Nor'Town: Politics in North Las Vegas, Nevada

Hale and Hearty State Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford Parks in Handicapped Spot

Yes, really. According to KTNV, an automobile belonging to Nevada State Senator and Nor'Townie Steven Horsford, and sporting his official State Senator license plate, was seen parked in a handicapped spot without the required plate or tag over at Aviary Park.

State Senator 17 [Hosrford's number] left his SUV parked not only in the handicapped loading zone, but completely blocking the only ramp that allows wheelchairs to get onto the curb and into the park. (KTNV)

So, is the Senator suffering from some undisclosed dysfunction these days, besides impatience and poor judgment? Or does doing a study of Nevada's handicapped tax structure count as a handicap, too?

Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful...and Armed

Gubewannabe and lame duck Nor'Town Mayor Mike Montandon will be hosting a clay shooting event to raise funds for area Boy Scouts, tastefully announced over on the site Ammoland.com, which has all sorts of neat pictures of bullets on it. (Ammo)

Now, I'm not saying that's necessarily a bad thing--given that pretty soon you won't be able to walk around Nor'Town without a sidearm strapped to your thigh. Maybe the boys should know how to plug a drug dealer--or a wacky gun nut toked up on testosterone and beer.

Overnight, William Robinson for Mayor signs appeared around my neighborhood in Robinson's ward 2. Not a surprise. The mayor's campaign will be about getting out each candidate's "base" in their wards since most apathetic Nor'Towners will be napping that day. 

Robert Eliason will be interesting to watch during the campaign season. He's got a little match up of his own in Ward 1, but will probably have tons of funds and thus tough to beat. (Tune in next week to look at Eliason's reports to see.) The question is, which one of his colleagues on the Council will he support? Given he'll be working to get his base out to the polls, some lucky colleague would be thankful for a good chunk of those votes.

Ah, unflattering pics of Nor'Townie Democrats in extremist, government-hating Republican rag today. Not a big surprise there. The web pics aren't too bad, but the ones in the hard copy version would make you choke on your Cheerios. Steven Horsford, Stephanie Smith, and Tom Collins were out with Americans United for Change trying to change the minds of earmark-loving, government-hating, government employees (no, I don't get that, either) John Ensign and Dean Heller to abandon the gold standard and support the Obama stimulus. Well, good luck with that, guys.

Horsford Says He's Staying

Rumors are making their way among Nevada Democratic apparatchiks that State Senator Steven Horsford was so successful at fund-raising for the Obama campaign, that he might pick up a job in Washington should, or is that "when", Obama wins the presidency. Mr. Horsford vehemently denied the rumors, but, then, wouldn't you until you saw what was really being offered? (Sun)

Ever Heard Anyone Promise to Keep the Sky From Falling Before?

That's sorta what Assembly District 1 candidate Linda West Meyers and Senate District 4 candidate Sharon Gobel seem to be promising in a joint mailer that showed up in my mailbox last week.

What they're calling for seems to be more government oversight of the North Las Vegas airport, which has had a bad habit of late dropping airplanes on Nor'Towner's heads. (RJ,Sun,Sun)

Woah. Republicans calling for more government oversight. My, times have changed.

Like atheists, there are no Reaganauts in foxholes, I suppose.

They also claim that Marilyn Kirkpatrick, the current occupant of AD1 and Steven Horsford the current denizen of SD4, haven't been doing much to prevent the sky from falling.

Here's the front and the back of the mailer, for your viewing enjoyment.

Although I suspect no one in the Nevada state legislature can keep the sky from falling, it's nice to see some campaign literature actually focused on a Nor'Town issue. Horsford's mailers have been slick and could have been produced inside the beltway--and indeed might have been.

Kirkpatrick's are a bit scary. Her "I'm on my way" mailers made her look like Martha Stewart on a home invasion.

To be fair, Steven Horsford, unlike others, has been showing up at some of the meetings after the crashes:

Local officials, with the exception of state Sen. Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, were not present at the meeting. Clark County Department of Aviation Director Randall Walker also did not attend.

North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon and City Council members were unable to attend because of a regularly scheduled meeting. But Montandon said the city plans to meet soon with state legislators and Clark County commissioners to discuss "accountability" issues related to airplane safety.

"I have a lot of questions about what can be done on the ground to make sure engines work in the air," Montandon said Wednesday.

Shortly after the Aug. 22 crash, which killed three people, Montandon said that he didn't "recall ever hearing a constituent complain about the safety of the airport in North Las Vegas" in his "almost 12 years as mayor." (RJ)

Course, the mayor doesn't read this blog. Or Forbes magazine, either, I guess.

Oh, and if you really want to know more about the "Not Tonight" group mentioned in the mailer, you might want to have a listen to a recent "State of Nevada" piece on KNPR. But, you've been warned--it ain't pretty.

Horsford Tool in Chicken-wings Gate?

State Senator Steven Horsford (D-Nor'Town) and several black leaders did not appreciate a recent blogpost by local blogger and freelance author Steve Freiss. (Sun)

Freiss's remark appeared in his blog Vegas Happens Here where he was commenting on a move by the owners of the Palazzo to change a sports bar into a sports book.

