Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009 | 2 a.m.
What's Your Vision?
Reader poll
We can’t start 2010 soon enough. It’s the year, we’re told, when we can begin to pull ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin our recovery from a terrible few years that brought us to our knees.
Some among us are looking far beyond 2010. With the start of a new decade, it’s a good time to imagine what we might be, how we might look, in 10 years.
We asked two dozen community leaders to wonder aloud what the future holds. Their answers were provocative, irritating, thoughtful, hopeful.
They told us that water prices will go up, freeway congestion will worsen, casinos will suffer. The state will invest in education, new homes will be four stories tall and developed around urban villages, downtown’s Symphony Park will glimmer and a new urban office complex will rise around CityCenter.
The health care and alternative energy industries will eclipse gaming and tourism as most important to Nevada’s future, and with the opening of an interstate freeway between here and Phoenix and a high-speed rail system between here and Southern California, Las Vegas will claim a more vital role in the growth of the Southwest, if these various predictions come true.
That will depend largely on the collective will of the people to effect change.
Please indulge in 2020 Vision.
After spending a wonderful holiday there earlier this year can I just say that I hope Nevadans don't change one bit!
Let's everyone be honest. We are a one-industry State, and unless we do something about it quickly, we are going to continue in this sorry state of affairs. We need leadership from all segments to do something about our situation. The US does not care about Nevada...neither does the Senate...they tolerate us because of Harry Reid...we have not benefited at all from Harry Reid being Majority Leader; look what Louisiana got for their vote. No one is going to do anything for us...we must do it ourselves. Nevada was selected as the only place in the United States to test A Bombs, Nevada was chosen as the country's dump for nuclear waste, Nevada has legalized prostitution, Nevada started and was the only place with legalized gambling for over 45 years, and Nevada proudly states what happens here, stays here. Bull! Open our eyes...the rest of the Country does not like us, doesn't think of us, and could care less about our economic woes. The old timers used to kid about Sodom and Gomorrah...well it is kicking us in the back sides now. Admit it.
Open our eyes...the rest of the Country does not like us, doesn't think of us, and could care less about our economic woes.
You are so right! Most people don't realize everything is as bad as it is. They all still think it's "Party Central". Nevada and Las Vegas will never be anything more than the gaming capital of the world "Sin City"....UNLESS the politicians and community leaders and all the powers that be step up to the plate and really work at changing the image and do more to make Nevada "legitimate" instead of the "B****** step child". Gaming should be ONE of the industries Nevada should be proud of - not the ONLY one.
As long as the voters keep electing the corrupt politicians such as Rory Reid, who appointed his own commissioner of District F, Susan Brager (D), etc., to the posting of Clark County Commissioners we will forever be viewed by the northern citizens in Nevada and throughout the United States as a corrupt and inept segment of society!
In addition, having Dirty Harry represent us has left a vile taste in the mouth of the vast majority of Americans where Congress has an approval rating of only 25% due to the perception of the same corruption and ineptness displayed by this vile creature, Dirty Harry, who has yet to listen to any voter and has stated, he does not need to listen to the people, as he makes his own decisions on what he thinks is best for us, his children, right daddy Dirty Harry?
Well, screw that I have my own mind and these politicians were for us, so with that being the key element in the 2010 elections, we will evict all the corrupt politicians here in Nevada, starting with Dirty Harry, Titus, Berkly, Rory Reid, his co-conspirator, of which he appointed without a public election, susan brager (D) who sells the very homes via herself, her company and her industry of which she votes for on the Clark County Commission!!
Evidently, Rory Reid and brager (D) never got the memo from the Nevada Ethics Commission about the Las Vegas councilman Ross who was voting for issues that benefit his industry!!
Oh, wait a minute, this same person, Ross has thrown his support behind Rory Reid, so that explains that, corruption begats more corruption!!
I can not imagine the unions getting sucked into believing Rory Reid is going to support them when he shat on thousands of Clark County union employees by firing them this Christmas due to his inability to lead the government and now Rory Reid wishes to be king of the mountain in Carson City? I DON'T THINK SO!!!
Two votes, of mine will be against the dynasty of Reids here in Nevada and one against the corruption of Clark County government via the removal of the appointed, not elected brager (D), enough if enough of the corruption!
