Brian Greenspun bemoans lack of leaders with courage to say, ‘Show me the money’

Sunday, May 6, 2007 | 7:02 a.m.

You can do almost anything with money.

For far too long we have allowed ourselves to fall prey to the mantra that says, "money won't solve all our problems." While a small part of that may be true, I am here to tell you that, as one of the people who espoused such a belief, it is baloney.

It is a concoction of the politicians and their handlers who understand that voters don't like being taxpayers, so the more they can kowtow to the "no new taxes" line the more, they believe, they can perpetuate themselves in office where they don't have to do too much.

I know that is a broad generalization and, to the extent that it is, I apologize. I also know it is a bit harsh and I admit it is so, but only for the purpose of overstatement and emphasis. Suffice it to say that when you hear people say that money can't solve everything, with however much truth there is in that statement, it is far outweighed by the falsity of the permission it grants each of us to refuse to spend money for good and worthwhile purposes.

I am not talking about our governor right now, although his profession ad nauseam of his "no new taxes" mantra is anathema in a growing state that is, at best, 10 years behind schedule for infrastructure and quality of life expenditures. There is always hope that he will see the folly of his ways and decide that leadership is more important than some outdated ideology.

What I am talking about is something far more subtle and, frankly, far more dangerous to children and other living things who want to make Las Vegas a better place to live. And that is the benign or fearful neglect of community leaders who, for lack of a few dollars and a little bit of vision, condemn our city to a future of mediocrity.

Friday I joined a large number of business, social, academic and public leaders who were given a report by members of the Urban Land Institute about the potential of a grand new vision for Maryland Parkway, from the airport to Sahara Avenue and, perhaps, beyond.

The ULI is the preeminent group of its kind in this country, representing developers, land planners and civic leadership across the country. One of the services it provides is to participate in specialized projects for individual developers or major institutions in which it brings some of the brightest minds together to provide some guidance for those with ideas who may be short on the myriad execution skills required.

In this particular case, the vision of my friend and partner, Mike Saltman, has energized UNLV officials, county planners, local businesspeople and residents toward a future Maryland Parkway - Mike calls it Midtown UNLV - that will be the gateway for UNLV and a model corridor of proper planning and revitalization to change this entire community and the quality of life for residents throughout the valley.

While I listened to some very bright people from across our great country who spent the past week listening, learning and thinking about that vision - each volunteering his or her time - it dawned on me that the only thing standing between this community and a university community that could be the model for the rest of the country is money.

Not just the money it takes to upgrade the existing parkway, or to bury electric lines, or to create rapid transit facilities that enhance, not detract, from pedestrian-friendly streetscapes. And not just the money it takes to compensate property owners whose futures may or may not be involved in the new Maryland Parkway. And not just the money it takes to create the kind and quality of neighborhoods along that boulevard that are crime-free, litter-free and inviting enough for people who want to live, work and play in the area.

No, it will also take money to bring the kind of talent to the table - a little bit of which we heard from as part of the Urban Land Institute - which can help turn us into a community of people who can and will do, and away from a bunch of folks who have been content to let the other fellow do, if he can.

Somewhere along the way to growing up in this country, we turned into communities of good people who allowed ourselves to believe that there were "free lunches" or, at least, meals that the other fellow would pay for. The result has been an attitude of do-nothingness that has left major parts of our cities blighted, seemingly beyond repair.

From what we heard this past week, UNLV and the neighborhood in which it lives - while it is not a model of quality and relative peace today - is relatively easily repaired. It can become what the people in the area have always dreamed it should be. All it takes is money. And there is plenty of that. We just have to be willing to tell the politicians that it is OK to spend it for such good purposes.

And one more thing. We need politicians who are willing to lead their constituents toward tomorrow's dreams rather than wait for the political cover they have been used to seeking. Regular people almost always want to do the right thing and almost always are willing to pay their share. They just want courageous leadership willing to get out front.

So, no more fooling ourselves that it takes more than money to fix what ails this community. We have the resources to do everything we need to lead the nation rather than follow up the rear in almost every category that measures the quality of our lives.

Every survey I have done convinces me that people are willing to pay for quality. They just don't want to waste the dough. Fair enough.

What isn't fair are leaders around us telling us that it can't be done. We know better. It took only a little bit of money to learn that much this week. Just think - no, just dream - about what we can accomplish by spending a little bit more.

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