Editorial: What’s in a ZIP?

Wednesday, June 21, 2006 | 7:15 a.m.

The well-heeled inhabitants of Lake Las Vegas soon will share their ZIP code with the regular folk and businesses that exist beyond the affluent community's borders.

According to a story in the Las Vegas Sun on Tuesday, the area encompassed by Lake Las Vegas' 89011 ZIP code will expand July 1 to include residential areas and businesses in Henderson and unincorporated Clark County. The region, which embraces both sides of Boulder Highway as far north as Russell Road, is dotted with pawn shops, fast-food restaurants and homes that are modest in comparison to mansions that can be found in Lake Las Vegas.

Postal officials say the expansion is needed to improve mail delivery. Residents of the resort community, however, aren't all that excited about their "new" neighbors. One Lake Las Vegas dweller told the Sun that he is concerned the change will only add to delivery confusion.

Insurance companies often take ZIP codes into account when figuring premiums for homeowner and auto insurance, which could be another reason residents fret over losing their exclusive rights to 89011. But the purpose of ZIP codes is to accurately deliver mail. The Postal Service's job is too big and too important to take class feuds into consideration. Blue blood or blue collars - it's all the same to the mailman.