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Justin M. Bowen / File photo
A new report shows mixed sentiments on the future of the Las Vegas economy.
Published Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010 | 7 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 | 1:39 a.m.
Related Document (.pdf)
Sun Coverage
Beyond the Sun
During the years when the global economy and real estate markets were overheating, Las Vegas surged as one of the hottest economies among the world’s largest metropolitan cities, on the strength of the construction and gaming industries.
That was then, and this is now: a bruising tumble toward the bottom.
Las Vegas’ economic performance is fifth-worst among 150 metropolitan areas around the world, and the prospects for a rapid recovery are dim with its dependence on domestic tourism and construction, according to the author of a report released this week.
Before the recession, in measurements analyzing 1993 through 2007, Las Vegas ranked No. 14 in the world among 150 metropolitan areas studied by the Brookings Institution and London School of Economics.
Las Vegas fell to 128th in the rankings during the recession in 2008 and 2009, and since the recovery has begun, its ranking has fallen to 146th. That’s better than only Dublin, Ireland (150); Dubai (149); Barcelona, Spain (148); and Thessaloniki, Greece (147).
The report said the patchy recovery that took hold in most U.S. cities in 2009 and 2010 hasn’t played out in Las Vegas. The area’s income levels declined 1.2 percent during that time despite an increase nationally, and the employment rate dipped 3 percent, much greater than the national decline of 0.7 percent.
The report also cited Las Vegas’ foreclosure problem with the second-highest share of bank-owned homes in the country and more than two-thirds of residential mortgage holders owing more than their homes are worth.
“If the first year (of recovery) is any indication for Las Vegas, it could be a long, slow road ahead with the overhang from a damaged real estate market,” Alan Berube, senior fellow and research director at Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, told the Sun. “It’s going to take time to sort through that.”
For a decade and a half before the Great Recession, Las Vegas added jobs at a
4.9 percent annual pace with booming construction, real estate and gaming industries. Nationally, Las Vegas was ranked No. 1 and the closest was Phoenix, ranked 20th globally.
The city’s decline was like that of economies in Eastern Europe — “a house of cards,” Berube said. The rankings measure jobs, job growth and income — all categories that have taken hits with a current jobless rate of 14.1 percent, Berube said.
“It was globally one of the fastest-growing regions leading up to the recession and sort of the Dublin of the Rocky Mountain West,” Berube said. “It was mentioned up there with some of the Eastern European cities that were highfliers up until the crash because they found themselves heavily over-invested in real estate. They had a significant portion of their economies in construction and real estate finance, and the jobs went poof when the housing bubble burst worldwide.”
The ranking has tumbled even further since the global recovery started in 2009 because other metropolitan areas made up ground on Southern Nevada, whose economy has improved little by comparison, he said. Phoenix, for example, fell from 20 to 114 during the recession, but has since rebounded to a ranking of 68.
“The economy that Las Vegas had before the recession is not a recipe for growth in the new economy,” Berube said. “There has been talk about the need to diversify and find new sources of economic growth, and that is imperative in the long run.”
The strongest growth during the recovery has taken place in more highly educated regions such as Washington, D.C.; Minneapolis; Austin, Texas; and San Francisco, Berube said. Highly educated people tend to work in industries that aren’t as affected, and if they get displaced, they have an easier time shifting to new jobs than those less skilled and educated, he said.
The report cited the importance of existing public and private centers of innovation, such as the Solar Solutions and Advanced Clinical Training and Research centers at UNLV. Las Vegas is “out of the starting gate, but it has a lot of work to do” to take advantage of its opportunities and build from its strengths, Berube said.
The report mentioned that raising Las Vegas’ low rate of college degrees from
22 percent of adults would be crucial in helping diversify the economy.
“It’s going to be a tougher transition for your economy,” Berube said. “It’s the chicken and the egg (scenario). You need the education to build a workforce, but you have to make investments to attract those workers.” As for its gaming and tourism sectors, Berube said Las Vegas is the most consumption-dependent economy in the nation with its large number of jobs in hospitality, retail and housing. But national recovery will remain weak for an extended period, Berube said.
