Mob museum is no place for public funds

Peter Puglisi, Henderson

Saturday, March 21, 2009 | 2:02 a.m.

Am I offended that the glorification of the mob in America leads many to ask, because I am Italian-American, how many members of my family are in the mob or if I’ve killed anyone? No, because I usually tell them the only people I’ve killed (technically zero) are the ones who ask me stupid mafia questions.

But I am offended by the use of taxpayer dollars to fund a museum dedicated to criminals who murdered, stole and avoided millions in Nevada state taxes by skimming off casinos. What’s next, a Bloods and Crips museum?

Here’s an idea, what about a vintage Vegas museum, which locals preferred when polled in 2006, that has a mafia wing? Oh, I forgot, locals who pay taxes don’t matter, especially not when the building is an ego trip for Mayor Oscar Goodman, who “made his bones” (bones being dollars) defending mafia thugs.

The worst part in the proposal is that one can choose, when entering the museum, to be a member of law enforcement or a mobster. It reminds me of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (privately funded), which is about the victims, not the criminals. When entering you get the name of a victim and follow their life. I wonder how the mayor would feel if upon entering you could choose whether you wanted to be a Nazi or victim of the Holocaust?

In the end, I’m all for freedom of speech, and freedom of any type of museum you want. I’m just against the use of $15 million in taxpayer dollars to do so, particularly after the governor sliced and diced the education budget. (Hey kids, can you spell Neonopolis?)