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A man hands out cards advertising outcall “entertainers” on the Las Vegas Strip Sunday July 24, 2011.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011 | 2 a.m.
Strip disorder
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KSNV coverage of peddlers and performers on the Las Vegas Strip. Discussion with Las Vegas Sun reporter Joe Schoenmann, July 26, 2011.
Sun Archives
Concerns have escalated in corner offices up and down the Strip about smut peddlers and the X-rated litter their leaflets create along Las Vegas Boulevard as well as the proliferation of homeless people, costumed performers and unlicensed vendors.
One casino executive Tuesday called it a crisis that’s tarnishing the Strip’s image as a safe and fun place for tourists and is threatening the state’s economic engine.
“Our failure to enact comprehensive solutions in a reasonable manner is jeopardizing the image of Las Vegas,” said Jan Jones, senior vice president of communications and government relations at Caesars Entertainment. “It’s reached the point that there’s a dangerous perception of our city.”
Jones’ comments come amid suggestions by Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak to create a tax district to generate money for additional police officers on the Strip. Besides nuisance concerns, the Strip is the site of three much-publicized deaths recently — two from stabbings, one from a punch.
Resort representatives say they have long expressed concerns to county commissioners about various nuisances — handbillers of sexual entertainment in particular. Little progress has been made, however, with some critics saying the county has pursued expensive and fruitless court battles.
In 2007, a federal judge declared unconstitutional a county ordinance preventing commercial leafleting on the Strip — a law aimed at X-rated material. It’s one of multiple First Amendment victories for Strip handbillers even as resort operators field complaints from tourists about card-sized ads for erotic entertainers that often end up on sidewalks or in gutters.
County officials and Metro Police have acknowledged that recent case law protects the free-speech right of street performers to perform for tips without a business license, said Allen Lichtenstein, general counsel of ACLU of Nevada.
The ACLU has successfully argued on behalf of leafleteers, street performers and activists on the Strip and downtown over the years. There’s room for compromise, although county officials have historically been unwilling to pursue other options outside of court, Lichtenstein said.
That may be changing, however.
Sheriff Doug Gillespie recently initiated meetings with Metro Police, handbillers and the ACLU to address complaints about aggressive handbillers who tend to clump in certain areas of the Strip, obstructing pedestrian traffic “so people feel like they’re running a gauntlet,” Lichtenstein said. One proposed solution would require that handbillers are widely disbursed along the Strip and not gathering in a particular place, he said.
“I would like to see representatives of the hotels also involved in these discussions so everyone could work together to protect First Amendment rights while relieving ancillary problems that go on with such activities, like the litter on the sidewalks,” he said.
Sisolak has proposed forming a committee of resort owners, county and immigration officials and Metro Police to address growing nuisance and safety concerns.
Jones said her company hopes to continue long-standing discussions with the ACLU and the county to find a compromise solution like other tourist cities have done with ordinances that limit where and when performers and leafleteers can operate. Caesars is also open to discussion about paying for an enhanced police force to enforce such an ordinance.
Honolulu is among multiple cities that have lessened such nuisances while also protecting free-speech rights, Jones said.
After years spent discussing the problem, the Nevada Resort Association, which represents many of the major hotels along the Strip, is also hopeful.
“Any solution is going to take a coordinated effort with the property owners, the county, the district attorney, the sheriff, the ACLU and the handbillers and will take a commitment of resources for both maintenance and enforcement and possibly even some improvement projects to ... protect unobstructed pathways and aid in enforcement,” resort association President Virginia Valentine said.
Rather than spending money for more police officers, the hotels should first seek an accounting of room tax money earmarked annually for Strip improvements, an amount that totaled $34 million last year, said Las Vegas political and marketing consultant Billy Vassiliadis, CEO of R&R Partners. Budget cuts may have hurt efforts by maintenance crews to clean the Strip, for example, he said.
“These problems have gotten worse, and there’s more riding on the success of tourism now. The folks on the Strip are eager to participate in discussions with policymakers.”
Donate the sidewalk areas in front of each of the hotels to each particular hotel and leave them responsible for dealing with these handbillers. It would then be private property and with private property it is much easier to deal with this situation. Private property owners dont need a reason to ask you to leave their property.
"It's reached the point that there's a dangerous perception of our city."
The reality below has finally surfaced as the perception of the same. The image of a rotting pier can't be changed until the splintered pilings and boardwalk have been replaced.
DO NOT GIVE PANHANDLERS YOUR MONEY! They use your chairitable contributions to get drunk out of their minds, then call an ambulance (you, the chairatble taxpayer gets stuck with this bill), which takes them to an ER where they sleep it off for the rest of the evening and often rack up expensive tests(you, the taxpayer picks up this bill as well). My latest homeless panhandling patient admitted that yes, she will spend it all on booze! Stop enabling them. Give your hard earned money to an organization that will at least try to get these people sober.
