10 million to help developers acquire land downtown for redevelopment and appointment of a volunteer high-tech adviser to help lure dot-com businesses and movie production.

Goodman also reiterated a campaign promise to seek a residential-construction tax increase on new homes. That requires the state Legislature's action.

Goodman began his remarks thanking the council members flanking him on the stage and closed asking residents to take part in their government.

Borrowing the words of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., Goodman said, "Help us achieve the greatness of the cause."