I'm going to say something very un-PC here, but somebody should. This wasn't a surprise. The surprise was that anybody thought that a place that elsewhere is known for drawing large numbers of black customers would fit in well in a $2 billion resort like Palazzo where the only minorities they're really aiming to please are Asian whales.

Is that a racist statement? I don't mean it to be. I mean it to be an objective look at an inappropriate pairing between the aesthetic of a resort that envisions itself and markets itself as the lap of luxury and a place known for being popular among rappers and folks who like a good chicken wing. Do you think that Palazzo has ever taken out an ad in Jet or Ebony? Hell to the no! They're busy advertising in Conde Nast Traveler and Forbes. (VHH)

Freiss denied that the chicken wing remark was meant to make fun of blacks. Rather, it was intended to make fun of denizens of sports bars:

In an e-mail response to the Sun asking about his remarks, Friess said: "I would never have considered chicken wings to be viewed as a black food and did not write it in order to evoke that sense. Chicken wings are a staple of every sports bars I've ever been in, which is why I made reference to them."

He also said, "Some may view it as inappropriate to view 40/40 Club as a black-oriented business. Those people would be deliberately ignorant." (Sun)

In a recent update, Friess suggests that the fracas was partially some payback from a Sun reporter who had been the subject of some embarrassing posts by Freiss. (VHH)

Which, if true, raises the question, why did Horsford get in the middle of the fight?

Steven Horsford Made Sergeant-At-Arms at Dem Convention

Nor'Towner Nevada State Senator and ardent Obama supporter Steven Horsford will be Sergeant-At-Arms for the Democratic Convention in Denver next week. (MarketWatch)

No, I don't really know what the heck that means, either, except that if Obama wins, Horsford get a Washington job out of it. Or maybe he's the first in line to punch out any protesters that show up.

Steven Horsford, Candidate for State Senate District 4, On North Las Vegas Issues

Steven Hosford is a Democratic candidate for the State Senate, District 4. He is also the current incumbent in that position.He offered the following answers to the questionnaire I sent out the other day:

Q. Perhaps one of the greatest concerns that many North Las Vegans share is the sudden apparent increase in high density housing projects near single family homes. How would you deal with these concerns?

A. This is a valid concern for the residents of North Las Vegas.  It is also a matter which might be best addressed by the North Las Vegas City Council.  I echo the concerns of my constituents and there should be an appropriate balance which is maintained when it comes to building these high density projects. Single family home owners should not feel like their quality of life is being compromised by developers who want to push growth by any means.

Q. North Las Vegans and others in the northern valley are worried about the noise and possible shooting mishaps which may result from the construction of the new Clark County Shooting Park. If elected, what would you do to ensure that people living near the park will remain safe and their neighborhoods reasonably quiet?

A. The decision to build has already been made at the Federal level.  But I also believe that before a project like this is built, there should be an evaluation done on its impact.  Perhaps local officials and project developers can agree to reduce the proposed size of this project.  While I agree that there should be a safe, regulated alternative to residents who want to engage in recreational shooting, we need to acknowledge the potential problems that come with this facility and try to minimize them as best we can.

Q. Many North Las Vegans are concerned about the proposed construction of a large road system in the northern valley called the Sheep Mountain Parkway. Do you favor or oppose the construction of this parkway and why?

A. I support looking at alternative means to deal with our demanding transportation needs.  This would also include looking at partnerships between private and public sectors that will bring about alternative solutions to what is being proposed.

Q. During the last view years, there have been a number of shootings at schools and elsewhere involving children. What would you do, if elected, to reduce the number of shootings at our schools and in our neighborhoods?

A. I am very compassionate about the issue of school safety.  I recently held a statewide town hall meeting with high school students.  We had a chance to learn first hand what students experience everyday while in school and their surrounding neighborhoods. I acknowledge that it will take the collaboration of law enforcement, school officials, students, along with their families to identify solutions that keep our schools safe.  Education and the safety of our children are both important areas that I have committed to working on as an elected official.  At the state level I will continue to work with others to create the appropriate policies and support the right programs which decrease the incidence of violence in our schools.

Q. What would you do to deal with the budget shortfalls at your level of government (state, county, city)? What would you do to guarantee, as Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley has promised, that they will never happen again?

A. I can guarantee that state legislators will be committed to working in a bi-partisan manner to address the budget shortfalls.  I will work to help create a fiscal process which is transparent and will not land us in this type of crisis again.

Q. Do you support the construction of a Tule Springs Ice Age Park (http://tulespringslv.com)? Why or why not?

A. I support projects that will help preserve as much of our natural habitat as we can.  Projects such as these can be great resources to our schools, families, and visitors as they are educational. Preserving the 13,000 acres at Tule Springs and making it accessible as an Ice Age Park would be a benefit to our community. 

Q. What will be your most important priority if elected? What steps would you take to attain that priority?

A. Dealing with the budget shortfalls would be my most important priority to start as solutions here impact all other areas of need we have in this state.  As Senate Leader my priorities will focus on many other matters (i.e. healthcare, education, the economy/jobs) and I will use my leadership role to work with my colleagues in the legislature as we identify viable solutions for all.