To get around the First Amendment issues regarding public sidewalks, freedom of speech and porn flippers in Clark County; could the County legally sell the sidewalk frontage to the various resorts all the way to the street curb and make the sidewalks private property? That way, private property rights do not have the same First Amendment rights as public sidewalks. Could this change lower the amount of those porn card flippers and other ilk that inhabit the sidewalks? Might he same be said for the overhead bridges along the Strip? At least if the sidewalks were private resort property, the owners would pick up the trash and wash down the walkways from time to time.
Happyperson,
Even if it were legally possible to sell the sidewalk frontage (and they can't), it would be a legal quagmire for Clark County.
Maybe the best place to start would be enforcing present laws.
Start fining the people selling water, soda, beer, purses, sunglasses, etc. It started with the water sellers, when they found they could get away with it the rest followed.
Have the IRS check into the posers, I doubt they are paying taxes on their earnings.
There has got to be something on the books for littering, if the pornslapper drops or the tourist drops it they get fined.
Put up signs informing people what the panhandlers are doing with the money. If you educate the people they won't be so willing to help the people get drunk and high.
It doesn't matter what laws you have if they aren't being enforced.
Its really getting to be a hassle to walk down the strip and its getting to the point my wife doesn't like to leave the hotel at night.
Technology exists to help clean this up. For nearly 2 years we've been working to promote and distribute mobile coupons here in Las Vegas. It's just a matter of time before our mobile ecosystem defeats this clutter. By going mobile businesses on the strip like attractions, tours, restaurants and night clubs can virtually eliminate this problem, save money, advertise better, make a better experience for tourists and greatly reduce the amount of printed clutter that gets tossed to the gutter.
When you go after low-hanging fruit type guests, ones who have not the money for anything but roaming around on foot gawking, you are going to create the sidewalk circus you see.
Got to enforce the laws. Clickers? littering and legal status issues. Water people? vendor licenses. Same goes for the costume people. Bums? loitering. Religious people? noise illegal use of signs.
Seems to me 25 cops on foot enforcing these laws could have this cleaned up in a weekend. Course with a Police force not trained or interested in doing actual Police work don't hold your breath.
If its a business soliciting to make money, then a Pedddlers liscense should be required. Why is it that only Las Vegas cannot solve this problem? Where are our brain dead news departments asking politicians hard questions, instead of just standing in front of something telling us of what happened days ago, that we already know, no thanks to them.
The article states that Honolulu has worked to minimize this problem. That is *not* the case.
Honolulu's sidewalks after dark are as much of a circus as Las Vegas's. Groups of characters and performers blocking the sidewalk, hassling tourists for tips, etc. Like Las Vegas, attempts to resolve this problem have run into free speech issues.
Perhaps some type of anti-loitering law, although those as well need to be carefully written in order to withstand the inevitable court challenge from the ACLU.
The problem with the water peddlers is that they can rightfully claim they are not in business. It is not illegal for two private citizens on the Strip to agree to buy/sell a water.
That is the crux of the legal argument. It is proving the person is running a business without a license. Even then it is a ticket, not an arrestable offense. It would require County officials and/or police to observe multiple transactions to issue a citation.
In this scenario we end up paying police/county several thousand dollars to collect a few hundred bucks in citations.
The same problem has existed on Malibu Beach in California for years. They have legal vendors, who pay a fee but the peddlers selling CD's, charity and water are still there. The officials do a sweep every few weeks, but they disappear for a day or two and return. The problem is the resources aren't there.
Nevada's anti-loitering law was tossed out a few years ago, from what I understand.
For the handbillers, arrest one or two for NRS 201.320, (Living from earnings of prostitute) and I am sure the problem would sort itself out. But let's be honest, the handbills are about on par with some of the racy club/pool bus sized billboards that litter the city.
For the Water vendors I am sure there has to be a health license doesn't there?
ROFL!
Youre just figuring out now that this is an eyesore?
What a joke
peace out
"tarnishing the Strip's image as a safe and fun place for tourists and is threatening the state's economic engine"
I never had felt unsafe walking the strip until the past few months where the strip has become a mess. Maybe a solution could be for the casinos to place fliers in their rooms suggesting visitors NOT to purchase water from street vendors, buy club passes, take pictures and tip characters, etc...
Whatever can be done by local authorities or casinos to clean up the streets would be greatly appreciated by tourists like myself. Informing tourists of what they can do to assist with the problem could be beneficial as well.
