Goodman emphasizes his commitment to downtown

Sito Negron

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004 | 11:10 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman stuck to the theme of downtown redevelopment that he has been promoting for four years, this time around having a little more to show for it, in his annual State of the City speech Tuesday.

Goodman unveiled the news of a $7 million donation for Alzheimer's research, given by the nonprofit organization Keep Memory Alive, headed by Bobby and Donna Baldwin and Camille and Larry Ruvo, to be placed in conjunction with the Nevada School of Medicine on part of 61 acres of vacant land adjacent to downtown.

And he announced the creation of a North American Cities of Asylum regional office in Las Vegas, marking the first branch on the continent of an international group that provides haven for authors who are persecuted for their work.

But the major topic of the 31-minute speech was well-covered ground: the vision for creating an urban center in and around downtown, and the fact that after years of talk, something, several things, have been built.

"I was criticized many times for the rhetoric," Goodman said before outlining the work completed and in the works: the $5.5 million Ice House restaurant and lounge on Main Street, the arrival of lithograph company S2, the opening of the Chelsea Outlet Mall -- where Goodman's speech took place in the food court -- and the groundbreaking Tuesday morning of a four-story private building that will be leased to the IRS.

Goodman drew laughs when he gleefully spoke of taxing the IRS.

"As I told folks this morning, I hate the IRS ... as a result of (developer) Irwin (Molasky) building and leasing to them, I will be able to tax the IRS," he said.

It was one of his many applause lines, including one in which he spoke about the initial stages of promoting the 61-acre plot upon which the bulk of council's downtown hopes ride. The idea is to place a medical campus in conjunction with research and treatment facilities, and the city is discussing a deal with the renowned Cleveland Clinic to be partners in the project.

When the city acquired the land, Goodman said, he started referring to it as a "jewel of the desert."

"Because I'm a criminal attorney, a mob lawyer, everybody paid attention," Goodman said. Sure enough, he said, The New York Times soon featured an article about the "mob mayor" and his hopes for the land.

"And in the tradition of the profession," he said to laughter from the audience, the Los Angeles Times soon followed suit.

During the speech, all six members of council sat on stage with the mayor in the food court of the outlet mall. The room, featuring a curved glass wall on one side and a heavy black curtain blocking the food stalls from view, allowed more than 100 people, with dignitaries seated up front, to watch and hear the mayor speak.

Several council members stuck around after the speech for food and a reception.

They spoke of the camaraderie on the body, which has for the most part voted as a unit, although Councilwoman Janet Moncrief, angry about a couple of votes that have gone against her, went public with her displeasure through a press release challenging council members to support her on revoking Cheetahs' liquor license today.

Moncrief did not stay after the speech, in which Goodman praised her for her support for the arts district and her work in trying to stop the decay of her "mature" Ward 1, which includes the mayor's own exclusive Scotch 80s neighborhood.

Other council members said they weren't much surprised by what the mayor discussed.

"It's back to work," said Councilman Lawrence Weekly. The speech, he said, "is part of his (mayor's) job, he has to do this."