Nor'Town: Politics in North Las Vegas, Nevada

She Wasn't There

So, I was reading an article from the Review Journal about how the Southern Nevada Water Authority executive board just voted to appeal a recent ruling against the Authority's plan to pipe water out of rural Nevada down here so that casinos can fill their pools and to replace all that quagga-poisoned water from Lake Mead we currently drink.

All very exciting, no doubt. But what caught my eye was this:

Board members approved the appeal in a 6-0 vote with no discussion. North Las Vegas Mayor Shari Buck, who serves as chairwoman of the seven-member board, did not attend the meeting. (RJ)

No doubt, too, the Mayor had more important things to do than to be Nor'Town's representative at the meeting. Maybe she thought her old pal Tom Collins had it covered, maybe?

Northern Vegas Wash National Park Proposal Passes Las Vegas and North Las Vegas Councils

This just in from the Protectors of Tule Springs:

HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE!!!!

Despite the lack of press coverage (more to come this weekend, I think), the Protectors of Tule Springs, along with other coalition groups has done what everyone told me was impossible 3 years ago.

The cities of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas voted last night on the resolution to protect the Upper Las Vegas Wash as a National Park Unit. And the County Commission passed the same resolution on Tuesday. An agreement and single voice to our Congressional Delegation has been made! I am told these 3 entities don't often agree on anything. Not only did they all pass it unanimously, but they gave us huge kudos for bringing everyone together.

I want to thank Sandy Croteau of POTS, Lynn Davis of the Nat. Parks Conserv. Assc. ,  and Helen Mortenson for running with all of the details since I am so tied up teaching and going to UNLV. Also, to Lisa Mayo-Deriso and Rob Mrowka for the talking points and public relations.

Now, many have asked what they can do now. If you have not called the congressional delegation, please do so TODAY!! I know Health Care is the #1 issue right now, but they need to hear from us!!!

Sen. Reid 388-5020
Sen. Ensign 388-6605
Cong. Berkley 220-9823
Cong. Titus    387-4941

Thanks to all. This is only the next step. There will be a lot that needs to still happen to make this National Park unit a reality!

Jill DeStefano
POTS

City Manager Gregory Rose Out Over "More Cops"??

Channel 8 is reporting that Nor'Town City Manager Gregory Rose is on paid leave and may be leaving the city permanently. (VegasNow) TeeVee folk think it's because of the missing "More Cops" money, but Rose has apparently denied it.

More about missing "More Cops" money:

• I-Team: Tax Money for More Police Falls Short in NLV
• I-Team: City Councilman Questions More Cops Spending
• I-Team: Sheriff Questions Use of 'More Cops' Money

[UPDATE: Let the baseless speculation begin! Lots of questions about the repercussions of this. The shifting of existing police to the "More Cops' money--a violation of the goals of the program--started at least a year ago. The Mayor at the time was Mike Montandon.

Nonetheless, whether we're talking Montandon or Mayor Buck, the question is: what did the mayors know about this and when did they know it?

If Buck knew about this, should she tender her resignation?

If she didn't know about it, then why not? Isn't it her job to monitor the City Manager?

What happens to Montandon's run for Governor, since this was happening on his watch? Surely opponents will want to connect him with the "More Cops" money.

It's been clear for a long time that Councilguys Robert Eliason and William Robinson would happily have voted Rose out of the City Manager's position. The mayor was solidly behind him while, it seemed to me anyways, that Richard Cherchio  and Anita Wood supported Rose mainly because they were newbies who didn't want to make a severe change so early in their new positions. Judging from Cherchio's remarks here, however, I suspect there are now at least three votes against Rose, which, of course, is a majority.]

David McKee Reminds Us of Fun Times at the Mayor Races

If you are just getting to the point in your therapy sessions where you don't have night sweats about that hideous mayoral campaign we recently endured, David McKee reminds of how that was, at least partly, a feud twixt the Boyd family and the Fertittas. (Stiffs and Georges)

He also reminds us of the days when old Mayor Mike was not quite so pro-free markets:

Back when Montandon was mayor and taking a go-slow attitude toward casino expansion in NLV, Station Casinos claimed to be totally down with Hizzoner’s approach.

