Friday, April 23, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
JOHN L. SMITH: Goodman's ego, if not his wallet size, just might trump The Donald's
These days some residents are beginning to wonder whether City Hall can contain Mayor Oscar Goodman.
Do you suppose the building will be able to handle not only Goodman, but Donald Trump, too?
It's a pretty scary thought.
Fresh from his hit reality TV series, "The Apprentice," Trump is scheduled to meet with Goodman May 7 for a tour of downtown.
Talk about your big-idea men. With egos that size standing side by side, they might have to raise the roof on the Fremont Street Experience.
Trump has been paddled in the press because of the poor performance of his casino holdings, but he maintains that his gaming action represents as little as 1 percent of his fortune, which ranges from $2.5 billion to $5 billion depending on your source.
Meanwhile, the image-makers at R&R Partners note that Goodman's recent brief appearance on "Crossfire" was worth $39,000 in the marketing of Las Vegas. That's not bad, but it's far below the estimated $12 million in name hype Goodman generated during the wonderfully overstated Super Bowl controversy.
Goodman will be in the news May 12 when he faces an ethics hearing. No word yet whether Trump will stick around to appear as a character witness.
JUSTICE FOR ... : Justice Court employees? The folks who toil without robes in the Justice Court system wonder if they're being used as a political football by judges and county administrators. The fight over who should ultimately supervise the workers is just beginning.
NHP POLITICS: This week's column on morale inside the southern command of the Nevada Highway Patrol generated intriguing responses from several troopers, who claimed that without substantial changes they will seek employment with other law enforcement agencies.
Although morale is a problem, pay also is an issue at the Highway Patrol. Troopers are paid less than Metro cops and others to start, and the disparity only grows worse with time. Metro sergeants start at $54,000. Henderson Police sergeants begin at $60,000, and North Las Vegas Police Department sergeants receive $60,000.
Highway Patrol sergeants make just under $40,000.
The patrol's deputy chief position, meanwhile, earns $81,000 a year, far less than the $120,000 Metro deputy chiefs receive, according to a Highway Patrol salary study.
MONCRIEF MESS: The attorney general's grand jury investigation into Las Vegas City Councilwoman Janet Moncrief's election financing appears to have bogged down, but one of her chief accusers, former Councilman Steve Miller, says he is being called back to testify this summer.
The financing of Moncrief's campaign has come into question after former ally Miller admitted he helped her defeat incumbent Michael McDonald and then lost a promised job on her staff.
WYNN LAS VEGAS: Steve Wynn continues to land top middle managers and executives from competing Strip resorts on the way to opening Wynn Las Vegas.
Who will be named to run day-to-day operations at the resort? The speculation is heating up on the Strip, and some of the names will come as a surprise.
RIV'S 49TH: When Riviera publicist John Neeland says the hotel quietly celebrated its 49th birthday Tuesday, he means it. The Riviera is gearing up for its 50th and will celebrate in style next year.
The next time you drive down the Strip, imagine the day in 1954 when the Riviera was the spiffiest resort for 300 miles and boasted a dizzying nine-story tower.
ON THE BOULEVARD: The sale of the Jaguars topless cabaret is said to be back in motion. ... Crazy Horse Too executive Vinny Faraci, who sources say is part of the focus of an ongoing FBI investigation, celebrated his birthday on Tuesday. ... Those "totally nude" adult clubs are generating increasing numbers of complaints from jilted customers. If the topless trade is under fire, can trouble be far behind for this lucrative end of the adult industry? ... Vincent Spilotro, son of the late Tony Spilotro, is said to be researching a documentary based on his family's life. He is looking for locals who came in contact with his father, who was known as the Chicago Outfit's main Las Vegas enforcer.
Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0295.