No need to worry, we are experiencing the dream of the "trickle up" economy. Change YOU can believe in!
Until the whole state realizes that the economy must be diverse, nothing will change. After all the polls were taken and our "F" grade in water, education, health, etc was publicised, do you think anyone really cares? Politicians care about lining their pockets. Why else would $500 billion of the $750 Billion in TARP be full of bills and projects that had nothing to do with Bailout?
It wil lbe up to ALL of us to show them at the polls !!
All is great in Vegas. City Center will brings millions of people back to see what's new. Once they get sick of that, fountainblue (aka something?!) will be the next reason, etc.. etc...
We have no snow. No blizzards. Vegas will propser!
Love this city.
I love Vegas too,...maybe its just the mountains and the scenery,...but everywhere has problems these days thanks to the "leadership" between 2000 & 2008. Unfortunately the change we hoped for hasn't arrived yet either.
Is it not amazing that the majority,...almost all of the county, city, state and country problems are cause by POLITICIANS, and POLITICIANS who take BRIBES.
Until that changes,...its Groundhog Day.
An economy based on ripping off your customers cannot survive.
sevenhills .... your sarcasm always makes me chuckle.
Mirror, mirror on the wall....why is Las Bugsy doomed to fall?
1. It produces no product or service which adds to the GDP (unless egocentricism counts).
2. In doing so it consumes more energy and water resources than a city 10 times its size.
3. Its government is rife with corruption.
4. Its sole product is no longer unique and can be found in virtually any state and any country in the world now so it is no longer a "destination" for those who want to throw money away.
5. It has not re-invested into its own infrastructure - including obtaining water - so it is 20-30 years behind on handling its own needs let alone any more artifial "growth".
6. It has no natural resources nor does its geograhic location make it necessary to any form of commerce.
7. Did I mention its government is rife with corruption?
Move along, folks, nothing to see here.....
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
never going to change.
the judges, commissioners, and politicians are all paid by the casino / tourism sector.
just "google" the campaign contribution reports of the local judges in clark county.
look at how many law firms that represent casino companies have given those judges money to get elected.
you think YOU'RE going to YOUR high-tech company some land re-zoned...ha ha ha!
good luck.
The four horseman of hate radio: kxnt,kdwn,kdox,kmzq now cloud the future of Nevada with their Father Couglinesque smear of hate and intolerance blinding the hope of decent people everywhere. How can an area that needs needs an influx of new people and ideas thrive on closed doors and closed minds of these purveyors of lies and sickness.
Hopefully, the business community will stop there circular firing squad and stop supporting these stations.
The history of Stations' Feritta family and those in power, speaks volumes about the history and current affairs of las Vegas...
http://www.americanmafia.com/Inside_Vega...
we depend on two sector gambling and construction. we see what happen when we did. we must diversify if we don't we will see people leaving this state. we alsredy see it look at our taxable in down 17 percent. look at our property tax we are down. trickle theory did not work. only person who made money all these year are banks and wall street who are friendly with republican that the trickle up theory. we started this recession in 2007 i believe we start earlier but we are so worry about iraq we didn't care about the economy. BUSH said economy was strong thru 2008 all the way until october and he still said econmy was still good while everything was collapsing around and what did he did he bail out his friends WALL STREET
Nevada and Las Vegas can not diversfy becouse their in nothing hear but dry stark desert, a few rugged mountains, a lot of illegal allens, not enough water, what natural menerial resouses left have been depleated years ago.
Sunshine and lots of wind can be harnesst into energy is are best hope, but that not going to keep many employed. If only Nevada can make fresh water out of hot air ,then this states can diversfy its economy into a world class power.
Nevada also need to not let Wall Street and outside investors control everythig. Keeo our industry locoly owned, for the people by the people is Nevadans best bet> If we only had the water.