These days, of course, the current administration would probably never say no to a casino. That is, if one ever wanted to open here again.

Ouch: Aliante Station loses $3.7 million this quarter. (RJ) Probably a good time to install some new slots, like say "Foreclosure Fun!": The jackpot would pay off your in-arrears mortgage.

Clark County Commission Gives OK to Nortown National Park

The Clark County Commission voted to support a resolution in favor of making the northern Vegas Wash into a Urban National Park. (RJ)

Next up, city of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas:

November 18th Las Vegas City Council 9am- Corner of Stewart and Las Vegas Blvd. near Fremont street. Bring change for parking meters. I-95 get off on Las Vegas Blvd. Turn right. Past Stewart and into parking structure on your right.

November 18th North Las Vegas City Council 6pm-2200 Civic Center Drive 633-1007 (easiest way is to take I-15 to Cheyenne. Turn Left, across I-15 and then turn right at first signal which is Civic Center Drive. Go about 2 miles. Building on left)

Reminder: Visit Your Local Government This Week!

Just a follow up on a post from last week: Clark County, the City of Las Vegas, and North Las Vegas are voting on resolutions to make the upper Las Vegas Wash into an Urban National Park. Here are the meeting times again:

November 17th Clark County Commission 10am  500 S. Grand Central Parkway 455-0000  (Take I-15 south, Get off on Charleston, turn left. Go under I-15 and then turn left on Grand Central Parkway. About 1/2 mile on right you will see the County Commission offices across the street from the Outlet Mall)

November 18th Las Vegas City Council 9am- Corner of Stewart and Las Vegas Blvd. near Fremont street. Bring change for parking meters. I-95 get off on Las Vegas Blvd. Turn right. Past Stewart and into parking structure on your right.

November 18th North Las Vegas City Council 6pm-2200 Civic Center Drive 633-1007 (easiest way is to take I-15 to Cheyenne. Turn Left, across I-15 and then turn right at first signal which is Civic Center Drive. Go about 2 miles. Building on left)

Time to Visit Your Local Government Entity

This just in from the Protectors of Tule Springs:

On November 17th and 18th, an unprecedented event will take place. The Clark County Commission, the City of Las Vegas, and the City of North Las Vegas will all be placing a RESOLUTION on their agendas which will read in part: This is a resolution supporting the designation of an area known as the Upper Las Vegas Wash as an Urban National Park Unit Managed by the National Park Service. It will urge our Congressional Delegation and the US Department of the Interior to make a land designation appropriate for the protection of the resources, in a timely manner to avoid further degradation of the area, with appropriate funding to fully develop the scientific, educational and recreational potential.

WE NEED AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO ATTEND ONE OR ALL OF THE MEETINGS TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT!!!!

To get these 3 entities to agree on anything is an incredible victory for what we all have worked so hard on the last 3 years!

November 17th Clark County Commission 10am  500 S. Grand Central Parkway 455-0000  (Take I-15 south, Get off on Charleston, turn left. Go under I-15 and then turn left on Grand Central Parkway. About 1/2 mile on right you will see the County Commission offices across the street from the Outlet Mall)

November 18th Las Vegas City Council 9am- Corner of Stewart and Las Vegas Blvd. near Fremont street. Bring change for parking meters. I-95 get off on Las Vegas Blvd. Turn right. Past Stewart and into parking structure on your right.

November 18th North Las Vegas City Council 6pm-2200 cCvic Center Drive 633-1007 (easiest way is to take I-15 to Cheyenne. Turn Left, across I-15 and then turn right at first signal which is Civic Center Drive. Go about 2 miles. Building on left)

HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!!!
Jill DeStefano
Protectors of Tule Springs

Hold Your Nose, Nor'Town!

