courts:

Appeal notice filed in city hall fight

Thursday, April 23, 2009 | 1:11 p.m.

Union vs. City, seg. 3

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The Culinary Union is appealing a District Court ruling that says ballot measures regarding redevelopment don't pass legal muster. Is the union running out of time? Jon asks Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer D. Taylor.

Union vs. City, seg. 4

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Culinary-city case crawls way to state high court (4-23-2009)
Judge rules against Culinary Union over ballot questions (4-17-2009)
Goodman makes his (public) entrance (4-16-2009)
City, Culinary make final arguments; Friday ruling likely (4-16-2009)
Theatrics ahead in city’s legal battle with Culinary (4-16-2009)
City, Culinary bring redevelopment fight to District Court (4-15-2009)

CARSON CITY – A notice of appeal has been filed with the Nevada Supreme Court to force a public vote on a new city hall in downtown Las Vegas.

Groups called the Las Vegas Taxpayer Accountability Committee and the Las Vegas Redevelopment Reform Committee are appealing an order by District Judge David Baker, who refused to put it on the election ballot for the June 2 municipal election.

These groups, backed by the Culinary Union, collected more than 14,000 signatures on a petition to force an election in an effort to stop the project that opponents say will cost more than $267 million, rather than the $150 million estimated by supporters.

The Las Vegas City Council refused to put the issue on the ballot and a fight is being waged through the courts.

Baker ruled the initiative petition misled the voters into believing they were dealing only with future projects. I also affects existing projects and present financing arrangements.

Baker said, "The petition fails to inform the voters of the true effect of passage of the referendum: termination of the redevelopment plan and the impairment of the outstanding securities of the redevelopment agency." That failures, said the judge, invalidates the petition.

The new city hall is planned near the Main Street Antiques and Art. Supporters say it would enhance downtown development, producing more than 13,000 new jobs.

The notice of appeal was filed by Andrew Kahn, attorney for the taxpayer groups. The defendants are the Las Vegas City Council and City Clerk Beverly Bridges.

The appealing group must now file a brief supporting its position.

Discussion: 1 comment so far…

By CynicalObserver

4/23/09 at 7:19 p.m.

Suggest removal

I am guessing that one of the reasons Culinary's lawyers are slow in getting their filing to the Supreme Court is that they have to wait for the court reporter(s) to transcribe what was said in the two days of hearing at the trial court. It's not a task which can be done quickly or easily, because court reporters pride themselves on being accurate. So, no one should assume that there won't be an appeal.