Green energy. Solar, wind, injection geothermal. Especially the injection geothermal. Can't get there fast enough. The people of Nevada could have mounded a large savings account by properly taxing big gaming. But that's gone. Big mining is ripping out $5 to $6 billion a year in gold and silver that's not being taxed. Will the people of Nevada let their "elected leaders" let that cash cow go unmilked, just like gaming? "Fool me once" appears to be as effective as "fool me twice." Schools, cops, fire protection, highways, medical care, they all cost money. Nevada has just run out of money overtaxing the poor and middle class, while leaving the rich almost completely off the hook. Nevada is in a uniquely powerful position in mankind's search for intelligent life. We know you don't start here.
Las Vegas does one thing and one thing only VERY WELL, That is offering the tourist an escape from their hometown America reality to a fantasy rich environment full of anything you want. The current extremely lame corporate leaders with the exception perhaps of Steve Wynn, just don't understand how to perpetuate and maintain this environment for these folks who want A VALUE VACATION OFFERING! this means cheap lodging, loose slots, food at giveaway prices, free drinks, quality entertainment, etc etc etc. WAKE UP CORPORATE IDIOTS BEFORE WE LOSE IT ALL!!!
Step 1: Send the current group of politicians packing.
I am curious as to why a couple of people have complained on here about Rory Reid "appointing" Susan Brager to the County Commission. She was elected. She defeated Lynette Boggs McDonald. I am sure he supported Brager since both are Democrats. Was she somehow appointed and I missed it?
Personally I am thrilled to see the end of rampant growth in the Las Vegas Valley.
Las Vegas has always been and will always be a transient town. In my 40 years in Las Vegas I have seen more growth than should have ever been permitted... but then again, it was all about greed.
The transient population will slowly move back home and things will be quiet for the next 10 years and I couldn't be happier!
For all of you who moved here and helped create this mess, your hometown awaits you with open arms... Goodbye!
TO ALL-AND OUR DEAR ELECTED OFFICIALS,
IT IS A VERY SIMPLE EQUATION-WE THE PEOPLE OF LAS-VEGAS ELECT YOU BECAUSE WE TRUST YOU AND WE BELIEVE IN YOU, AND IN WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR NEVADA AND LAS-VEGAS. IN RETURN WE EXPECT YOU TO THINK OF WAYS TO ADVANCE AND PROTECT OUR CITY AND STATE, WE EXPECT YOU TO BE SMART AND COME UP WITH A PLAN, IN ADVANCE! A PLAN WHICH YOU SHOULD HAVE COME UP WITH IN THE GOOD OLD TIMES(which lasted for more than 20 years!)TO PROTECT US ALL WHEN BAD TIMES COME!
WHAT PLAN YOU MAY SAY? WELL LET ME PUT DOWN A FEW SUGGESTIONS.
A)Understand that Vegas is not the only place in the World to gamble and have fun-anymore. Vegas is still "moving" from its years of uniqueness which do not exist anymore. The "beast" cannot keep on feeding itself and needs to be re-invented.
B)Get the "bullet Train" to Southern Calif. as soon as possible. Stop the political "bull" and get it going. It will give incentive to hundred of thousands of people to come here as well as create construction jobs and permanent jobs.
C)Design special tax incentives programs for corporations to move to Vegas.Electronics,textile, manufacturing, High-tech,etc.5,10,15 years tax breaks. Go after these companies aggressively, not from behind your desk.Make them want to move here because it will benefit them for years to come.If Boeing was able to move it's manufacturing facility for a "minor" cost of 1.5 Billion Dollars employing 3000 people, why aren't they here?
D)There are 95 million Americans which are going to retire within the next 5-10 years. Create a special program for retirees to buy a home here.
Things such as tax breaks, medical assistance, home purchasing assistance with special mortgages,finding part time work etc. will bring them here. If only 1% will come here, it will be app. 1 million people!
E)The above will create a wave of new construction which will immediately boost the construction industry here and will start feeding the machine again.
F)Unless God decides to reverse our drought, we will need more water. Come up with an aqua-duct system. Growth needs water, so, either come up with the water duct or don't expect growth.Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, mid-west, you have the Engineers, make a decision, can be done or not!
G)Beef up the police force and the schools. If you want quality people to come here then they would expect quality of living. Our police is too weak and the schools are on the bottom of the list. How about forgetting the high-rises in Down Town and putting all emphasis on the issues above!!??