No, not because of the usual stench circa Craig and Losse--man, that ain't the pigfarm, is it?

Nope. I mean: you'd better hold your nose because the BSS Nor'Town is agoin' down!

We learn today that Councilperson Anita Wood has told City Manager Gregory Rose to have his staff-folk start up some "critical needs" assessments.(VN)

I suggest it might just be quicker to pull out a pink highlighter and slap a spot on the foreheads of the underlings who can expect pink slips in the next year or so.

Councilguy Cherchio mentioned that maybe those assessments are coming a year too late. You know, back when the council was voting to sink millions into that new City Council Building.

Maybe they should dedicate the new building to all the staffers they'll be letting off. Put up a lovely plaque with all the names on it or something. Next to a big pigeon statue, maybe. Something with real, Nor'Town class.

Meanwhile, the Mayor continues her quixotic quest to lure California firms to our fair city. Say, how many have signed up, I wonder? (Sun)

Personally, I'm finding those ads by Swarzenegger pretty tempting. You know, the ones where the gube of California says: "California, find yourself here."

Wonder what the Nor'Town's slogan should be?

• North Las Vegas: find something really smelly here!
• North Las Vegas: find a foreclosed home here!
• North Las Vegas: find a pink slip here!
• North Las Vegas: find a dead pigeon here!
• Nor'Town: lose your will to live here!

Oh well, look at it this way. Our ghost town will make a wonderful exhibit in that new national monument. Another extinct creature, right next to the Mastodon bones.

Woah. Follow Nor'Town on Twitter. Sounds like a pigeon cooing.

North Las Vegas Concerned Folk Meeting

Here's the agenda for the next meeting of the NLV Alliance of HOAs etc:

AGENDA

DATE:  THURSDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2009

PLACE:  ALIANTE LIBRARY--- 2400 DEER SPRINGS WAY. 
TEL. 839-2980 (For directions if needed) or call Cynthia at 438-5005.

TIME:  6:00 P.M.  (Main meeting room)

NOTE:  As always we welcome any suggestions of topics to discuss or requested speakers to attend at future meetings.

                                       SCHEDULED GUESTS  

COUNCILWOMAN ANITA WOOD, WARD 3, AND COUNCILMAN RICHARD CHERCHIO, WARD 4 WILL BE PRESENT FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE MEETING TO UPDATE  CONSTITUENTS ON CITY ITEMS AND TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ALLIANCE MEMBER  HARVEY FERBER WILL GIVE A REPORT ON THE RECENT CITY COUNCIL RETREAT HELD AT ALIANTE LIBRARY THAT HE ATTENDED FOR BOTH DAYS, AS WELL AS THE PRESENTATION MADE ON THE UPCOMING INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL WARD SPECIFIC E-NEWSLETTERS.

KATHI THOMAS GIBSON OF OUR NLV HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES WILL ATTEND AND UPDATE US ON WHAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN OUR LOCAL AREAS CONCERNING FORECLOSURES, STIMULUS FUNDS, ONGOING PROJECTS.

WE HAVE ALSO INVITED TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NEWLY FORMED NORTH VALLEY ASSOCIATION OFF LAKE MEAD TO SHARE THEIR STORIES AND SEE HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AS CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR ALL PARTS OF NLV.  

 AS ALWAYS WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR ATTENDING AND ASK THAT YOU SHARE THIS AGENDA WITH YOUR COMMUNITIES AND BRING FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORS.

Ooof. Easy on the uppercase, guys.

So, Who Wants to Hug Tom Collins?

So here's Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins, expressing his excitement with the thought Clark County won't be caring for abandoned desert tortoises anymore and his hatred of all small animals getting in the way of unrestricted development:

“This is almost like tree-hugger frustration. Can’t find no trees to protect in the desert so it’s tortoises.” (Sun)

Anybody know why he doesn't switch to the Republican party? Anyone?

