Friday, May 07, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
JOHN L. SMITH: Medical centers pull the plug on Culinary union's health program
The Culinary union has consistently maintained that its health program is in top condition and provides superior coverage despite rising medical costs nationwide.
Which perhaps makes it tougher to explain why the estimated 5,500 Culinary workers who were treated at Rainbow Medical Centers will now have to find an alternative provider. Rainbow has announced it's terminating its contract with the Culinary effective June 4. Physician compensation is at the center of the breakup.
Culinary Secretary-Treasurer D. Taylor said, "The fund is in great shape" and added, "The idea that doctors want more money ain't a news story."
Michael McCarthy, executive director of Apollo MSE, which manages the Rainbow centers, countered, "The primary reason (for the termination) is the reimbursement schedule hasn't been updated in eight years. It no longer covers the cost of service. I can no longer lose money for my doctors. I don't have the operating budget to subsidize any carrier."
EXPOS WATCH: While some local reporters have been content to play handicapper with the possibility the Montreal Expos might move to Las Vegas, the national press continues to buzz at the prospect.
On Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Sporting News began his Foxsports.com column this way: "Imagine walking out of a casino and into a ballpark. Imagine Celine Dion throwing out the first pitch one night and Wayne Newton the next. Imagine wedding ceremonies during the seventh-inning stretch.
"I don't know if major league baseball would succeed in Las Vegas. I do know the city merits serious consideration even if the Expos move to Washington, D.C., their most logical destination."
Whether or not it happens, he's absolutely right.
MOB EXHIBIT: Oh, the scandal. Mayor Oscar Goodman's critics can barely sleep at the thought that the City Council on Wednesday approved the concept for a mob exhibit when the old downtown courthouse is eventually transformed into a cultural center.
Although Deputy City Manager Betsy Fretwell this week defended the theme as valid, given the city's historical ties to organized crime, she needn't have bothered.
Frankly, the idea isn't unique. Thanks in large part to the late archivist Frank Wright, the state museum at Lorenzi Park features a dandy organized crime exhibit.
Frank set aside space for the historical arc of bootleggers and button men who helped put this community on the map. The exhibit includes plenty of information on Ben Siegel and Meyer Lansky.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES: Attorney Allen Lichtenstein of the American Civil Liberties Union has produced a powerful friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of those arguing in favor of public employees being allowed to serve in elected office. Question is, will it be perceived as apolitical?
Lichtenstein says, "We as a civil rights organization don't have any specific constituency of people who might want to be in the Legislature. Our concern is for the general public and for people be allowed to vote for whom they choose."
SPECIAL ELECTION: The city has decided to pursue a special election in the wake of the departure of Ward 2 Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald.
If the thought of setting a special election instead of the long-honored tradition of juiced-in appointments to local government councils appeals to you, you have Assemblyman Tom Collins to thank. He grew tired of watching a handful of elected officials plant their inside picks in office and in 1997 sponsored AB 349, which enabled local governments to set special elections.
The arrangement isn't perfect, but anything that sheds more light on the process should be applauded.
These days, Collins is campaigning for County Commission District B, a seat currently held by the indicted Mary Kincaid-Chauncey.
ON THE BOULEVARD: Last week's funeral service in Versailles, Ky., for long-time casino host Dan Chandler drew eulogies from his nephew, Congressman Ben Chandler; his attorney, former Strike Force prosecutor Dick Crane, and his favorite basketball coach, Louisville's Rick Pitino. A local memorial toast to Chandler remains tentative.
Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0295.
