Letter: Stratosphere snubs public

Friday, Nov. 2, 2001 | 4:58 a.m.

Sounding like proverbial party poopers, Stratosphere executives threaten to sidetrack the Strip monorail if they cannot have their way on a bizarre and, some might say, unsightly piece of blight on the Strip. Never mind, as they would suggest, that residents living in an adjacent area object to the noise and view incursion. And if we don't like it, they just might press to go ahead with an even more hideous Gorilla Ride on their tower.

This "It's my party, and I'll do as I want to" attitude demonstrates a lack of civic responsibility and a willingness to hold an important public project hostage to their idiosyncratic vision of what is right for the community. Perhaps, as they maintain, they won't need a monorail station without their pet project. Let us not overlook the fact that other funding can be found to proceed with this important project, which may be the precursor to a larger scale public transportation system.

Let's allow the Stratosphere folks to have themselves a good cry while more visionary leaders get on with planning the future look of a more sensible Las Vegas.

ERIC STEFIK