Goodman land question sent to Ethics Commission

Sito Negron

Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004 | 9:21 a.m.

Robert Rose, a thorn in the side of Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, on Wednesday filed another request for an opinion with the state Ethics Commission.

Rose previously filed a request for opinion related to the mayor's involvement in promoting a party for a business partly owned by his son, Ross Goodman. That led to the Ethics Commission finding Goodman used his office to promote his son's business but did not do so "willfully," meaning he did not intend to do anything unethical.

The latest request for opinion is based on a similar issue -- the use of the mayor's name on a letter that Ross Goodman sent to Christina Von Sturm, whom he and his partner, Louis Palazzo, are suing to enforce what they say was an oral modification to a contract to buy her property at 511 and 515 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

The mayor is listed as being "Of Counsel" on the letterhead.

In the previous Rose complaint, one of the issues was the mayor using his title on an invitation to a promotional cocktail party for his son.

Goodman was not available for comment Wednesday. He left the City Council meeting early because of the Jewish holy day of Rosh Hashana.

Rose said he has questions that can only be answered under oath about the use of the mayor's title on the letter of intent to sue and about the land deal, which involves property next to a city-owned lot slated for redevelopment.

He also said he has questions about the role of mayoral Chief of Staff Stephanie Boixo, who is engaged to another son of the mayor and is the mayor's point person on downtown development projects.

She stepped down from a project selection committee Aug. 18, citing possible conflicts. Tuesday she turned in her resignation from the city, effective in January, because of her plans to marry the mayor's son.

Boixo has not commented to the Sun about any of the issues.

Goodman previously has denied knowing about his son's deal for the Las Vegas Boulevard property at 511 and 515. However, he acknowledged knowing of his son's deal for a property next door, the former Boulevard Motel at 525 Las Vegas Boulevard South, and in fact abstained from voting on redevelopment items twice.

He also said at his news conference last week that he didn't know his name was on his son's letterhead, but in other media interviews said it is there simply to help open doors for his son with his many contacts across the country.

Police also are looking into the land deal between Ross Goodman, Palazzo and 85-year-old Christina Von Sturm. Her daughter and lawyer claim she drifts in and out of lucidity and was bullied into making the deal and oral extension.

Palazzo and Ross Goodman have refused to speak to the Sun to explain those claims.