“The betting man would say if you’re expecting the U.S. economy to rebound in a way that’s going to lead to a quick, strong rebound in Las Vegas, you probably better place your bets elsewhere,” Berube said. “It’s going to be a while and this is an opportunity to rethink the growth model. What got Las Vegas to where it was in 2006 is not what will get it to a better place by 2020.”
The growth is in emerging economies of China, India and Latin American countries. Las Vegas needs to focus on economies where the middle class is growing, he said.
“That’s creating opportunities for new demand than U.S. and European cities can produce,” Berube said. “Tourism is one of those things that is exported, and the question is: How do you position that industry for a period of demand not coming from the U.S. but other parts of the world?”
Before the recession, Shenzhen, China, was ranked No. 1 followed by Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. During the recovery, Istanbul, Turkey is ranked No. 1, followed by Shenzhen; Lima, Peru; Singapore; and Santiago, Chile.
Only four more places to go before Las Vegas is officially the worst in the world.
things are bad now, but wait till next year, more taxes, $4 gas, more taxes, more fees on everything, unemployment is gonna soar, cities and states flat broke, nothin good there
Its all the blue collared workers that got laid off from Boyds, Fountainblue, City Center, etc.. that are making this city suffer in the ratings.
New software companies have entered the city, and you'll see it grow as a huge technology hub. We will rule once again.
In Thessaloniki, Greece #147 you can get a clean room for 29.99 with no resort fees and a pretty decent 2 for 1 buffet. And you won't find any Cirque du soleil shows.
The future is bright for Las Vegas. Frankly, for those who don't see it that way, it's probably time to hit the road.
Interesting that Harry Reid is more concerned about passing the "Dream Act" than he is about the Las Vegas or Nevada economies.
Good info for people wanting to move here, stay away and go elsewhere, we got enough people here now as it is.
Come and visit and do the tourist thing, but don't think about moving here. You won't succeed.
There is no way Las Vegas becomes a hub for software companies. Software companies need access to world class university support and UNLV cannot offer it and after Gov Sandavol cuts the University System's budget another 10%, UNLV will probably never recover.
Las Vegas better diversify from Casino and construction. Don't see that happening when the mindset is "I don't need an education in this city"...
I'd love to know what software companies are locating here?
50% dropout rate worked for a long time...not anymore.
Things don't get better until the mindset changes. You need an education. Technical or college.
Good info for people wanting to move here, stay away and go elsewhere, we got enough people here now as it is.
Come and visit and do the tourist thing, but don't think about moving here. You won't succeed.
___________________
Interesting. I'm still considering moving there. Wouldn't it be wise to have more people move there and stimulate the local economy? I'm still not buying the "Vegas is broke" story. There must be some money still there to build on.
If you are well educated, you can find a job here. You might not make a small fortune every year like the old days, but you will find a decent job.
If you are one of the four out of five in Vegas that does not have a degree...good luck.
Tell us something we don't already know, if the local economy is going to change, the casinos will have to give all the players a break, and make this city a friendly place for the players.
That means for them to start to change the pay backs on all slot machines. To stop the harassment of table game players if they start to win. To get rid of 6-5 black jack, and to cut the cost of their food and entertainment!
Just about ever state now has casinos, what are the casinos here doing to bring in new players?
You need some winners for players to keep coming back, and that is not happening any more with all the Corp. Greed! Winners give it all back anyway, but when they do go home,and are asked if they won, they tell everybody that they had a great time and that they were a winner, to bad they didn't bring any of it back with them, and even if they did they will be back to lose it on their next trip!
I hear the same thing from the out-of-town players I know, "We can't win any more in Vegas"!
Have the CEO take a cut in their pay, and up the pay outs, then make the players feel like they are wanted!
Unfortunately our economy is based on the casinos, and until they change we will be out of work.
Greed is killing Vegas, the casinos suck every penny they can out of the players pockets, it's to the point where you might as well stick up your hands when walking into a casino, stopping at the doors, and just let them take everything out of your pockets.
They have turned Vegas into a carnival, and all their games are just what you would expect to find in a carnival, you don't stand a chance of winning any more!
They did one hell of a good job of training all their younger players not to gamble, when they started to build all family friendly casinos. They came to Vegas with their parents, and got to hear mon and dad every night arguing about dad losing all the money for the week they were here every time they came.
That is way we have all the pools and clubs now these kids are not spending their money gambling!
