Letter: Las Vegas continues descent into Babylon

Sunday, May 28, 2006 | 7:39 a.m.

Most days I lament the ills of Las Vegas to growing pains. But this is just denial working as an excuse.

Las Vegas is still just a destination. It has critical personnel shortages in the nursing, teaching and policing fields, with no cure in sight.

The average education level of the populace is barely beyond high school.

There are few "neighbors" in neighborhoods. Just ask yourself what your "neighbors" three houses on either side of you do for a living, or when is the last time you exchanged "hellos"?

We have a mayor who resembles W.C. Fields more and more every day as a self-promoting mouthpiece who can bring in an NBA All-Star game but can't fix a city street.

Gangs of punks roam freely while cops shoot handcuffed kids. Local politicians are weak-minded buffoons with their hands in development and special interest coffers or some stripper's G-string nylons.

The genuine fabric of the Las Vegas Valley consists of hardworking families who pay taxes, attend church and raise children, contributing to the betterment of society. We are here, but in this "I got mine" vanity plate and leaderless environment, more and more are looking forward to the day when they see the vacuous valley in their rearview mirror for good.

Peter McMurran, Las Vegas