Mayor urges casinos to delay layoffs

Diana Sahagun

Friday, Sept. 21, 2001 | 10:26 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has made an impassioned plea to local casino owners to delay laying off employees even as tourism visits continue to plummet after last week's terrorist attacks.

Goodman faxed a letter to casino owners Wednesday, following this week's announcement of a wave of layoffs along the Strip. Aladdin, Bally's Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas all announced Wednesday that they'd laid off hundreds; MGM MIRAGE, the state's largest private employer, said it will follow within two weeks.

Goodman said his office has been inundated by calls from citizens fearful that they would lose their jobs, and in the letter asked casino owners to "carefully consider the ramifications" before reducing their staffs.

In return, Goodman, during his live press conference on KCLV Channel 2, urged citizens to visit the area's hotels, eat at their restaurants and attend their shows, until the economy stabilizes.

"Frequent them so we can show them we are supportive of the lifeblood economic industry of our city," he said.

Goodman applauded the gaming companies for donating money to relief efforts in New York, but reminded them that "charity begins at home."

While the tourism base is being threatened, Goodman said several projects proposed for downtown are still moving ahead. Goodman said he has had recent conversations with Chelsea Property Group, which is building an outlet mall downtown, and a developer interested in building a downtown arena. Neither said they were putting their plans on hold, he said.

In light of last week's attacks, Goodman also announced he is drafting an ordinance that would bar homeowners' associations from adopting restrictions that would prohibit homeowners from flying the American flag.

The ordinance, similar to an ordinance Goodman sponsored that attempts to restrict nuclear waste from being brought through the Las Vegas Valley, might not be entirely legal, Goodman admitted.

"I may not be on the strongest of legal grounds because it might be preempted by state law, but I have to start somewhere," Goodman said. "If we're not 100 percent legal here, I know morally that it's outrageous that during this time, or any time for that matter, that the American flag could not be flown on an individual' personal property when they own it."