Dad lost for twenty years, mon scream at him every night they were here. Yes they did a great job of teaching Jr. of what not to do when in Vegas!
Gambling built this City and bad gaming by the casinos will bury it!
I wouldn't come here unless you are educated. By educated I mean you have a marketable skill. Flipping burgers, working in retail for 7/hr is not educated.
The prospects are not good because Las Vegas does not have an educated population...and as cited in the report the areas of the country that are rebounding are educated cities.
The mindset has to change. Raising your kids here..you better get them thru high school and onto college or this city will never rise out of this funk.
Do you want your kids working for Pollo Loco, taco bell or do you want them to design software, hip replacement parts or solar panel technology?
I've been saying it for a while - we need to diversify. With our climate and tons of vacant land, it would be perfect to bring some manufacturing industries here. Oscar Goodman has been on the right track mentally, because in order to get companies to move here, the city has to be appealing. That means we need more well maintained parks, a city center downtown, good hospitals, and at least decent schools. We have a long way to go, but if we can improve those things, companies would be stupid not to come.
"Greed is killing Vegas"
If by that, you mean the greed of the 1 million who moved here from 1994-2004 looking for an easy buck, maybe so. "Greed" built Las Vegas, on all sides of the equation, including the consumer, the home buyer, the individual investor, the entrepreneur, the casino operator... Without "greed" casinos would not exist at all because there would be no gamblers.
Reza
You may be delusional
I disagree on this article.
Las Vegas economy still works, but the population is too high for it, resulting in current unemployment rate higher than usual.
Due to the creation of many other gambling facilities world wide and tight markets, visitors do not necessarily come solely to Las Vegas anymore. Most people still like Las Vegas as the absolute and undisputed No 1 gaming destination world wide. However, Asian gamblers stay in Asia now, as Macau offers everything, if not more , to them, not only because there they can speak their own language and don't have to fly so many hours before they get there. This is a fact.
Anyway, Las Vegas's economy of course does not only depend on Asian highrollers, so the situation is a bit tricky. Maybe it's also because more Indian reservations in the US are now offering the same gaming and comps and everything just like Vegas, and it's only a short drive rather than a hassleful flight for the gamblers. Could be another reason.
Without any doubt, however, the locals' market in LV is under extrem pressure. Besides the "fixed income citizens (the retired people that get their pensions) and the millionaires that don't have to bother about losing some of their money regularly, a major percentage of players that used to visit the casinos regularly is currently "out of the action". They will find it harder to get into the action as they can only do so if there are new and more and better jobs available. This is probably the hardest part as the system can only function with "de-regulation", which is ..... reduction of the number of citizens. People looking for jobs and not finding anything in Vegas should maybe consider moving out for a few years and finding their luck elsewhere. As the US economy seems to improve slightly better than in other countries, there must be chances for everybody seriously looking for something. You just can't hope that you will get hired on the Strip for some minimum wage job if there are not enough new visitors flocking in. That's the cold fact.
But, I still think that the Vegas economy is definetely not worse than in many other countries of the world. It only has too many people looking for the easy jobs that are no longer available.
From Switzerland
I think this shows some real initiative on our part. No longer content with just being the worst at something in this country, we are now striving for worst in the world.
On the brighter side, this should cut down on our illegal alien problems as most third world cities will look much more appealing than Las Vegas.
History shows that transitioning from a single-industry city is always traumatic, especially for union dominated cities. Some don't have the political will to change things, e.g Detroit and most of PA. Some make the transition successfully e.g. San Diego, Seattle, Austin.
Vegas politicians are between a rock and a hard place. Selling city hall to Zap's is a great indicator that they are trying to make things happen. But the weight of history and electoral deal making is a challenge. Someday it'd be nice to say the casino's are to Vegas what oil is to Austin - the base from which something beautiful, and different, emerged.