Part of the charm of Vegas. Some of the performers are quite good, some not..but they're being creative and probably lessoning the burden of the "public dole". Maybe if you see it every day it becomes a little obnoxious but to tourists, like me, it's interesting.
Casino's want even the last penny, huh?
As far as the little Mexicans flicking their cards: A little obnoxious but also amusing. They don't invade your space.
Never have felt nervous walking the stip...that's the important part.
Law enforcement everyday drive by hundreds of illegal day laborers and DO NOTHING
You honestly think they are going to check the water peddlers for tax status,or even alert the irs or similar agencies
get real people!
peace out
this city has become a product of its environment and inhabitants,and you are never going to get around that
Do I have an answer? NO but some of these so called solutions posted at times are quite comical
Sell the sidewalk to each individual casino ROFL!
Who comes up with this stuff?
Heres what you do you work,you come home,you eat,you watch some tv,you sleep,repeat
weekends same as above,but run a few errands,dinner/movie,etc,repeat
And heres the KEY thing you do.Are you ready?
You wait about 15 years from now,when your house will finally be above water,and sell it,break even,then you retire with no social security,because the govt has secretly already spent that,pensions will be depleted,no appreciation,401k you have borrowed against to keep head above water,so that is futile
above doesnt pertain to everyone,i understand but it does apply to about 75% of residents in this town
have a good weekend
peace out
These peddlers make America look like a joke.
People from all over the world come here and its their first experience in America - They laugh at how weak America is that it cant prevent these illegals from handing out hooker cards. Whats next, chick-lets?
In regards to the performers, they REQUIRE a tip otherwise will not do anything for you, therefor it's not a TIP its a cost of service, requiring business license and TAX. Is the law that stupid?
I cant wait till the day I walk down the strip and one of these clowns gives a card to one of kids, I'll throw him/her in traffic.
The Billboard trucks operate in a legal environment which is suppose to ban commercial trucks from the Strip corridor. Course with enough political pressure from a "job creator" (Letizia et al), the idiots running this County bow down and simply ignore the Laws. Course the whole Job Creator deal is yet another of their manufacturede labels they place upon themselves.
Here's a Sun article http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/apr...
Letizia used a typical poly, claim your operation is "professional" and your competitor's is shabby. Ignoring of course the point which is all of it is illegal, good looking or not. Once these people define the issue, they control it.
This mess can be traced directly to when they allowed these rolling BB on the Strip. Before that we had the clickers and a few hawking nightclub passes, easily controlled. Now it is a circus.
If they are selling anything on the side walks, they need a license..have the undercover cops target each one of them, write a ticket and keep writing them until they get the hint..as for the smut peddlers - do what Steve Wynn did !!!!
These are the first intellegent words or comments I have heard from Jan Jones in 20 years.
Living in Clark County Commission District A, I was suspicious of Steve Sisolak's political and personal agenda. Over the past three months, however, Sisolak's concerns and progress in and about District A and Las Vegas have made me a huge supporter. Since Sisolak is involved now, I believe there will be much discussion, visabilty of the issue and something will be done.
Dear Caesars Entertainment, Here's an easy solution. Offer all of your guests a penny for every porno card they turn in. They will collect this trash and you can throw it away. If thousands of people collected 20 or more cards I suspect the porno kings would get tired of the printing expense being wasted. I would gladly collect a hundred or so an hour, just to throw them in the trash before I entered Harrahs---Yeah, and label those trash cans specifically for this use.
"One casino executive Tuesday called it a crisis that's tarnishing the Strip's image as a safe and fun place for tourists and is threatening the state's economic engine"
What? No mention of all the stabbings?
Deport one illegal porn-slapper and that SHOULD be the start of the solution.... deport another and another until they get the point - you deal in smut, you illegal, you gone....
Here's another idea - if the smut peddlers are getting paid, say, $50 bucks a shift to stand out there the casino operators should give them $100 to go away..... not a bad gig - just show up and leave and you're $150.00 richer. The trick is to make sure your porn-boss doesn't know you walked off the job.
I semi agree with sevenhills comment.
The Las Vegas Strip is an international attraction, people do step on American soil for the first time in the state of Nevada. But I seriously doubt that people who have the means to fly to this country are ignorant enough to measure the entire USA based on what they see at The Strip lol
Anyway, there is a problem at the strip and the people who will be most affected by it in the long run will be the Las Vegas residents as the organ that keeps their city alive has what seems to be an inoperable cancer.