Though I must admit it's fascinating how everyone who was either agin or sitting on the fence about that Tule Springs park is on board now:

In mid-August, the Sun wrote about the National Parks Conservation Association joining the push to designate about 35,000 fossil-filled acres in the northern portion of the Las Vegas Valley as a national monument. [...]

A lot has been going on behind the scenes. Commissioner Tom Collins is close to finishing the wording on a county resolution urging federal authorities to preserve the area because it has the potential to be an educational and economic dynamo.

Additionally, North Las Vegas Mayor Shari Buck, whose city is “highly in favor” of the designation, said she met two weeks ago with staff of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., regarding the Tule Springs area. She said Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., has also expressed “great interest.” This week, she plans to meet with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Las Vegas Councilman Steve Ross to “hear what their concerns might be ... because I’m assuming there’s going to be a partnership and we want to be supporting each other.” (Sun)

Hmm. A little call from the feds and all the sudden everybody's in favor of the park, and talk of a fat new highway north of the 215 seems to have vanished.

Looks like the desert tortoise needs better connections inside the Obama administration.

North Valley Democrats Meeting

WHAT: Meeting of the North Valley Democrats

WHERE: Aliante Library, 2400 W Deer Springs Way, North Las Vegas, NV

WHEN: Thursday, October 15, 2009, 6:30pm

Marathon Special Sessions of City Council Coming Up Friday and Saturday

Woah. Besides the Redevelopment Meeting Weds. Oct. 7th at 5:30pm and the Regular City Council Meeting, same day at 6pm, City Council will be holding a marathon special session over TWO DAYS this week.

Friday, Oct. 9th from 10am 11am to 6pm and Sat. from 9am to 3pm, Council will be taking up all sorts of topics such as

• Nevada Open Meeting Law and the Ethics in Government Law.
• Examination of Council's and the City Manager's Charter Role.
• City Council Protocols.
• Setting City Priorities.
• City's 2009-2010 Annual Work Plan.

That Council's taking up some of this stuff is kinda scary since some of those issues are pretty fundamental to how city government works. Might be a good idea to stop by.

Why not? Your house is probably foreclosed and you're out of work anyways.

You did say your were from Nor'Town didn't ya?

NOTE: Friday and Saturday meetings are at Aliante Library 2400 West Deer Springs Way, North Las Vegas, Nevada. (What? Alexander Library snubbed again?)

Meetings are at City Hall.

Nor'Town Once Again Sets the Standard

Let's see. You're a political reporter who wants to write an article about the disgusting state of Nevada's campaign finance laws. So, where to go for a good example of how politicians Nevada can suck in the money without revealing who's sending it in? Why North Las Vegas, of course, home of ex-mayor Mike Montandon's NLVPAC. (Sun)

To be fair, Oscar Goodman's in the game, too. His PAC and it's secret donors help him pay his political bills. Still, Montandon's NLVPAC has the distinction of being originally funded by a right-wing nut from Utah who wanted to make Nor'Town over in Provo's image.

If you've never been to Utah, trust me: that's really not funny. Patrick Bryne, CEO of Overstock.com, funneled money into NLVPAC to fund mostly Republican legislative candidates, and a certain Nor'Town mayor. It had political consultant Steve Wark's fingerprints all over it. (Sun)

Now, all that is old news--from 2006 in fact. So, it makes the following statement from today's Sun story a bit disappointing.

Though state law didn’t require it, Montandon chose to list all of his PAC’s donors and funding recipients.

Included was the initial donation from an out-of-state businessman to launch Montandon’s PAC. A Park City, Utah, donor named Patrick Byrne, the chief executive of Overstock.com, gave $65,000 to NLVPAC in 2006 as listed in the first two contribution and expense reports Montandon filed with the state. That was 80 percent of what the PAC took in during that time.