Before I leave from my extended visit here, a few disconnected comments from a former resident: Sunset Park, Wetlands Park, the Pittman Wash Trail, Red Rock, and UNLV's public access to its track and field during limited hours are the real treasures of Clark County. I wanted to walk the trails in Summerlin, but a guard stopped me because I wasn't wearing an ascot. Why don't the Nevada drivers here use turn signals? I swear only a small minority obeys this law and they like to make turns on red, in spite of signs saying "No Turns On Red". I saw so many cabs hustling tourists from the airport through the tunnel to I-15 and then to the MGM corner. Doesn't Nevada have a price gouging law in effect? Last year during my visit, Jim Murren said City Center would drive the growth in Vegas during 2010. Phil Ruffin said he didn't want the $50 a night visitor. IMHO, both statements came back to bite them this year. Two months here and I entered only one Strip casino: Wynn. That's because it has the courage to put up an early football betting line and it is as gorgeous inside as the babes who schlep cocktails there. Some media observations: I was glad to see Courvoisier and Francis still working as a team. When my parents bought their first black and white TV, they were the first anchors we watched in 1952. Also, when did Amy McDougall (Amy on Everybody Loves Raymond) change her name and start giving weather reports as Sherry Swensk. In the Orleans wind tunnel one day, I passed Dayna "The Helmet" Roselli. My sister was blown down and my jacket was ripped off, but not one hair on Roselli's head moved. Amazing. Furthermore, I think Elfman is a RJ fictitious creation. No grown-up man would write in awe about a Strip cake fight by a rock celeb that did 50k damage to a hotel room. It must be a column aimed at the gay community; not that there's anything wrong with that. And finally, would someone please tell Half Priced Lawyers their phone number ends with the number Zero-Zero-Zero-Zero and not the letter O-O-O-O. Well, I guess you get what you pay for. See you'll next year.
And i m sure the TeaHeads are gonna say that Sharron Angle would of fixed the Las Vegas economy by slashing even more taxes and staying out of everyones way. You betcha..
Most casual readers wouldn't know because they don't work in the industry (casinos). But the jobs being offered are extra board/part time in most departments. So even if you land a job you have to work 2-3 part time gigs to make a living. The casinos don't want to give benefits anymore. This town will never come back or housing for that matter if that is going to be the case.
"The strongest growth during the recovery has taken place in more highly educated regions such as Washington, D.C.; Minneapolis; Austin, Texas; and San Francisco, Berube said. Highly educated people tend to work in industries that aren't as affected, and if they get displaced they have an easier time shifting to a new job than someone who's less skilled and educated, he said."
This paragraph speaks volumes.
How long before Las Vegas de-populates in proportion to the size of its current economy?
The cost of living in Vegas is still relatively low, in spite of having stupendously overpaid firemen and overpaid cops. Layoffs need to start immediately to bring their costs in line. Sadly, this is a Union dominated town. Why are Steve Ross and Vodka Collins allowed on the City Council? They are total Union whores, and should be made to quit their day jobs to participate on the City Council.
Sadly, our elected officials have no cajones, so nothing will be done. The locals casinos are empty, they're all losing money. We are becoming a town replete with gang bangers, illegals, and white trash. Nice group, welcome to Las Vegas, stay 3 days, and leave, please. There's no reason for you to move here....
If you are well educated, you can find a job here. You might not make a small fortune every year like the old days, but you will find a decent job.
If you are one of the four out of five in Vegas that does not have a degree...good luck.
__________
I have an Associates Degree and currently working on getting my EIT (engineer in training cert.) in the civil engineering side of things. I hope I can find a good job in Vegas.
When you have 3rd world health care like Las Vegas-you don't stand a chance of ever recovering.
For years aspects of the impending demise of Las Vegas - often seen as the result of too much growth - has been debated, rejected, or agreed to since 1989. That was the year when Steve Wynn built the fabulous, and biggest, hotel in Las Vegas: The Mirage - and it was a success.
However, WHAT FOLLOWED WAS - the building of many more (and much larger) new HOTELS AND CASINOS, an insatiable hunger for NEW HOME construction, and the building of new sky-scraper CONDO's - which now clutter THE STRIP on every available tract next to expanding an HOTEL/CASINO.
Many people saw this unimpeded, ill-planned, growth as being too much, and without the tourist or gambler base to support it. GREED became the focus of business decisions for growth - rather than "responsible planning," limitations on "ccupancy-per-sq-ft," accessability to draw customers, - and other "code" or essential considerations typically mandated in planning design and construction.
To ensure higher profitability, prices were raised on food, entertainment, hotel rooms, etc. - and the odds were adjusted on gambling games and slots to favor casinos (which lowered the "win" for tourists; and they noticed it).
