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MORE “Government shouldn’t do it all, we should facilitate it. We should be good listeners.” Has Las Vegas being promoted as an adult destination FROM PAGE 25 States and then hopefully in the world. Should Las Vegas continue to be promoted as an adult playground or should the mayor be talking more about the other assets of the city? Las Vegas is both [an adult destination and a community with families] and I think we can be both. The entertainment capital of the world—we need to do all we can to continue promoting that. That’s what people pay their room tax for and it’s really the convention authority and the hotels doing that and we should support that and limit that to some extent. Part of my platform is building a community a neighborhood at a time. Let’s not forget the people who live here, their families and their businesses. Not all businesses want to locate here because there’s the “adult Disneyland’’ approach—they want to know what the climate is, what the education is. They ask, “Do I have housing? Do I have parks? Amenities?’’ Unfortunately part of what’s missing is we don’t have the Wet and Wild or the miniature golf courses and things that both tourists and families can use. There’s been discussion about downtown having more of an adult character or even being a red light district. Does any of that make sense? No. Las Vegas is an “adult Disneyland,’’ as I refer to it. Everybody assumes prostitution’s legal—it’s not. It’s a non-starter. You actually have to have the Legislature change the state law for a red light district, not only in Southern Nevada but in Washoe County (Reno), and that’s not going to happen. And it shouldn’t. We have other things that we can promote. Do we have an issue with the sex industry? Yes. But people do a wink and a nod in this community unfortunately and you have a lot of kids being trafficked. So let’s face that issue. OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE at the Kingman State Prison in Golden Valley, AZ! Health Services Administrator NEW MANAGEMENT Great opportunity for RN with Supv/mgmnt experience! Apply online at www.correctioncare.com or send resume/questions to recruiting@correctioncare.com (866) 670-3331 Ext. 624 30 EOE Life is composed of: 1/10th Family, 1/10th Relaxation, 1/10th Political, 7/10ths Work. Here’s a book that helps you deal with the 7/10ths. Solutions for burnout, stress or worse. by L. RON HUBBARD What solves life, solves work. Price: $15.00 Church of Scientology of Las Vegas 2761 Emerson Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89121 | (702) 731-1500 lasvegas@scientology.net PROBLEMS OF WORK Taking business to a new level with innovative advertising and marketing solutions. Mark aNDrEW DE PootEr P: 702-990-2513 C: 702-553-5698 E: mark.depooter@vegasinc.com | 23 MAY 2011 | hurt economic development? I don’t know if it has. I did walk the Strip with a couple of my colleagues and business executives on a Friday night just to see the landscape. It was filthy, and I mean dirty, not enough trash cans. [Clark County] Public Works hadn’t sprayed down the sidewalks so we went back and said, “You’re buying a sprayer.” Some of the executives didn’t realize they were part of the problem, they had maneuvered on to the street with kiosks without permits. Then you have the handbillers. We’ve lost every doggone case on the handbillers [for First Amendment reasons], four times unfortunately. I talked with some of those businesses and I think there may be a way to get a time, manner and place [situation] so they are responsible for an area and also responsible for the cleanup of it. There may be other ways we can do business. I’m willing to reach out and bring the ACLU to the table and the groups that are doing that and say, “This is our town together.’’ I’m willing to spend that time. The handbilling part I do get letters and emails from tourists who are deeply offended because they’re constantly harassed with it. That’s not a good way to do business. Given that we have a city-manager type of government and the mayor’s role is limited, what role should the mayor play in economic development? The mayor has a real opportunity to be the voice that brings people together through a collaborative model. I want to create a mayor’s council on small businesses and a mayor’s council on minority businesses. We have a lot of strong businesses—Asian, Latino, African-American businessmen and women that we haven’t really focused on. MGM Resorts International has a really good model through their supplier diversity program and a construction diversity program. I have a proposal for the county to consider adopting a similar program. I’d like to bring that into the city of Las Vegas—then you’re growing your homegrowns, then you’re seeing what goods and services are needed from them and then you might be able to create some additional businesses that supply those businesses that are already here. There are also some banking opportunities we should take a look at. We don’t have a “Hong Kong-China bank.’’ With many opportunities, it’s who loans and who the lenders trust. The mayor really is the one who can put the conversation together. Government shouldn’t do it all, we should facilitate it. We should be good listeners. If I’m moving my business to Las Vegas, I can call you as the mayor and you’ll open some doors and cut red tape? Not only that, I can promote the fact we have no corporate tax. It’s not the only thing a business looks at, but fundamentally it’s an add-on. The university has some wonderful programs. I can find out, OK, what do you need for talent and what do you need for training your employees. Then we have this available at UNLV or we have this available at CSN. Linking all of that together as part of the recruitment process is a key. If you’re the mayor are taxes going to go up, down or stay the same for businesses? The city and county can’t raise taxes unless the Legislature gives us authority. We can’t even put in certain business fees unless they give us authority. That’s unfortunate. I believe in home rule. Those closest to a job know it best. That’s the best way to hold me accountable. For the full interview, visit VEGASINC.com