Before we start pounding the ex-Mayor and Gubewannabe on the back, let's note that according to the latest report on the fund that there is around $110,000, $60,000 of which came as a lump sum from some Republican Party slush fund apparently used to cover up campaign spending from various campaigns--such as Brian Scroggins'--for polling. Given that $10,000 is the legal limit for campaign contributions in Nevada, that $60,000 is a slap in the face for every Nevadan.

Let's not congratulate Montandon for the transparency of his campaign until it actually becomes transparent. That would require a timely and full list of current contributors to NLVPAC every quarter or so, not just at the end of the year, plus a complete accounting of how much he gets from other shadowy conservative groups like Keystone--and who all their contributors are.

Granted the Legislature should take most of the blame for current campaign finances. However, candidates could and should take the high ground and actually report where their money comes from and where it goes. No politician deserves a slap on the back until that happens.

Nor'Town Can't Get No Respect

From an imaginary debate amongst the Gubewannabes:

Montandon: “I would move the state capital to North Las Vegas. It’s time we moved government to a place that really deserves to have 63 lawmakers living there for four months. I bet that will cut down on the length of sessions.” (Sun)

The out-of-towners will be able to find lovely suites at Jerry's Nugget, too.

Buck Blasts Legislature--Or Did She Mean Voters??

Our Nor'Town mayor channeled Nevada governor Jim Gibbons in the papers the other day.

North Las Vegas Mayor Shari Buck expressed regret that the Legislature didn’t anticipate a recession when it had a surplus of revenue.

Err...like Nor'Town did? Anticipated the recession so well with all the buy outs and cut backs, I mean.

Buck blasted the Legislature for imposing its will on the city by forcing a ward system for council elections and that its Municipal Court judges must be lawyers. Like Goodman, she said cities should have home rule.

“When you have a legislator say to our former mayor that ‘I am so glad I got elected because I get to be your boss,’ that is a problem,” Buck said. (Sun)

Except...the citizens of North Las Vegas voted IN FAVOR of the ward system, even though it has hardly provided all the benefits advocates claimed it would. 17,464 Nor'Townies were in favor and 7,692 were opposed.

Rereading that Sun story about the fight over instituting wards is truly amusing, by the way. All those councilfolk objected, yet found it quite easy to rake in the campaign funding to get elected to the new wards.

North Las Vegas voters also voted IN FAVOR of requiring judges be lawyers. 43,921 Nor'Townies in favor with 10,771 opposed. (Woah: that's the kind of turn out you'd get if municipal elections were held on even years, by the way.)

So, if by "home rule" the mayor means "rule by the citizens of North Las Vegas", both the ward system and lawyer-judges would count as examples of "home rule."

Or did the mayor mean to complain about voters instead of legislators?

Ooo. Remember this?

NORTH LAS VEGAS QUESTION NO. 6
(84 out of 84 Precincts Reporting)
Should the City of North Las Vegas allow the use of "pay day loan" type businesses in all commercial and industrial zoning districts of the City?    

          % of Vote    Total Votes
Yes     18.61%       4,817
No     81.39%     21,067

Good thing voter initiatives are only for saps, right?

Bail on Your Debt! It's the Nevada Way!

Comrades! Exciting news from the front lines of the credit wars!

Station Casinos has joined the New Shay's Rebellion! Just look at their amazing contribution to the movement:

Station Casinos stopped making payments on its $5.7 billion debt load. (RJ)

Brave lads!

Up in Nor'Town, the bankrupt Park Highlands development is trying to stiff D.R.Horton and banking giant Credit Suisse. (Sun)

Whoa! You'd think Credit Suisse could afford an army of those guys who bust kneecaps when you don't pay.

So, why are you still paying the mortgage on that underwater house?

Come on! Bail like the Big Boys! It's the Nevada Way!