Part of the "charm" of vegas? Make eye contact with the wrong tourist and get stabbed or punched. What quaint Americana. Nevadans want a giant slum and they got it.
first of all, the root of the escort card problem is that the government will not acknowledge that this is Prostitution.
if you start there, you will find that the solution will be logical, instead of trying to figure out how to outplay, outwit, and outlast the card flipping gophers that work for the pimps.
The last time I visited Las Vegas I spent some time on Fremont Street. There were several people dressed up as famous entertainers taking pictures with the tourists and all seemed to be having fun. I don't see the problem? I also didn't see any folks handing out the smut cards anywhere. On the Strip I had to walk through the gauntlet of folks handing out the cards. That seemed like a bit of overkill on their part. I have more fun on Fremont Street. Maybe it's because the Street is quite wide and doesn't have any vehicle traffic. On the Strip you are forced to walk on narrow sidewalks with a hugh amount of people crowded together. Even without the "entertainers" it's not fun.
The people in costume aren't the big problem, it's the people handing out the porn flyers that get littered all over the place. The "entertainer" card and flyers have to go. Of course we would have solved that problem if not for the ACLU fighting for the smut peddlers. If they were handing that stuff out over by strip clubs I wouldn't have as much of a problem but not on the Strip where people have no chance to avoid that stuff if they walk on the Strip.
Greed bag casinos, you don't own the street or sidewalk.
Time to outlaw "markers" why should the government collect casino debts?
Just like a commie(post above) to blame the casinos. This street vermin needs to be eradicated.
While I enjoy going from casino to casino on The Strip while in town, I do not enjoy the peddlers of all sorts preventing me from going to do the thing I came to do, try my luck gambling. Porn dealers hand out the cards people leave on the ground, which is bad for the environment. Homeless and other types begging for money I am sure is used to tip cocktail waitresses in casinos to drink. How refreshing was it when I walked all the way from Stratosphere to Gold Coast with not one interruption to my stride after finishing up at 5am from a night out. No porn, no impersonators, no slow tourists that like to walk in groups across the whole sidewalk. Only the street cleaners were around and the porn cards cleaned up. It's not up to me but if I were Vegas' mayor or city council, I would figure out a way to make this type of practices illegal unless special permissions were allowed.
Why don't the Resorts buy the sidewalks from the County and make them private? County could sell them for a small price, resorts could manage them and repair as necessary. Least they would "be private property" and the the hotels could ban who they wanted to.
In town a long time and a recent walk on the Strip while playing tourist, it's disgusting at all the rift raft. Heck, it's inside the resorts too.
Just some thoughts.
Hey it's a free country, let people do what they want! The Strip is the crossroads of the world, let people have FUN! What I would do though is station Metro on every block on the STrip just like they do on New Year's Eve and have the casinos pay for it!
A better idea than fighting the ACLU over the people trying to make a few bucks on the strip would be to designate areas where there is a lot of room and require the porn peddlers and other 'business people' to stay inside the barriers at those locations.
It shouldn't be that difficult to write a law to keep people from creating narrow areas that MIGHT force innocent tourists from getting crowded into the street to get past.
The street people are a fact of life in LV and while I find them annoying at times I'll take them over the kiosk people who ambush you at every casino enterance.
There should be designated zoning enacted for commerce and cite anyone who attempts to circumvent this with impeding the flow of traffic on the public thoroughfare. Just like in Disneyland, they rope off an area where you can loiter during a parade and they proceed to move everyone along who wants to stand. Everyone needs to be permitted, specifically the handbillers and fined egregiously for littering. When they see a leaflet on the ground, they must all have a number to call to have it cleaned up within an hour. When it starts hurting monetarily, they'll police their own practices to ensure that they can stay viable.
Vegasdealer1,
It would be nigh on impossible to sell sidewalks to resorts. This is called 'easement'. An easement is a certain right to use the real property of another without possessing it.
Easements is a long established law, helpful for providing pathways across two or more pieces of property.
People this idea is a non-starter. The sidewalks on the Strip have a long history of public right of way which cannot be easily changed.
cbperl,
Disney is private property, the business can dictate whatever rules it wants. The County cannot pass those laws, if it did they would face years of litigation and law suits.
Did you read the article where they discuss county attempts have already failed in respect to this?
@bldblu.."You honestly think they are going to check the water peddlers for tax status,or even alert the irs or similar agencies" No, they are just going to arrest them. On Sunday night alone, Metro ARRESTED and transported at least 15 people for "selling water" on the Strip ped. bridges.
All were later given "O.R." releases, but not before these police activities were recorded for use on the tv shows "Las Vegas Jail" and "Las Vegas Strip."
While DougieG's water mafia is out in force, he sits at home and collects campaign contributions from the producers of several reality shows. All the while this pay for access scheme us underway, he has convinced the public that the real criminal is the guy in a "Hello Kitty Costume."
