Time magazine story draws mixed reactions from LV officials

Heather Rawlyk and Christina Littlefield

Tuesday, July 20, 2004 | 9:28 a.m.

While Mayor Oscar Goodman marveled Monday at the free publicity the newly released Time magazine provided for Las Vegas, a local pastor voiced concerns over the repercussions the article may have on the city.

Rev. John Paul Warren, pastor of Masterpiece Church in Henderson, said Monday that he feared the Time cover story about Las Vegas would send the wrong message to the world and leaving the city open to a "possible terrorist attack" by religious extremists already appalled by the city's immorality.

"We should be concerned," Warren said during a small press conference in the parking lot of the Palms resort Monday afternoon. "Flaunting the city like this, flaunting the sin and saying it's OK -- it absolutely makes us a target.

"It is the promotion of sin and immorality like this that terrorists hate," he said. "It's dangerous, and we can't flaunt that in the post-9/11 country we are living in."

Marina Nicola, a spokeswoman for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said advertising executives had discussed the "new" Las Vegas campaign but downplayed its impact.

"Of course there have been discussions, but we see that as a positive," she said. "We view this advertising campaign as one of the most successful because, like it or not, people are talking about it."

Warren said he was also disappointed by the message the Time story was sending young people, that "a city can prosper by its immorality," and that "it is OK to lie, cheat and be unfaithful. This is what this article is telling our youth," he said. "That doing these things pays off more than others."

The pastor pointed out the fifth and sixth paragraphs of the story, which go into detail that "sex sells."

"Sex has proved to be far more profitable than wholesome fun," the article reads. "The sexification has helped put Vegas on a pace for a record year in visitors."

The story also describes Las Vegas as "the biggest, nicest place to sin ever imagined, a Sodom and Gomorrah without the guilt."

Warren said, "This article focuses on the worst parts of the city and glamorizes them. The city is being promoted for its sins, and I think that it is just wrong."

Nicola disputed claims that the city has reinvented itself, saying Las Vegas has always been a mecca for adult-oriented entertainment.

"It has always been an adult playground for all intents and purposes," she said. "This is the way Vegas has always been."

Goodman said Monday he has no problem with Las Vegas being promoted as Sin City, or as a place with a thriving adult entertainment industry.

"We're not promoting anything illegal," Goodman said. "Are we promising that you can go to the brink of legality? Yes, but that's what makes it exciting."

Goodman added that the Time story was colorful but fair and the antithesis to the recent New York Times series that showed the underbelly of Las Vegas. He also said the article is "the best free publicity the valley has ever had."

"It will just zoom tourists in here like they've never had before," the mayor said.

Warren disagreed, and planned to speak with Goodman during Wednesday's City Council meeting.

"I'm going to ask him if he thinks the residents -- those thousands of families living here, sending their kids to Clark County schools and doing right -- think promoting their home with sin is great advertising."