Editorial: Work card changes on the right track

Wednesday, April 4, 2001 | 9:20 a.m.

The Clark County Business License Department sensibly is asking that the Clark County Commission exempt cocktail waitresses, dishwashers, busboys, groundskeepers and some laborers from having to apply for work cards from Metro Police. Blackjack dealers, cashiers, keno writers, maids (since they have access to room keys) and management-level employees would still undergo these checks, however.

Background checks were started decades ago in part to curb the mob's hold on hotel-casinos, but it's highly doubtful that organized crime views kitchen help as a lucrative area to tap. It also isn't as vital to require work cards of employees who are in jobs that could be found anywhere else outside a casino -- especially restaurant employees. And as the Business License Department noted, the $35 work card application fee can be a hardship for some of those applying for work, such as dishwashers, since they may have little money to start with.

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