Could the smut peddlers be contained to certain areas, where they were free to stand, but not get out of their box and bother people?
And why don't we tell people when they get off the planes that prostitution is not legal in this county? I can't tell you the number of people I know that come here and argue with me that protitution is legal here in the Vegas area.
@sevenhills, you sound like you have never left wherever it is you come from.
Have you ever been to New York City? London? You should see the craziness that goes on there. The peddlers and transients there make Vegas seem quite charming.
Why not pass a law that the handbillers are responsible for the trash they create?
How about the county rent the sidewalks to the casinos, then its PRIVATE property, and the casinos could remove unwanted people ?
I try to avoid all of the Clickers, just don't accept the hand outs. Also if you do decide to make them have a License, make them have a Current Photo on it so, they cannot duplicate it with a Friend, also Have them Submit to a Police Report, that shouldn't cost over $ 25.00. Then charge them a Fee to get the License Notarized Then send me a Fee since, it might help taxes in your area.With this little Fee I can visit Las Vegas, instead of reading Las Vegas Sun News on the internet
Wow I read a whole lot of posts on this and it seems that most comments are in favor of a solution to either curb or end these practise's And I would have to agree with some I read yesterday a post about calling the numbers on the porn cards and when they show up and they seal the deal that they are selling sex then arrest them collect a fine and use that money for other officers until the ladies of the evening figure this out and they will. Then there was the post by
JimmyKnows that seemed to touch on making it cost preventive for the promoters and it seems to be a start that could be built on for example He (JIMMYKNOWS) Suggested that Caesars Entertainment pay Their guest a penny for every pamphlet that they collect.... This could be built upon like not restricting this to guest but to any one and if the person bringing it in must give action on that amount at least 1 time, ie. If they the collector brings in say $3.00 worth they can play that on 1 hand of blackjack and if they win they can take that and there winnings. Or a spin in the slots The casino marketing could really run with this as long as they didn't become the thing they are trying to prevent.
Could you imagine that at the end of the day if all of those cards weren't handed out that they would bring them in there for a chance to win (keeping in mind that it's supposed to cost the guy buying these pamphlets more to produce). And someone could actually start with $3.00 and parlay that to a $100.00 or more.
All in all it's the cost prohibitive approach that will win this battle no reason for any law suits from the handbillers or the ACLU what would there claim be unfair business practices from a person who has not get a business lic.
Keep your eye on the prize.
@BobbyG
Where you been I haven't seen a post from you in some time, I hope all is good with you.
1. Charge a 6 month license fee ( to make sure these people are NOT illegals or felons) to partake in any costume/entertainment ( mimes, singers ect..) on the strip.
2. CITY enforce casinos ( that have bridges to their casino) pay for 2 private security guards on each end of the pass over bridges. SO NO PAN HANDLERS CAN BE ON THEM.
3. CITY makes casinos add lights to each bridge.
4. CITY offer a incentive to bally`s/Caesars Ent. for giving up that fairway in front of ballys to people that want to be in costumes. Make that the area for picture taking and performers. lots of room. also on the monte carlo front. be fair to both sides.
5.let small business have costume characters. ( like the la salsa does at M&M with the 2 Michael Jacksons).
6. During the hours the adult slappers are out on the strip working, the CITY force the owners of the business (that hire these workers) to employee 1 street sweeper per group. This will keep the streets clean of these cards.
7. CITY NEEDS MORE UNDER COVER COPS...I see every weekend 3 card monte...that is a big NO NO. right next to PH during the day.
8. CITY give MGM some kind of break on the property between bellagio and jockey club...make it a small park, it has trees and would be a great rest spot. and have it open at 7am close at midnight and gate it.
9. CITY work with the casinos and ADD A RAIL TO THE WHOLE STRIP/BOTH SIDES it is so dangerous when the sidewalks are packed, one bump and your in traffic.
10. City require city center to build a cross walk on the south west corner of the front of CC.to go to harley davidson cafe corner... too many people J walk there instead of going around the whole CC walk. Just to get to harley davison, mc donalds fat burger ect from CC...
11. CITY force taxi cab authority to add street workers to ticket side road illegal pick ups and waiting, causing back ups.
12. water vendors are welcome, but have a 8pm curfew. AND CAN BUY A MONTHLY VENDORS PASS to sell for 1 month in select areas. CITY approved. only so many licenses per month, first come, first in, and you must have a current NV DL.
13. Allow casino/police to stop squatters from sitting for a prolong time on planters or curb areas.
14. CITY add benches...co pay with casinos to add them.
JUST A FEW IDEAS i have that i would like to see. I am a strip lover every day/weekend staying at all the casinos AND gambling as often as I am home. And I LIVE AT turnberry but still choose to go there and enjoy.
it`s safe but it could use some improvements.