North Valley Democratic Club Meeting Tonight

From the Better Late Than Never Department:

WHAT: North Valley Democratic Club Meeting

WHEN: Thursday, September 17th, 6pm

WHERE: Aliante Library, 2400 W. Deer Springs Ave., North Las Vegas, NV

MORE INFO: at Facebook and www.northvalleydems.com/

Kiel Ranch Meeting at 4:30pm Today

As the Review Journal reports, City Council will discuss funding for the "cheapest" plan for Kiel ranch today. (RJ)

However, the discussion will take place at a special meeting of the City Council at 4:30 pm at city hall. (Agenda) So, if you show up for the regular meeting at 6:00, you'll miss the fun. There'll also be talk of reducing health insurance benefits to city workers as part of the continuing budget crisis.

Gee, you think city workers are part of that so-called majority of Americans satisfied with their current health plan? I think they only ask members of Congress in those polls, don't you?

Anyways, stop by to find out why there's plenty of money for a seven-story, palatial new city hall, but not for the historic site of Nor'Town's first drive-by shooting--or health care for city workers.

The regular meeting won't have the fun part about setting up the casino for Credit Suisse's ghost-town at Park Highlands, either, as the Agenda claims. The lawyer-lobbyists have asked for a postponement, and Council never disappoints them. Too much campaign money at stake.

DimaXtion

The latest edition of the North Las Vegas Activity Guide is sure to produce nightmares, what with the apparition of a stuffed gargoyle apparently meant to resemble the city's mascot, MetroSexual Max, leering from the front cover.

If that isn't enough to cow citizens from signing up for a class or two, the prospect of reading the latest adventure of Max will surely complete the task. This issue finds Max, the sorry product of the Clark County School System, unable to muster the reading skills necessary to interpret the Guide and mistakenly signing up for a class targeted at 3 year-olds.

To add to the cognitive dissonance, it is nearly impossible to determine the most disturbing aspect of the final panel. Is the frightening image of Max's mother being so dysfunctional that she can't tell the difference between a 3 and a 13 year-old? Or that she would dress Max in such an outlandish outfit, making him the obvious target for every gender-confused bully at school? Or could it be the horror of the young fellow in the foreground, who, instead of having his head removed by a speeding soccer ball, will soon choke on the carapace of a large beetle?

Or is it simply the prospect that somewhere, somehow, Max actually HAS a mother, all three hundred pounds of her, stuffed into brightly colored spandex, smoking through a case of cigs a day as she waits in line down at the local payday loan store for some fast cash to pay off her bar tab?

Perhaps I've just been reading too much Comics Curmudgeon lately.

Lawyer-Lobbyist Days at the North Las Vegas Alliance of Homeowners, etc.

Redshirters will have fond memories of the guest speaker for this month's meeting of the North Las Vegas Alliance of Home Owner Associations and Concerned folk (View,NrTown).

The Agenda:

DATE:  THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

PLACE:  ALIANTE LIBRARY--- 2400 DEER SPRINGS WAY.   TEL. 839-2980 (For directions if needed) or call Cynthia at 438-5005

TIME:  6:00 P.M.  (Main meeting room)

NOTE:  As always we welcome any suggestions of topics to discuss or requested speakers to attend at future meetings.

SCHEDULED SPEAKER

“MS. JENNIFER LAZOVICH “

We will have a presentation for our guests from Ms. Jennifer Lazovich of Kummer, Kaempfer, Bonner, Renshaw and Gronauer whose Law Firm    represents the majority of developers in our area.  Jennifer will brief us on the status of many projects that were set for development in our City before the economic down turn, particularly those North of Craig Rd. including Binion's project on Losee at Centennial, Boyd Gaming, Parkhighlands and the mixed use area along the North 5TH Corridor.

This should be very informative to our residents and we urge you to attend

 COUNCILMAN’S UPDATE

City items of interest since our most recent meeting in August.

PLUS OTHER CURRENT ITEMS OF INTEREST.

AS ALWAYS WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR ATTENDING AND ASK THAT YOU SHARE THIS AGENDA WITH YOUR COMMUNITIES AND BRING FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORS.

THANK YOU AS ALWAYS,

Bob Mersereau

PRESIDENT