Las Vegas Sun

November 14, 2009

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Letter: Gangs are going to chase away tourists

Monday, Nov. 12, 2007 | 7:07 a.m.

It should come as no surprise to Las Vegans that crime is not only on the rise in Sin City, but that Las Vegas is also becoming a quasi-Los Angeles insofar as criminal gangs are concerned.

Just as water always follows the route of least resistance, the same may be said for criminals and gangs. A police presence, which was adequate 20 years ago, is no longer strong enough to withstand the influx of criminal elements into our city. Las Vegas cannot tolerate an overt criminal element that can and will affect tourism.

To say that we were better off when the "mobs" controlled gaming is an understatement. At least the common citizen could walk the streets at night, without fear of being mugged or even shot.

Las Vegas needs a larger police force that is better equipped to deal with this influx of drugs, gangs and criminal elements. That requires more tax dollars.

It is time the governor and our state Legislature understood the reality of this city and moved forward with pragmatic tax legislation involving the major industry of the state - gaming. If crime continues to grow in Las Vegas, there will no longer be that same major industry in the state. Tourism and gaming will be distant memory, much as is the "days of the mob."

Jack L. Kane, Las Vegas

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