I was in Las Vegas last October & was appalled by up to 6 handbillers in some areas literally blocking the sidewalks & shoving their cards in everyones face & the trashing of the streets with discarded handbills. Doesn't this constitute harassment and littering. It's a shame that these people are allowed to degrade and trash an otherwise beautiful city.
If you can make strippers get a license, and they have, then you can make these damn no goods get one too.
Grow some balls people.
And send ICE down there. That should scare 90% of these sh@t bags away. And yes, I am referring to who you think I am.
as a regular vegas visitor who has walked the strip at all hours all times of the year, i think the biggest change to visitor security is actually the gang/thug life that seems more prevelant than ever.
the porn slappers are harmless, i think they are just easy targets for people who want to complain, if you are offended by the message, then maybe you shouldnt be in vegas, if you dont want your kids to be exposed to the "smut" maybe you shouldnt bring them to vegas, it is after all "sin city". i dont think tourist really care about the litter, since when has a tourist ever really cared about another cities litter. ive never encounted an agressive porn slapper anyway! just ignore them, problem solved, if no one took the cards, they would not end up on the ground..and dont tell me that people take them then realize, "oh my gosh, i have nasty porn in my hands, i must throw it down" give me a break, if you dont take it it wont end up on the street..
street entertainers...they add a little color to the vegas strip...just dont pose with them and take pictures, ive never had one of them ever say anything offensive to me...and if you do take pictures of them then maybe they deserve a dollar.
water sellers...sometimes water is a good thing, it can get real hot on the strip! SO YOU WANT TO LICENSE (tax them) what do you think they do with the money they make selling water...they spend it in vegas, in business that pay taxes on the money they get from these water selling people...give me a break, i bet hundreds of dollars a day (wow) gets spent on water...
the homless people on the bridges, now this is actually sad...most of these people are either drug addicted of mentally ill, if no one ever gave them money they would leave...how many bridges are on the strip..15 or so, put a officer each bridge, keep it safe. because what you really need to worry about on the bridges are the gang members, they are easy to spot...this is who should be targeted...
the hookers...harmless, really, are they going to hold you down and roll you, some of they are actually attractive, but if you dont want company they are not going to give you the time of day, and if you do decide to do a little business with them, then maybe you should pay them...if you took all the working girls out of the casinos and clubs at night, you just may have a pork fest...now that wouldnt be much fun...and i must admit it makes me feel kinda good when a hot 20 year old says hi to me at 4 in the morning...even if for just a minute...once again, no transaction equals no problem...
maybe the casinos arnt really concerned because they know all of the above, but cant say it because thats not being a good corporate citizen.
put a strong police force on the strip to focus on the drug dealers, pimps, and gang members...keep the strip safe, thats whats needed...it is after all las vegas! if you dont like it then go somewhere else.
@jaymes4u..no one says we don`t love our home (VEGAS)..we just think rules/laws should be set/followed to prevent illegals from working the strip. What is the big deal about making them pay a license fee and be legit??
black/white/asian/mexican it does not matter to me the color as much as the laws and what would help the city by stopping bad people from doing things that are against the law. I never touched on hookers because I agree with you, no harm no foul.
Lights on the bridges and as I said personal security guards on each end of the bridges. NEVER said metro.
LOOK we both have passion for the city, I just think a few things would really help all of us.
The 'slappers' are all legal I guarantee it, precisely because they are so visible. No one has been stabbed on the strip because of a busker or 'slapper' - those were all gang related activities. I've yet to hear of anyone being attacked by someone dressed up as Zorro.
This is the only city in US with porn slappers. No other city has escort services handing out flyers.
Why aren't these creatures on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. What is the law on the books that permits these escort services to operate. Here is the reason they exist. You can put the blame on Sheriff's Moran and Keller. Back in the early eighties prostitutes lined the Las Vegas Strip and casino bars. For the most part they were discrete. They were a little aggressive in front of a few Strip properties. There were escort services too that advertised in the Yellow Pages. Most of the visitors didn't get hassled because the girls were few in number during the day and early evening. So what happened. Sheriff Moran tried to use his moral authority to clean up the Las Vegas Strip. Keller the same. Running sweeps and stings until he drove the remaining girls to the escort services. The demand for women still existed so the services flourished. Now to promote their businesses the Strips is loaded with bums and fleas who give out cards. Are you happy Las Vegas!
Now almost all vistors to Las Vegas are hassled and the Strip has become a nightmare. Reno doesn't have this problem because legalized prostituion is so close. Moran and Keller were responsible for the mess that exists today.
