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COURTESY OF LAS VEGAS GOVERNMENT
An artist’s rendering shows a concept for exhibits at the mob museum proposed for downtown Las Vegas. Mayor Oscar Goodman last week shot back at critics of possible federal stimulus funding for the museum, saying it will go forward with or without federal assistance.
Monday, Jan. 12, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Sun archives
- Jan. 8 -- Louder now: No on pork for mob museum
- Jan. 6 -- Mob museum is Exhibit A for GOP leader
One of Mayor Oscar Goodman’s favorite downtown development projects, the mob museum, riled up a few Republican U.S. senators last week after they learned that the mayor had requested federal funds for the project.
First, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky mocked the idea on a political talk show.
Then Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., weighed in, claiming a mob museum funding request could bring down a federal stimulus bill “out of embarrassment.”
It seems likely that McConnell and Ensign either didn’t know, or perhaps conveniently forgot, that the project has the full backing and support of the FBI, which is working with museum planners to ensure that the Mafia isn’t glorified and that law enforcement’s mob-battling story is given its due.
More important, Goodman said, is that the project is on course and will remain so even if the feds keep backing away.
The mayor was indignant at his weekly news conference Thursday.
“Apparently folks take issue with the mob museum, but I’m not going to apologize for it,” Goodman said. “So some senator from Kentucky who nobody knows takes a cheap shot? I don’t need it.”
According to a city spokesman, the museum has raised $7.1 million so far, out of projected budget of about $60 million. About half of the money raised is in from federal grants. The other half is from state and local sources. A 2010 opening is planned.
Goodman said a study the city commissioned showed that 250,000 people will visit the downtown museum per year.
Goodman’s request, which he said has not yet been formally acted upon, is part of a “wish list” of projects compiled by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The list was put together in response to President-elect Barack Obama’s request for economic stimulus ideas, including both infrastructure and “Main Street” projects.
According to the conference’s Web site, Las Vegas’ wish list includes proposed federal funding for 47 projects totaling just over $1 billion.
In the unlikely event funding were approved for all of the projects, the city estimates 4,960 jobs would be created.
The projects include park and school renovations, new sidewalks and street improvements.
Three of the largest funding requests, both symbolically and dollar-wise, are for the museum ($55 million), the new city hall project ($167 million) and the Smith Center for the Performing Arts on the new Union Park site ($375 million).
Goodman said he put the Smith Center, new city hall and the mob museum highest on his wish list because of their importance to the city’s redevelopment plans, and “because each and every one of those has the plans already done, ready to start virtually tomorrow,” if such funding is approved.
•••
With the departure of longtime Ward 4 Councilman Larry Brown, council members have played their usual game of musical chairs, based on seniority.
Some might say the results are fitting, as Goodman, who sits in the middle of the seven-member panel during council meetings, is now flanked by Councilman Gary Reese to the mayor’s right, and Councilman Steve Wolfson to his left.
Reese and Wolfson, who jumped three spots to Brown’s place on the dais, are commonly thought to be the two council members most likely to run for mayor in 2011. This, of course, is assuming Goodman actually leaves, as the state’s term limits law currently dictates he must.
•••
The city’s Downtown Cultural Series will continue with a free performance Friday at U.S. District Court in the George Federal Building by a quintet called Brass Roots. The concert will be from noon to 1 p.m. in the Jury Assembly Room.
The quintet is led by Walt Boenig, who played trombone with famed big band orchestra leaders Glenn Miller and Harry James.
I personally do not care if Mr Goodman wants to build a Mob Museum. However, it should be done with private funds, not taxpayor funds. If it is that great, it needs to be privately owned and operated. The attendees can pay an admission fee. The mayor should be able to get a few of his past clients to contribute or invest in it.
Goodman can pay for the Mob Museum if he wants it.
Let Smith (whoever that is) pay for the Center fro Performing Arts.
And we don't need a new City Hall.
The Mob can pay half and the FBI can pay half.
Should the FBI pay half? Probably not.
But that's the thing about Museums/Newspapers, people pay for them.
During former mob lawyer Oscar Goodman's third term as Mayor of Las Vegas, two possible downtown projects drew attention; his museum devoted to the legends of many of his former mob clients, and a Veteran's Memorial Park dedicated to the memory of our fallen local war heroes.
His mob museum is now projected to cost taxpayers about $60 million.
Reopening the closed Huntridge Circle Park and erecting a section with a monument devoted to veterans is estimated to cost between $800,000 and one million dollars.
Goodman has ignored hundreds of phone calls from supporters of the Veteran's Memorial Park, and is instead concentrating all his energy on his tribute to his mob pals. His excuse? "I help the veterans put on a parade each year."
Goodman neglects to say that in trade for his "help," he must be the parade's Grand Marshal.
In 2003, America's oldest war veteran, Mr. Willy Brown, 107, was in Las Vegas visiting his family. Instead of placing Mr. Brown at the head of the parade, or naming him Grand Marshal, Mr. Brown was placed near the end of the parade, while Goodman rode far ahead in the Grand Marshal's convertible.
Now with this latest tantrum about his pet project being the blunt of national jokes and a blatant example of stimulus pork, he fires back.
In the meantime, local veterans are livid that a museum to honor criminals takes precedence over a simple memorial that all sophisticated cities proudly have.
Like it or not the mob WAS a big part of the 'real' Vegas (before all the mega-resorts started catering to all the 6 figure incomes). It should be preserved - just not sure who should pay for it.
Oscar Goodman wants to be Italian? I didn't know that.
"An Italian Wannabe Self Promoter."
He's Jewish. If he's a wannabe self promoter, then I want to be one too!
Hitler is the dominant topic for any history of WW2 or post-WW1 Germany. The Mob's activities in Vegas can not be ignored and is certainly a legitimate theme for a museum. The only real question is who should pay for it.
On a side-note, I would venture to say that the average gambler got a much better shake in the Mob days than they do now. What today's operators call comps is a joke compared to then. And show prices, right, let's not get started on that.
Frank and Lorenzo have stolen a lot more off you than Moe Dalitz ever did