H)With all the open spaces we have as well as the sun and the wind, how about making Nevada the number one green electric power supplier in the nation? Solar electrical energy, wind electrical energy! The opportunity is here and endless, so, stop talking and bring some major investor in to invest in building this industry.
Just to name a few.
Thank you.
Nevada has the second lowest state and local taxes next to Alaska (taxfoundation.org) but the second highest unemployment next to Michigan. Therefore the notion propagated on talk-radio, that "low taxes and Republickans (Repub Gov) bring jobs and prosperity" does not wash.
We need media reform and higher taxes.
Las Vegas needs to change their image To "The "Fun Capital of the World" Not "What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas". People who drink and party really don't care if it stays in Vegas or not. Five ways to increase employment in Las Vegas and to have more visitors:
1- Return Vegas to what made Vegas fun for the average person. Make Vegas Easy and Fun.... (Easy and Fun explained in number 5- below)
2- The United States has millions of retired people that have Motor Homes and Trailers that have extra income ...If Las Vegas wants more visitors stop treating people in RVs like bums... put 30 amp electrical outlets in areas that are close to Casinos and make it free to stay if they use Casino slot cards and free for everyone's first three days. This problem with the economy is going to last for a while and drastic steps must be taken if more people are going to come to Vegas.
3. Do you really think that the average Joe will return for thirty (30) dollar buffets or two hundred (200) dollar rooms? We eat at the home town buffet on Saturday mornings for $5.99 and we like it. This does not mean that we don't have money to gamble with. As a matter of fact we have money to enjoy because we have been frugul all of our lives. This is not to say that we won't go to a $30 dollar buffet on special occasions just that we won't make a habit of it. Vegas wants and needs return visitors not people that are going to say I did that once...
4- Vegas needs to clean up their streets and when people or drinking from bottles, homeless, dirty, building fires in trash cans or living in flood controls or the bushes they should be transported to public housing. The public housing would be a long way from the Casinos and there would be soup kitchen and law enforcement on site. Of course you would have to deal with the ACLU who seems to want to destroy the United States and our way of life. Common sense is not as common as the name implies.
5- Easy and Fun... When you don't have to stand in lines it is easy. When you don't have to drive ten miles from the RV Park to get to a Casino it is easy. When a lunch buffet doesn't cost the same as you made in a week in 1960 or it is a comp that is fun and easy. When someone around you actually wins some money that is fun. When the Casinos actually give you a Comp when you lose a couple of hundred dollars that is fun and easy. You will return when you have fun because that is the nature of the beast. When you get a ticket for parking that is not fun. When you see bums and prostitutes working the streets that is not fun. Don't tell anyone they can't park their hundred thousand dollar RV in your empty parking lot because that is not fun and there are plenty of places to go that will welcome RVs and Trailers with open arms giving them free camping, hook ups and a free buffet just to see a couple of dollars played in their slots. So tell me why should the retired Snow Birds go to Vegas....
Harry Reid - what an innovator
mred,
not sure what you are referring to. It would be nice to see examples instead of most of your posts saying fearmonger haters.
Las Vegas is not a one industry city. But we do need more diversification. The city got to expensive and so did the casinos. Room rates and restaurants got so expensive and the city lost its family place image. In addition we chased away several big event because room rates would double on those weekend. One problem with the city is our mayor. All the casinos in town tried the same thing and raised rates too much.
2010 will not be any better until the city rebrands away Oscar's showgirl martini world to a destination for all kinds of travelers (not just the vice seekers) and we need to reach out to companies and events for the convention centers.
The City of Las Vegas was a very different place 10-15 years ago.
Don't forget us down here in Phoenix. US 93 widening is ongoing and maybe they will break ground on the portions of the interstate. Half of it's practically done already if you consider that much of US 93 is now four lanes. One of the coolest drives you can take, even with the bottleneck at Hoover Dam.
I'm coming in January for three days. Probably shouldn't and save my money, but I do like to have fun. Plus, the odds are better than the tribal casinos, and in 10 years they may literally be on a couple of street corners on this town if the tribes can get a couple of deals done.
