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talking points All eyes on Colorado If marijuana sales prove more profitable than problematic, expect others to follow by Richard N. Velotta N ew Year's Day was historic for Colorado as the nation's first recreational marijuana shops opened. By the second day, more than $1 million in sales was reported — and that doesn't even count the spin-off tourism dollars expected to be generated. Residents of the Centennial State are heralding the legalization of recreational marijuana sales as a grand experiment that's bound to attract thousands of visitors from other states. I went to my former home state over the holiday and had to have a look at one of the 36 dispensaries that opened statewide. At the 3D Cannabis Center, there were 85 people in line outside the door and the parking lot overflowed. Many of the cars in the lot had license plates from Wyoming, Utah and Kansas. A new industry has taken root in the Mile High City — "weed tours," similar were reports that a petition drive has begun in Alaska to legalize recreational sales. So, should Nevada — a state with a libertarian streak — consider recreational marijuana sales? Should Clark County or Las Vegas, renowned for its anything-goes attitude, let the cannabis genie out of the bottle? Prostitution is legal in all but two Nevada counties. There's a high level of tolerance for the consumption of alcohol in our city. The state is one of three to allow Internet gambling. Would tourism numbers soar if the public were allowed to buy pot for recreational use? Or would the social problems that could result create bigger problems for the state or city? It's clear that Nevada's experience with permitting voter-approved medical marijuana shows some reluctance toward widespread use here. Should Clark County or Las Vegas, renowned for its anything-goes attitude, let the cannabis genie out of the bottle? CO GU LU ES M T N North Las Vegas got lost in a web of financial lies, but has a map to find its way back again O ne fundamental principle of democracy is that the public has the right to know the truth. Tragically, in North Las Vegas, we were lied to. During the campaign, I promised as mayor I would untangle the financial mess and uncover the hidden financial practices many people suspected were going on at City Hall. Over the past few weeks, we have uncovered significant problems with past financial representations and accounting practices. North Las Vegas has not been honest with its citizens. These misguided financial practices included hiding the facts from policymakers, concealing rates in financial models, taxing without properly informing ratepayers and dishonestly representing our 20140120_VI06_F.indd 6 driving incidents climb. Representatives of Denver International Airport made it clear there would be no tolerance for possession of illegal drugs or paraphernalia at the airport. Public health officials cringed when a Denver television station aired stories showing a greasy-looking dude licking the cigarette paper to roll a joint for sale prior to the startup. The Denver Post launched a website dedicated to exploring the culture of pot, called the Cannabist. State and local taxes on marijuana sales total 21 percent, and an ounce of pot from a dispensary runs about $400. Brisk sales and generated tax revenue have prompted discussion of spreading sales to other places. Washington state's voters approved recreational use and will follow Colorado later this year. This month, there Broken trust but perfect resolve by John Lee 6 to California wine country tours. For $1,900, visitors can sign up for five-day experiences that include pickup from the airport, five nights in a four-star hotel, transportation to a new festival and concert known as the Cannabis Cup, a guided tour of a grow house and daily breakfast-time "wake 'n' bake" events. All ground transportation is smoke-friendly. The state government's tourism leaders say they aren't going to track marijuana tourism, but no doubt somebody will. Pot can't be smoked publicly in Colorado and while, and although there were widespread fears that people would be smoking in the streets when sales became legal, there were no incidents of abuse in the first days of legal sales. It will take some time before public agencies determine if any public health problems arise and if impaired financial condition. More than $200 million has been looted from the utility fund, depleting it to unsafe and catastrophic levels concealed from the public. During the past legislative session, our city misrepresented its financial condition and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars lobbying to pass legislation in order to keep up the illusion of this disastrous financial shell game. Although frustrated and troubled by these findings, the City Council is committed to changing the direction, beginning with an honest discussion of where we are. As a Boy Scout leader, I have taught many young men how to navigate with a map and compass. The first step to using a map is finding where you are on the map; only then can you begin charting a course to your destination. We are replacing yesterday's doubt, confusion and mistrust with openness and accountability. People voted for the promise of a better tomorrow, and I am committed to build a community they deserve. This begins by changing the way we do business in North Las Vegas. Over the past few months, there have been many changes in the city's management, ending the era of governance by crisis and beginning a new era of openness and accountability. Last month, we released the annual audit report, which included unprecedented disclosures of the financial practices used in the past budget. This week, for the first time in our city's history, we will release a seven-year financial forecast. This historic step presents an honest roadmap of what policymakers need to do to avoid financial disaster by ending years of bumbling financial policies that put our community on the brink. Although we are angry at the level of deception, we are committed to restoring our community's trust in City Hall and determined to solve our financial crisis. My commitment to improving the quality of life for everyone in our community begins with the honest discussion of our exact financial position so we can begin plotting our path to financial stability. John Lee is the mayor of North Las Vegas. Although we are angry at the level of deception, we are committed to restoring our community's trust in City Hall and determined to solve our financial crisis. | 20 JANUARY 2014 | 1/15/14 4:50:53 PM

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