All of this LUST FOR GROWTH was championed by organizations such as, the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce - who in the mid 1990's avocated a growth-oriented philosophy with a "battle-cry" of: "BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME!"
Well, Las Vegas HAS built "it." And the current SUPREME EXAMPLE OF GREED is CITYCENTER - an $8.5 BILLION dollar complex of 21 buildings that almost went bankrupt due to insufficient funding, lack of interest in ownership, and many design and construction proglems. This property is now an MGM momument to greed - built largly with (foreign) Arabian money, and something of an ill-designed "White Elephant."
CityCenter would probably make even Bugsy Siegel cringe with apprehension, as to the viability of such an extremely large complex - with virtually NO WALK-BY ACCESS to the casino (see current LV SUN article). Such access has ALWAYS been seen as a mandate for the success of any casino.
Well now, the-proof-is-in-the-pudding. It is obvious that the economic meltdown was caused by the sub-prime mortgage debacle - the decade-long growth in Las Vegas can now be seen as contributing to, and the proximate cause for, the poor economy, and millions of fewer tourists now visiting Las Vegas. We have "built it" - but "they are no longer coming" - at least for the foreseeable future.
And it can be debated as to whether anything resembling the current financial losses would have occurred eventually anyway (at least to some degree) - it is certain that such rampant growth has now left Las Vegas in a economic disaster (as noted by the LV Sun) that will take something of a miracle to recover from.
The casinos and the city of LV are not doing enough for local tourism. They will not be able to fix the job or housing market, but they can increase tourism.
One way to do that is NOT to make idiot comments such as the one from Bobby Baldwin of City Center calling potential gamblers and patrons "looky loos". He needs to wake up and realize that CC is going to have to fight and compete for every penny, even from the looky loos.You know Bobby, before I buy perfume, designer clothes or a Fendi bag, I look first. Before I put my money down in your casino, I walk around..see if I am comfortable and will have a positive gaming experience at your casino.
Bobby, you need NOT to speak for CC. Find another gig.
And t accept this award for being one of the worst in the world, will be Nevada's savior, Harry Reid.
In his acceptance speech, he will thank his long time supporters: The Unions, Wall Street bankers and of course the school district leadership for their continued insistence on hiring seat warmers for superintendents.. Making our schools spew out uneducated future welfare recipients.
.
Bobby Baldwin was in charge of City Center. The Harmon will most likely be torn down. 700 million to the wind. Sad part is he just received some kind of award from the design industry. Talk about a disconnect.
Educate the population. From there a recovery can begin. Las Vegas is not moving forward until the population realizes the importance of education. As of right now, they don't. 50-60% drop out rate.
Start doing better, where to begin.
Whoa...
I thought Harry Reid was Nevada's savior and we are all blessed with his presence as head of the Senate.
And who was it who said that Sharron Angle could not do as good job of fixing the economy as Harry Reid?
Yes sir, Harry Reid has done so much for Nevada during the past two decades...
Let's solve this by cutting education even more--maybe even going to a two-day school week. Or maybe only keeping the schools open even years. Think of the tax savings, think of the companies that will flock to our valley.
h yeah, having the lowest tax rate hasn't helped us at all. No business is moving here. I guess there isn't an overflow of jobs for primary school drop-outs. Even China is improving their schools as fast as they can. They know what will happen if they don't. They have the Nevada experience to see the problem first hand.
Sandoval: now that we are at the bottom of the USA pile, and only fourth from the bottom in the world, we can still sink lower!
greed keeps you employed, greed gives you ipods and ipads, greed keeps this website running, greed gives you better medicine, greed is not a killer, it is a liberator.