This article is hilarious--if the authorities want to clean up the strip, they should get rid of firemen soliciting for muscular dystrophy while they are on the clock. That's just as offensive as porn-sellers, who are actually trying to earn a living.
A poster above was right..Virginia Beach charges the person giving out flyers with littering if someone drops one on the ground. (They also outlawed bad language). Vegas should check with them but I wouldn't take all their idea's. Virginia Beach is as fun as an empty Disneyland set and is a blessing for NC beaches.
The water sellers provide a service and usually will announce the high temp for the day..it's a win-win situation!
Other posters are right...you should steam clean the sidewalks..they are a little "sticky".
The most annoying thing to me is constantly being zig-zagged across the street (105 degrees out) usually into some high-falutin' store [maybe I'll drop $500 on some impulse buy {equivalent of "Would you like cheese with that?" NO, I'm just taking a walk!)].
Spend more money on education and anti-gang, anti-drug enforcement...These are stickier problems and could blight LV's public image more than water sellers and street entertainers.
I am not defending these guys since I have had too many of them try to hand me this stuff, but it is NOT "X-rated". It is R-rated, and some is even PG-13.
"X-rated" means penetration, and not one of the cards they hand out rises to that standard.
Send the I C E Agents out there in full force - arrest a few and watch the rest scatter. I like the idea of fining the companies that are hiring these illegals too - great idea!
Who owns the sidewalks directly in front of the casinos? If it is the casinos, the answer is simple...it would be private property and subject to the private owner. They would be able to have them removed. If they really cared.
Enough already from the "more enforcement" crowd. Do you realize how much a cop costs to put on the street? Do you realize that cops actually have to deal with felonious crimes, and that they have emergency response duties? Do you really have any idea how many minor citations already get processed by the lower courts each day?
On the flip side, more enforcement of petty crimes against people congregating in public places amounts to harrassment by the government, and yes, an abridgement of free-speech rights. The courts have said so again and again. So stop dragging the ACLU into this and start looking for outside the box solutions.
In many European cities they've developed transportation plans for the areas that we call "sidewalks." They actually consider pedestrians and bicyclists part of the transportation system (technically we do too, but it's lip service mostly).
In Amsterdam, for example, their sidewalks have separate areas lined out for pedestrians and bicyclists. When you're strolling along you better be paying attention to where you are. Amsterdam also has many public spaces like the Dam Platz, where people hang out without being harrassed.
The cynical part of me thinks that this recent attention to the street activity has something to do with the new mall that Caesars will be trying to get approved by the County. My guess is that county planners are already asking Caesars for things that Caesars doesn't want to provide, like open areas, benches, and other public amenities.
@par....Renting the sidewalks is not possible, as the county would then be entering into an agreement in which the free travel of a publicly funded walkway could be eliminated. The Casinos could construct impediments forcing people into their establishment. And since the rental agreements would have to be open to the highest bidder, MGM Properties could conceivably rent the sidewalk in front of a Caesar's property and not allow people to enter those establishments. It's a ludicrous idea.
And since the Supreme Court ruled over a century ago that the equal protection clause of the 16th Amendment extends to illegals and felons then their 1st Amendment rights can't be taken away as VegasSays suggests. But then VegasSays has absolutely no idea about his local government works as the CITY has no authority over anything that happens along LVBLVD south of Sahara.
As others have mentioned, if no one accepts an escort card, then the practice will cease to be profitable. If no one payed a costumed character to have a picture, they wouldn't keep showing up. If no one bought water or offered handouts to the panhandlers they would disappear.
Since so many people participate in these activities they will stick around. While I have been actively harassed by timeshare salesmen and club "promoters," I have never been accosted on the Strip by any of the amateur performers, and have never had an escort card forced into my hand. The tourists who freely take the cards before tossing them on the ground are the ones littering and showing no respect for our community.
But so many people seem to think it's okay to hold the slappers responsible for the illegal activities the litterers and prostitutes. Somehow, I doubt there would be this much outrage if the slappers were a lighter shade of pale.
I doubt sevenhills has even been out of clark county from reading some of his posts.
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@nickeljuice....I am curious, exactly what diseases are spread through the exchange of a small card? or standing next to a guy dressed as batman. Have you any knowledge of any actual outbreak from these people.
The issuing of work cards was mandated originally ensure the integrity of gambling operations, but soon the number of jobs requiring them have expanded to include nearly every position in an around a casino.
Recently the County Commission has scaled back the number of positions that require cards to jobs that are entrusted with access to gaming funds, private homes and to those we entrust out children.
