Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

JOHN L. SMITH: Troubles at Treasures catch City Council in dicey dilemma

See them wiggle, see them writhe. See them undulate and insinuate. See them crawl on their bellies like a reptile.

No, I'm not talking about the tasty tarts who shake it nightly at Treasures topless cabaret. I'm talking about the City Council and all those in local government who attempt to balance the law of the land with the reality of the night, the ethics of elected office with the ethics of Vegas.

Now that they've begun their slow dance with Treasures owners Ali and Hassan Davari, the Houston-based skin merchants whose club was ramrodded through the system and after just six months in business has run afoul of police and licensing authorities, the council figures to find itself blushing no matter which decision it makes.

Wednesday's hearing captured the essence of the council's dilemma. The Davari brothers' track record in Houston included prostitution and drug arrests at their clubs, and it took an unprecedented amount of politicking to gain them a temporary license for Treasures. In an example of outright naivete, Davari attorney Mark Fiorentino proclaimed that the club would remain free of trouble.

But, of course, that's next to impossible in an atmosphere in which young women dance around in their underwear before an endless parade of gawking men. Metro had little difficulty citing three dancers for prostitution.

The latest hearing found Fiorentino, who specializes in land development, not bust development, so uncomfortable he appeared to be in visible pain. As he attempted to explain a new definition of never, I almost expected him to whine, "Help me, Mr. Wizard, I don't want to represent the sleaze merchants anymore."

The council's problem is not the facts as presented by Metro and Business Services chief Jim DiFiore. Those are known. The real problem is whether the council decides to start setting standards in a legal racket that hasn't lived by many over the years.

If three prostitution arrests are good enough to send the Davaris packing, then most of the rest of the clubs in the city and all the downtown motels ought to be concerned.

When the council meets June 16 to write an ending to this story, it risks looking either out of step with the reality of Vegas or under the thumb of the brothers Davari. (There's also the possibility of a hefty fine.)

It's almost comical that the two council members most receptive to the skin merchants, Councilman Michael Mack and Mayor Oscar Goodman, are sitting out this dance after declaring conflicts. Mack represents Treasures as a public relations consultant. Goodman's attorney son, Ross Goodman, is on a legal retainer to the Davari brothers. Mack can't seem to help wrapping himself in ethically questionable business deals, and "Mayor Daley" Goodman flat doesn't care what his critics think.

It's the rest of the council that must sweat its next move.

Vice detectives have issued three prostitution citations, and licensing investigators have noted numerous violations of erotic dance ordinances. But forget for a moment that the cops could find as many violations any night of the year at many casino lounges, or that the dance floors at most local nightclubs feature moves as naughty as most of the stuff that goes on at local topless joints.

The Davaris are on the hook, and problems that surface between now and June 16 could cripple their investment. Of course, the brothers didn't help their image by attempting to hide from news cameras at the hearing. Come on, it's the City Council, not Estes Kefauver.

And Fiorentino has some "factual reassessment" to do after admitting the club only recently hired a private investigator to conduct background inquiries. Skeptics will wonder whether retaining investigator Tom Dillard was done more for cosmetic reasons with the hearing approaching than out of a sincere interest in following the rules.

"I personally think they are doing everything they can to prohibit prostitution at the club," Fiorentino said, his credibility on the line.

We'll see whether the same can be said in the coming weeks for the dancers at City Hall.

John L. Smith's column appears Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0295.