I have to agree with SamB007 concerning Las Vegas casino management, I think they are being short-sighted in trying to make up for lost revenue by changing rules on table games in favor of the house (e.g. 6/5 blackjack), more rake, less payout and the imposition of hidden (resort) fees, along with the cutting of costs by providing less service and amenities, fewer comps, etc. Time will tell if that strategy works out for them. I can see why they went in that direction, it's the "safe" way out. I think they are thinking, let me stop the bleeding and maybe the economy will improve, convention business will pick up and we'll limp along until we can recover. If you look at MGM and Harrahs, both are up to their eyeballs in debt, the corporate credit card while not maxed out, is getting there. Harrahs debt is approximately 20 billion and MGM, I haven't checked recently but I believe its up there around 15 billion. The debt service on this debt is huge and they have to roll it over periodically, as well as either meet or get waivers on various debt covenants that are in place. As to Boris's point about the Las Vegas economy still working and having a population that is "too large", I agree to a certain extent, but where are these people going to go? It's a complex situation. You have people who are from Las Vegas that have family there and have lived there all their lives. When I go back to my hometown in New York I run into people from high school who never left except for maybe an occasional brief vacation to Florida. That's the mentality you're running up against. Then you have the people who came during the boom years and were working in construction or real estate related occupations who are either tapped out or on extended unemployment, food stamps, etc. who either won't leave or can't afford to leave. Some of these people are doubling up, moved back in with relatives etc., some of whom are content with their situation, some attempting to hang on until retirement and social security kick in. Then you have to ask yourself with the graduation rate from high school in Nevada at less than 50%, graduation rate from college around 22%, even if they moved elsewhere----where are (especially those without a college education) they going to work? Even if they moved to an area with low unemployment, e.g. Sioux Falls, South Dakota or Omaha, Nebraska, to name just a couple of places with low unemployment, they would in all likelihood struggle to find employment because they are lacking the necessary education and skills. It's a mess and It's going to be along time before Las Vegas turns around. The education system must be fixed, that's for sure.
My family has been living in Nevada for a few generations and as a business person dealing with real property issues, saw this coming years ago. We may be the best when it comes to being a well regulated gambling state, but incredibly short sighted. It was clear many years ago, that other states, Indian gambling, lotto games, scratch cards and many numerous ways to gamble and especially online gaming was on the rise. We HAD a reputation of being the "Sin City" and that was exciting and tempting for many a tourist that came/comes here to PLAY etc., but now the law enforcement agencies especially in Clark County are extremely aggressive in busting anyone for any law broken (I mean the little ones we all make or break most everyday, the obvious nasty ones...go get them boys) Now, what you do in Vegas stays in Vegas may have a different meaning. You, the regular everyday tourist and residents included, may have a long stay and I don't mean in a hotel room, but a cell room. We want that money for legal issues in a big way and Nevada provides that opportunity extremely well. We need the money and exploit this anyway we can get it. Guess I just miss the old Nevada and its old western ways. It had heart!
Harry Reid has reduced Las Vegas to a pathetic economic mess.
On the other hand, Las Vegas has elevated Harry Reid to the position of top dog in the Senate.
Let's see now, who is the real winner here.
One might be excused for thinking that with all these excesses in labor for medium to no skill that with Nevada spending 1 billion per year, 2 billion per budget on illegal alliens that REAL Nevada leaders would do what Pres. Truman and Pres. Eisenhower did in removing illegal alliens from America to give jobs to citizens both after WW11 and Korea. Look it up ; google "operation wetback"
There is one group of people being overlooked that could have a major influence: those who can work from home and telecommute to jobs in other states.
For those people, Las Vegas is a great place to be right now. Low housing costs, decent cost of living, and very good network connectivity.
Public schools can be a problem, but being picky about where you live can help with that.
It really is hard to beat the LV area for a telecommuter right now.
that's it, I am moving to Pyongyang
and I would send a postcard, but I don't think they have postcards in Pyongyang
Naturally I would prefer Mogadishu for the weather, but something about Somalia, the food perhaps, keeps me away. Pirates be gone!
clark county needs to legalize prostitution. if vegas took an area that nobody goes to or cares about like the riviera and made it a regulated brothel district...you would have 747's lined up back to denver trying to land here.
but instead...let's focus on getting a sports stadium built so all the unemployed people can spend $8 on a beer and $60 on a ticket. brilliant.
Clark County politicians see prostitution as evil. But the prostitutes will not being doing anything that the politicians have been doing to us for years...
Boris is correct; Las Vegas is overpopulated for the number of annual visitors we have. We need to be in the range of 23 annual visitors per permanent resident to be healthy and we are nowhere near that.
Las Vegas needs to shed 300,000 residents or attract 42 million annual visitors.
http://bit.ly/b8EURc
I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO...
