Goodman, Pesci discuss gin club partnership

Judy Odierna

Friday, Feb. 14, 2003 | 9:56 a.m.

Mayor Oscar Goodman's dream of a downtown gin joint has attracted some celebrity interest.

Goodman said Thursday that he met with actor Joe Pesci last week about the possibility of opening "Oscar's Speakeasy."

"The problem is he'll want to call it Joe's, where I want to call it Oscar's," Goodman joked.

Goodman met Pesci when Goodman was cast as himself in the 1995 movie "Casino."

Pesci's character in the film was based on mobster Anthony "Tony the Ant" Spilotro, who ran street rackets in Las Vegas before he was killed and his body found dumped in a cornfield in the Midwest. Goodman successfully represented Spilotro as a criminal defense attorney against federal charges.

Pesci's camp could not be reached for a comment.

Though Goodman joked about whose name will be on it, the mayor has been very serious about opening a tavern in downtown Las Vegas. He needs a change in state law to do it, however.

State law prohibits city officials with oversight of a redevelopment area from having a financial interest in the area because of potential conflicts of interest.

Goodman argues that it would be more of a case of putting his money where his mouth is.

"I talk about redevelopment everyday," Goodman said. "I'm ready to risk my money on the belief that the area will succeed."

More than two years ago the city proposed state legislation that would have cleared the way for Oscar's Speakeasy, but city officials pulled the proposed bill back from the 2001 Legislature because they said it would be too controversial.

But the city re-submitted the bill for the current legislative session with an added stipulation that officials and employees could not receive financial incentives normally allowed in redevelopment areas, and that they must publicly disclose their investment on a council agenda.

Goodman said he would even go a step further and said he would advertise his interests and allow someone else to outbid him.

"I'm not going to take advantage of any site," he said.

But Goodman said he would try to negotiate for financial incentives if he wound up purchasing the property after leaving office.