More Info: http://www.stevenhorsford.com.

If you'd like to see your favorite, or least favorite, candidate respond to the questionnaire, please drop them a note. Here are few I would especially like to hear from:

Marilyn Kirkpatrick: marilyn@marilynkirkpatrick.com
Ruben Kihuen: http://www.rubenforassembly.com/contact.php
John Lee: John@leefornevada.com
Kelvin Atkinson: http://www.atkinson4nevada.com

Nor'Town Sludge Cakes

I could call them "nuggets" or "gleanings" or "quick hits," but up here in Nor'Town, they're sludge cakes!

• So, slap some new paint on the Sliver Nugget and have the taxpayers buy the City Council a shiny new building, and you now what you get? "Downtown redevelopment." (Sun)
• Remember that guy who wanted to pull all the park cops out of the parks over Memorial weekend? Except, of course, the future site of the shooting park, cuz it gets nasty up there. Well, he's gone. (RJ)
• Steven Horsford, or "Horsford" as Barrack calls him, is basking in the glow of Obama's recent nabbing of the Democratic presidential nomination. (Sun)
• Shelley Berkley, meanwhile, an ardent Clinton supporter, waits longingly by the phone for Obama to call. (RJ)
• But, but, where's Ruben Kihuen? On myspace. Do you think he'll be able to get the culinary union to become a myspace friend?

  "The first-term assemblyman and first immigrant elected to the Nevada Legislature endorsed Clinton and took her on a tour of his Culinary-heavy district. He told her members were ignoring the Obama endorsement and supporting her, in front of the assembled national press corps. It was seen as an attempt to drive a stake through the heart of the union.

  "Kihuen was elected with much help from the Culinary political organization, though he told the Sun the union’s help has been overstated.

  "In any case, union officials are still fuming, according to sources familiar with their thinking.

  "Kihuen, who didn’t return a phone call Friday, was offered a chance to apologize and make amends at a meeting, but either declined or failed to do so adequately, according to a source familiar with the meeting but not associated with either party." (Sun)

• "Troubled" Nor'Town Housing Authority gives up. One reason HUD doesn't like them? Cuz they're basically the City Council: '[HUD] further criticized the agency for the make-up of its board. Four out of the five board members, including its chairman, William Robinson, also serve as North Las Vegas City Council members." (RJ) There must be a swell mayoral race slogan in there somewhere! "Vote for {select one: Stephanie Smith, William Robinson}! He/She Killed the Housing Authority!"
  

Horsford Takes Up Herding Cats

Steven Horsford has been elected by his fellow Democratic state senators to lead the state senate Democratic caucus. He will take over for Dina Titus, who has decided to whup Jon Porter over in Congressional District 2. (RJ)

Whether he will be minority or majority leader of the state senate depends on the outcome of the November election. One contentious senate seat is just to the west of Nor'Town, where the well-financed wingnut Bob Beers is facing a challenge from Allison Copening.

I'm sure she wouldn't mind if Nor'Towners offered to volunteer for her campaign...

Horsford has district CL 4. Beers holds CL 6, for the time being, anyways.

In Case You Were Looking For Steven Horsford

Just in case you were wondering was Nevada State Senator Steven Horsford's been up to: He's been hanging out with Congressman Jon Porter (who's developed a case of POTUSphobia) and complaining about Governor Jim Gibbons' proposed cuts to mental health:

Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, chairwoman of the [Legisature's] committee [on health care], pointedly asked whether another delay in the opening of the 22-bed addition in Las Vegas was a possibility.

"All options are on the table," Brandenburg replied.   

Leslie and Sen. Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, said that was unacceptable.   

"We're going backward in mental health," Horsford said. "We have to draw the line somewhere. We can't be putting this on the backs of our most vulnerable people." (Sun)

Horsford was also spotted spinning for Obama at the UNLV Democratic prez-wannabe debate:

Obama's strongest moment was when he unpacked the disingenuousness of Clinton's Social Security triangulation by noting that only 6 percent of households have income of more than $97,500, so raising the cap on earnings that are taxed for Social Security would not touch the middle class, but the upper class. In the spin room later, Nevada state Sen. Steven Horsford, an Obama guy, predicted that the Social Security issue could become a "centerpiece" of the campaign going forward. That's probably a tad optimistic. (LVGleaner)

He was also the go-to guy when TeeVee News asked why the debate didn't really address western issues:

On Yucca Mountain: Some observers and party officials predicted the debate's Las Vegas location would inject Western issues into the campaign. And while Yucca Mountain and immigration won brief mention, other issues like mining, water and public lands went untouched.

Asked why that might be, Sen. Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas and a member of Obama's Nevada steering committee said "because the big question still is about the war." Horsford said the candidates did deal with a key Western theme -- security -- Social Security and economic security. (KLAS)

Horsford also got some face time on the PBS show Newshour touting Nevada Partners.

And in case you weren't looking for Horsford, well, never mind.