Time to stop blaming politicians, casino executives,illegal immigrants, schoolteachers, cops, wall street, big business, etc. and place the blame for Vegas' demise where it belongs!
GOD!
Us: This how you do me? Why?
God: You live in Sin City, and you wonder why?
God: I give you Sharron Angle to glorify, and you REJECT her! Be careful or, I swear, you'll all end up like Lot's wife!
Take two aspirins and go to bed. It will all be better tomorrow...
I love Las Vegas...I was born and raised here. This is my home. I am also a cab driver and I see everyday and hear everyday the things that most folks that live here do not. This place is loved by JUST about everyone who visits here. The problem, I mean the HUGE problem that Vegas has is that the large number of people that have re-located to Las Vegas from California has changed the way Vegas is and used to be. OMG!!!! look at that billboard...way too sexual for my child to see on the way to the Vegas strip for a dinner and show!!!! OMG!!!! did you see that sign for the Hard Rock? that is disgusting!..We have far to many prudes moving to Las Vegas. Low taxes...no state income tax...where do you prudes think that comes from?..Your saying that it is ok for Las Vegas to make money off of horny enibriated gamblers but we can't lure them with advertising that says..."hey, horny gamblers. Come to the (blank hotel) to drink gamble and mis-behave...cause that is immoral???.....Please leave MY City and State. Move to beautiful Utah and proclaim your a Virgin...I don't want you here.
Poor stevem...
How sad must it be to hide behind such shallowness???
^I like sexy ads and I'm from California. I also like low taxes... LOL
The Las Vegas Sun would never have run this article PRE-ELECTION! The LVS is no longer a newspaper. The traditions are gone and what is left? Basically, a DNC daily-flyer with some advertisements and crime blotter.
Wizard is right ON!
There might just be a link between the apple and the tree: lowest invested in schools, lowest success in schools; a culture of sexual abuse/display, highest rate of teen pregnancy; play games, play games; squander, squander. Huh? Vegas.
One only has to look at the shortcuts that Harrah's Entertainment Inc. took from the mid 1990's to the end of 2007 when they did the bulk of their illegal remodels which left every single room that they touched unsafe for the public to stay in...every single room! And adding insult to injury Harrah's also exposed tens of thousands of their construction workers, hotel employees and hotel guests to ASBESTOS, a known carcinogenic...INTENTIONALLY! Harrah's knew that the ASBESTOS was present, they knew the law but they decided that they were above the law and knew that the Agencies in place to protect such things from happening were in their pocket. Who gave Harrah's the keys to our city? When did it become okay for the largest Gaming Company in the World to intentionally provide "public fire safety traps" for their Guests to stay in and their employees to work in? It is not okay that Harrah's decided to poison me, my fellow workers and hotel Guests. ASBESTOS causes DEATH, not immediate death nor death tomorrow but Death years later none-the-less. Harrah's took a cold blooded calculated risk with our lives for their bottom line. They have had plenty of help trying to cover up their dirty little secrets from Government Agencies at all levels and Public Officials. Las Vegas does not stand a chance to survive if the CORRUPTION that has a strangle hold on it is not broken up for good! You can't tell me that it is not a crime for the largest Gaming Company to have knowingly & willfully provided unsafe rooms for the public and to have exposed all of us to a known carcinogenic again & again & again. All involved in this mess should be held accountable to the full extent of the law.
Hey markey I see you took a shot at Angle,I think you should just sit back and see what Harry is doing for you.I think its called amnesty,I am sure that will create a lot of jobs for Vegas.
I can appeciate optimizm but reality and history should remind us things can get much worst. As I have said since 55% of the morons in the state voted for Reid. I hope you all have a great stable and high paying jobs. Otherwise you deserved to have your Reided-unemployment checks cut(he let you have it for one more week after elections). At least Sharron Angle would have had no power. So stop your whining and take action!
You all deserve what you get, First the Country Elects a socialist/Marxist for president,then you in Nevada have a chance to change the way DC is doing business, and you put one(Reid) who has helped put us in such a bad position, right back so he can do more damage!! Nice going guys!
Some wise man said," When you're on the bottom, there's only one way and that is up.
My mother told me to never think it cant get any worse, because it always can, particularly when you sit on you duff and whine about how bad things are.
Just remember that things will eventually get better if you have faith and the courage not to give up on yourself...