Friday, October 24, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

LEGALIZED PROSTITUTION: Vegas brothels suggested

Goodman remarks open debate on downtown red-light district

In interviews this week, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has discussed the potential of legalizing prostitution in Las Vegas, perhaps turning East Fremont Street into a "little Amsterdam." Photo by K.M. Cannon. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers converge Thursday on the South Cove Apartments on East Fremont Street in an attempt to serve a warrant. The person they wanted wasn't there, and the police were gone as quickly as they arrived. Photo by K.M. Cannon.

The pitches for downtown Las Vegas have been numerous: a top flight medical facility, a sports stadium, a revitalized arts district, a performing arts center.

Add brothels to the list.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is wondering if the city should legalize the world's oldest profession, perhaps turning East Fremont Street into a "little Amsterdam."

Goodman discussed the potential for legalized prostitution during an appearance Wednesday on a talk radio show and has elaborated on those beliefs in subsequent interviews, leading some to believe he is opening a debate on whether brothels should be among the city's offerings to tourists.

At his weekly news conference Thursday, Goodman said there are pragmatic reasons to back legalized prostitution. Those include the acknowledgement that illegal prostitution is occurring and that brothels could provide safer, regulated and revenue-generating sex, he said.

It might even "be used as a redevelopment tool," Goodman said.

Goodman, who long has personally supported the notion of legalizing both marijuana and prostitution, said he was approached about six months ago by a "substantial casino executive" who suggested East Fremont Street could be turned into something of "a little Amsterdam -- a red light district with legalized brothels and a medical clinic." Goodman declined to name the executive.

One lawmaker said that several months ago, Goodman approached him about the possibility of changing state law to allow legal brothels in Las Vegas. "He (Goodman) seemed pretty interested," said the lawmaker, who asked not to be named.

State law prohibits brothels in any county with a population greater than 400,000, a provision that applies only to Clark County. The law says that other counties can determine whether to establish brothels.

Seven of Nevada's eligible 16 counties have -- Churchill, Esmeralda, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye and Storey -- but the closest brothels to Las Vegas are still an hour's drive away in Pahrump.

George Flint, a lobbyist who represents the Nevada Brothel Owners Association, said he wasn't sure if Goodman was "serious or posturing." But, he added, there's no better market than Las Vegas.

"Legal and regulated is better than the alternative, but you've already got plenty of the alternative down there," Flint said from Reno.

Another Northern Nevadan watching the debate is Dennis Hof, the outspoken owner of the Moonlite Bunny Ranch outside of Carson City in Lyon County.

"The Bunny Ranch would love to have a Southern Nevada presence and Las Vegas is the place to be," Hof said. "Would East Fremont work for us? You bet."

Business owners, residents and those walking East Fremont Thursday evening were split on whether legalizing the sale of sex would help the area.

"Right here is the perfect place because they're out running around right now," said resident Gus Arroyo as he waited for a bus on East Fremont near 15th Street. "It's not going to go away, so they should clean it up."

Vandy Desai, who manages the Rangler Motel on Fremont near 17th Street, said she didn't think legalizing prostitution would help clean up the area.

"We don't want to have prostitutes here," Desai said, peeking through a small window in her locked office door. "We don't want people coming and going here. There is too much drugs as it is."

Moments later, a loud boom brought dozens of curious residents out onto the street. Police in full riot gear were using a battering ram to serve a warrant at the South Cove Apartments. The person they wanted wasn't there, and the police were gone as quickly as they arrived.

One woman, who did not want her last name used or picture taken because she said she is a felon, said legal prostitutes would be "invading our stomping ground."

"But that could also mean more money for us," said the woman, who identified herself only as Brandi.

Hof said he would "invest large sums of money and create a top-of-the-line, yet discreet facility" as a way to attract what he calls the 10,000 weekend warriors who come to Las Vegas every week looking for more than gambling action.

But casino executives, from Steve Wynn to Terry Lanni at the MGM Mirage, have been staunch opposers of legalized prostitution. Some can't believe the mayor is even serious.

"I've talked to the mayor about creating a San Diego-style Gaslamp District right around here with supper clubs and taverns and at no time did he even mention topless clubs," said Alan Abrams, vice president and director of operations for Exber Inc., the company that operates the Western and El Cortez casinos on Fremont Street.

Goodman stressed Thursday at his news conference, that "as mayor, I'm not advocating it." He also said he didn't consider his personal statements as representative of the city's view. "I can't help how people hear my messages," he said.

As a result of his recent comments, Goodman said, "we've been getting a lot of e-mails and calls" about legalized prostitution. He said support for the concept outweighed opposition.

Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, said the debate is a worthy one.

"Philosophically from a health and safety perspective it could make sense and police could actually focus on other issues," Giunchigliani said.

Giunchigliani is a big advocate for the proposed downtown performing arts center.

So could madams fit in with Madame Butterfly?

"I don't know the impact on the performing arts center or what it would mean to the goal of creating condos and small retail downtown," said Giunchigliani, whose district includes downtown Las Vegas.

Other politicians and law enforcement officials are less open-minded.

"I would never be in favor of it," said Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury. "We would really be debasing Las Vegas and certainly sending a very negative message to our children."

Las Vegas police Sgt. Gil Shannon, who works vice, said Las Vegas already has been ranked as one of the worst places to raise a child, and legalizing prostitution would compound the problem.

"We're only going to add fuel to the fire," Shannon said.

So far this year, police have arrested 127 prostitutes under the age of 18, and 368 different prostitutes have tested positive for HIV.

"The brothels aren't going to hire them," Clark County Sheriff Bill Young said.

District Attorney David Roger said the market would still exist for street prostitution, even if brothels were made legal.

"Morality aside, and that's not something we should set aside lightly, but you're still going to have people that are HIV positive committing acts of prostitution," Roger said.

Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid laughed at the question.

"Seriously, I just think that there are a lot of ways to market Las Vegas and that's not the way to go," Reid said.

Hof used the current marketing slogan as a way to make his point.

"What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas," he said, reciting the slogan. "Do you know what that means around the country?"

Billy Vassiliadis of R&R Partners, which created the slogan for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said despite a cultural shift nationwide, the phrase cannot be extrapolated to condone legalized prostitution.

"No, not even close," Vassiliadis said. "I think using the slogan to suggest that takes things to a level that become really problematic."

Young said Las Vegas' new moniker would be the "laughing stock of the nation" if prostitution is legalized.

Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, said she thinks Nevada has already been "penalized for our legalized prostitution."

Leslie, who objects to prostitution as something she considers exploitative of women, said her attempts to get the National Network for Youth to hold its conference in Reno failed because of the group's objection to the state's lax prostitution laws.

"I think we would have to have a statewide debate if Las Vegas was going to legalize it," Leslie said. "I really don't think it could ever be used for redevelopment."

But one downtown casino executive said he thought legalizing prostitution isn't such a bad idea, given the increasing threat of legalized gambling in California.

"Downtown is dying," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Brothels, he said, would attract the perfect demographic: young men with disposable income.

"Hundreds of men leave topless clubs unsatisfied every day," the source said.