Best thing Las Vegas and Nevada can do...make the community colleges and UNLV world-class. Education, education, education. If UNLV can be a serious research institution like a Cal or Stanford or even Arizona, there's half of your diversified economy right there. Make it easy for science and technology startups to form and grow, and get some venture capital to migrate from San Jose (right now the California VC money is going to places like Austin, that has UT, which is not too shabby a research institution).
Another thing...here in Arizona the economy has tanked because we have relied too much on people 1) moving here and 2) vacationing here and not diversifying.
You can only get so many people to stay in Scottsdale and play golf in 72 degree weather in January and shop at Neiman Marcus and drive to Sedona and get some "new age" crystals or the Grand Canyon and ride a donkey down some slippery rocks, same as you can only get so many people to get a $200 room at Bellagio or Wynn and eat a buffet that "cost the same as you made in a week in 1960".
You can't spend your way to success for a good reason. Government almost always makes bad decisions on how to spend money. The Phoenix metroplex spent millions of dollars subsidizing hundreds of businesses. To no good effect. They are no better off than people in California and Las Vegas. Diversifying the economy by having politicians pick winners is just a dumb idea.
mred,
As for taxes please don't forget, we have high sales tax of 8.1% and medium property tax. In addition, Nevada is donor state which means Nevada gets back $0.65 on the $1 in the way of federal spending. That means that the federal government takes millions and billions of dollars from Nevada and gives it to over states pay them off. I'm pretty sure that those billions could have served Nevada a bit better in our pockets than in Washington. The state doesn't advertise business oportunity, Oscar made sure that it sell s#^ and booze. There are some great business in the valley but don't forget the 35% of fed taxes that leave the state and never come back to the state. States like Idaho get $1.21 per dollar and Mississippi, New Mexico, and Louisiana all receive over $1.70 per dollar.
The big winner (no surprise) Washington DC $5.05 per dollar. The only state that get less back than Nevada is New Jersey.
http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/to...
noamlasvegas :
I think we should elect you to represent Nevada. Your above mentioned summary is excellent. Why can't those idiots we have in office figure this stuff out? because their brains are very small, which they try to make up with other parts of their anatomy...
We could start today improving our future by making our lives and city more sustainable and save ourselves a buck or two at the same time. Las Vegas is right on the edge of having no water and when it's gone we are also gone. The water that used to flow down the Colorado river and into the Gulf Of Mexico now flows to Las Vegas and points west. As that flow reseeds so do our chances of maintaining our city in the desert. Climate change is here weather man made or not, it is here and the Colorado river water will become more and more precious. If we show good stewardship and begin using our water more wisely we stand a chance of getting our fair share and if not we are doomed. I grew up and spent most of my life in the Northwest and witnessed streams dry up from poor logging practices and aquifers pumped dry from unregulated irrigation. As these things occurred the people who once prospered there were forced to move for lack of water. In my observations I would guess that 50% of the water that is delivered to this city is unknowingly or carelessly wasted. It would be much less costly to educate and legislate wise water usage than trying to figure out how to appropriate and transport new water sources that don't exist. Now is the time, not tomorrow and not next year. I have been in Las Vegas but a short time but have witnessed wasteful water uses everywhere. These are the story lines we should be reading on the front page of our newspaper; "Water Demanding Turf Removed, Replaced With Beautiful Desert Scape" or "Free" Water Miser Shower Heads at City Hall" or " County School Leader Vote to Install Artificial Turf at all Athletic Fields. Of course there are numerous little ways that we all can conserve water and save money at the same time. Why do we not start this campaign tomorrow. Where are our leaders? A sustainable future is vital to our very existence in the desert.
I fully agree with the post of environprotector.
Las Vegas is and will still be in 10 or 20 years the premier gambling center of North America and probably the entire world. As long as the casinos and hotels continue to make Las Vegas the fun capitol of the world, the city will prosper. In my opinion, if the large casino/hotel conglomerates had not bought into the fake capitalism of the last 10 or 15 years, and had therefore not grossly expanded on borrowed money, then the Las Vegas economy would only be suffering slightly now. In a couple of years, the weakly financed casino/hotels will be closed or, more likely, purchased by new owners with deep pockets, and all the surviving ones will be fully profitable again. LAS VEGAS IS INDESTRUCTIBLE.