ZZZ - GMG - VEGAS INC 2011-2014

19 | 3 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 4 | the basics talking points Smith'S world Mike Smith is an award-winning editorial cartoonist featured daily in the Las Vegas Sun. Smith's work also is distributed nationally by King Features Syndicate. See archives of his work at lasvegassun.com/smithsworld. We want to hear from you. Visit vegasinc.com to post your opinion. Reader comments the numbers Pick 'Em Get smart Power tweets Done Deal Overheard Power Lunch The Numbers Sin City Media We hear Chatter Buy high Sell low VEGASINCmag Executive class The Pitch is back Read this! Vegas then VEGASinc2021 Gate keeper American dream .com YOUR AD HERE LAS VEGAS 95 NOW SERVING The innovator FortuneCookie Grilled Moonlighting ? ? ? ? ! ? $ $ The Survivor 10 Number of years' extension of the current agreement between Las Vegas Events and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to keep the Wrangler National Fi- nals Rodeo in town. $79.2 million First-quarter earnings of Las Vegas-based slot machine and casino game management system manufacturer IGT. 60 percent Share of money wagered in casinos that is acquired through onsite check cashing or ATM withdrawal. 38.5 acres The land purchased by Valley Health System to develop an acute-care hospital in the Union Village complex in Hen- derson. 16 percent Increase in the Clark Coun- ty School District's high school graduation rate from 2012 to 2013. Accord- ing to the district, much of the increase can be attributed to a new effort to better track whether students have transferred schools or left the state. $100 Limit on the value of gifts a lobbyist is allowed to give to a Nevada legislator in a single year. That limit has caveats — for instance, it does not apply to food, drinks or enter- tainment. 231 miles Length of NV Energy's recently completed ON Line proj- ect, which connects Northern and Southern Nevada elec- tric systems. $52.5 million Amount the Howard Hughes Corp. has spent to develop the Shops at Summerlin as of Sept. 30. The complex, which was hit with delays and a change in ownership, is ex- pected to house Michael Kors, Old Navy and Sur La Table, among other businesses. 118,000 Target enrollment in the Silver State Health Insurance Ex- change by the end of March. As of Jan. 18, 13,159 people had paid for their policies. Those needing to enroll can do so at exchange.nv.gov/ On richard n. Velotta's Jan. 14 vegasinc.com story about incoming Las Vegas Valley Water District General manager John entsminger addressing pos- sible resolutions to nevada's water troubles ("new water czar says drought as serious as other natural disasters") : Since Nevada gets such a small amount of the wa- ter from the Colorado River, perhaps we should pay to start a conservation TV ad blitz in California and other states to really push conservation in those places, too. — ArmageddonUnlshd It's nice that the new water czar for Nevada is con- cerned and that the agency will continue to stress water conservation. But, grass isn't the lone culprit in water waste. People continue to plant the wrong types of trees and shrubs in all states affected by the continuing drought. In addition, farmers who plant water intensive crops must be made to stop. Yes, I know they have to make a living and some of those crops are profitable. So let's use up all the re- sources and let the wind blow away what's left. We need to work together, not just citizens of Nevada, but the other states affected. The bickering needs to stop and real progress needs to be made toward a Western states and Mexico agreement on how best to deal with a limited resource. — Fillmum Put a stop to all new construction, and if they level another casino, don't replace it. But, like fracking for oil, when the question of water resources arises, no one in the business world or the SNWA uses any common sense. — dipstick778 On ed Komenda's Jan. 27 vegasinc.com story de- tailing the potential for growth in Las Vegas' paid parking garage market ("Profits are validation for building parking garages"): Parking garages equal crime and inconvenience. Why would I fly from the East Coast to Las Vegas to pay for parking when I can gamble at home and not pay for parking or the plane ride? How can Las Vegas not get that? — almonjer If downtown wants to compete, it needs more free parking, not less. Who pays to park at Meadows Mall or the Galleria; at Texas Station or the M? Free parking is a cost of doing business and a necessary convenience for customers and employees. Maybe employees at downtown businesses can be subject- ed to paying for parking, but the general public can take their business elsewhere. — lvinfo101 I do not think the downtown Las Vegas market is ready for new private parking garages. Over the next five to 10 years, a new market may well emerge for such. The city also feels it has a right to control the parking market and build garages despite the fact that public-built garages will cost 150-200 percent of what privately built garages would cost. — 777s 20140203_VI19_F.indd 19 1/30/14 11:04:04 AM

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