Letter to the editor:

Museum should showcase art, not mob past

Henry Schmid, Las Vegas

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 | 2:04 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is living in his past in his persistence in having a so-called mob museum, which does not relate to current visitors.

The fact that he is unable to get sufficient funding, other than begging for federal stimulus money, attests to this, while making Las Vegas a laughingstock of the country.

What next, a museum in Mexico honoring the drug cartels?

The mayor asks who would visit downtown Las Vegas with the old federal building used as an art museum. With world-class shopping, restaurants and entertainment attracting sophisticated visitors from around the country and the world, there would be more than enough interest. With the loan of the fine art exhibits from our casinos and private collections, an art museum would be a major attraction for downtown Las Vegas.

The mob museum should be scrapped and replaced with a needed home for the art museum.

Discussion: 2 comments so far…

By coolfire

1/20/09 at 10:28 a.m.

Suggest removal

I agree with Mr. Schmid. With nothing against the Mayor, the idea of a shrine to Organized Crime is a disgrace. Our society should not pander to such illegal interests. In addition, it is shameful that with our economy, job losses, and budget crises that there is even serious consideration for such an expenditure on a shrine to Organized Crime.
By boftx

1/20/09 at 11:59 a.m.

Suggest removal

One has only to look at the long-running success of "Legends" at the IP and the ever-popular Bonnie and Clyde death car to see that a museum that showcases the roots of Vegas as we know it would be far better than yet another art museum. Indeed, the people who come to vegas have many fine museums in their home cities already. The Mob Museum would be a unique attraction in what is still the most unique city in the country.

I do not address the issue of funding, but the concept is valid.