Porn slappers and costumed characters don't meet that standard. I'll just let your idea of requiring "work" cards for panhandlers rest on its own absurdity.
The problem with most of your suggestions (if not all) is that there is no way to legislate it due to the fact that it is public access. Some of the sidewalks are owned by the Casinos. Not all are and these Casino owners and the owners before them have tried to get rid of the problem in the past to no avail. The problem is indeed those smut peddlers and no one else. They are illegal and must be dealt with in that way. To say that individuals are not allowed to gather on public access is wrong to say the least.
The laws in place right now are adequate to take care of the problem but if you say that people are not allowed to gather in public areas for peaceful reasons you run into a problem. Out land is ruled by the Constitution with the Bill of Rights. I know there have been three deaths on the Las Vegas Strip but you are not in danger if you are not of that element that attract to and gravitate scum you have no worries.
The Casinos are just whining about street performers getting those dollars and not them so someone just needs to call the whambulance for them instead of infringing on the rights of humans for the security. You are more likely to be struck by lightning or bee stung by a bee then have to worry about violence on the bright Las Vegas Boulevard. The connection that is being made with street performers, smut handlers etc.. is to say that it attracts the bad type of tourists but think about what the City promotes.. 'Sin' - so what do you expect. Also the motto 'What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas' that's stupid - the only thing that will stay in Vegas is your money. The problem is not these street people but the greedy businesses that fuel the behavior in the first place.
If you don't believe what I just stated then you might as well take advice from Carl Guilford.
Maybe someone knows the answer to this question. Why can't the City,Unions,and Hotels enter into an agreement that would allow only City or Casino events and Union strikes?
What the hell is going on in Vegas lately? I used to live there in the late '90's- until around 2005. There was never any of this crap going on then!! The Metro Police were EVERYWHERE!! You couldn't get away with bad behavior at all on the Strip. It seems to me ever since they built City Center, things haven't been the same. The cops need to increase their presence, and not allow the obvious criminal element on the strip. I'm not talking about the handbill smut peddlers... they have always been there, or the street performers or water vendors either... although a designated area for them to hang out in like Grand Central Station in New York or Balboa Park in San Diego isn't a bad alternative. No, I'm talking about the very obvious gangbangers and thugs that have taken over the strip at night. They intimidate tourists and are generally up to no good from the time they walk onto the strip until the time they decide to leave. I consider myself a very decent gambler and love to travel out to Vegas about 3 or 4 times a year. When I do I wager big and may not be a "Whale" of any kind but definitely in the category of a "High Roller". I am considering limiting my business to my local Casinos in Connecticut, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun until this issue of feeling safe on the Vegas Strip again can be addressed.And it better be soon... a lot of my fellow High Rollers are feeling the same way.
"recent case law protects the free-speech right of street performers"
My Uncle - a Trial Judge, and Attorney-at-law, also believes ( as I do) that "Free-Speech" is a 1st Amendment protected right.
HOWEVER, he also says that he DOES NOT believe that such "Speech" is ACTIONABLE. That means that the "handbillers" et al, can say what they want to say - verbally - but cannot, by their ACTIONS violate law, obstruct pedistrian pathways, or in anyway obstruct, intimdate, or accost a passer-by.
Further, it would be a violation of law for such "handbillers" to occupy physical space on the sidewalk in front of a store (business) if they were promoting another "business" (such as sex for sale), to the detriment of the business that they are standing in front of.
Such loitering would have the (unintended?) consequence of blocking the view of the business by passers-by; while presenting harm to the business in the form of interference with unfettered access, promotion, and the conduct of business. THIS would degrade and causing HARM to the business, and to the profit earnings that would be otherwise be available if the conduct of the owner's business was unimpeded.
Bsiness owners (stores, hotels, casinos, et al, lose customers due to the intimidating presence of "handbillers" - who, literally, confront passers-by. Such actions are perceived by tourists as a threat to their security. Thus, they might avoid that section of the sidewalk - or the entire street - and thus the business businesses where the "handbillers" are present - and typically in large numbers.
I thought Clark County gave OWNERSHIP of the sidewalks in front of each hotel and casino - to the hotels in the late 1990's. The intention was to make the sidewalk "private property" that the Hotel Security Guards could "police" the property - because they owned it. I don't know what happenend to that but it appears it didn't work as intended.
However, it is obvious that something has to be done to protect the RIGHTS and SAFETY of tourists walking on Las Vegas sidewalks, and also protect the rights of business owners who are LICENSED - and trying to make a living. They have paide license fees and taxes to do so.
WHERE ARE THEIR RIGHTS WHEN ACTIONS PRECLUDE THEIR ABILITY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS?