Spears no longer Goodman’s prerogative
Britney Spears’ contract-extension party today at The Linq is sharing the spotlight with a political turf war surrounding the event.
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman is fuming, saying she was disinvited from the event. She blames Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak.
“It’s the most ridiculous, infantile thing in the world,” she told the Review-Journal in a telephone interview.
Goodman said her scheduler was asked weeks ago by a rep to present Spears with a ceremonial key to the city at the 5:30 p.m. event today. Then, two weeks ago, “I was summarily disinvited,” she said, “because he’s back in town, and he wants to give her the key to the Strip.
“We want to bring new business in,” said the mayor, “and he’s hung up on who gives her the key to Clark County, which has great resonance.”
In recent years, the county commissioners have been taking the lead at grand opening events on the Strip, which is technically Clark County because the southern boundary of Las Vegas ends at Sahara Avenue.
Starting a year ago in October with the cast of “Last Vegas,” the county has been issuing what it calls a Key to the Las Vegas Strip. Spears will be the 10th, on what is being proclaimed “Britney Day.” The Caesars Entertainment Corp. release said the salute is “in celebration of the tremendous impact” Spears has had on Las Vegas since her Planet Hollywood residency began 10 months ago.
Goodman said Sisolak “is taking it upon himself” to put the county ahead of the city’s brand.
“We’re all working so hard to get this city out of the recession,” she said. “It’s the Las Vegas brand that’s known throughout the world. Nobody in Europe knows Clark County.”
She added, “It is not worth getting into” and referred me to David Riggleman, communications director for the city of Las Vegas since 1999.
“This was a first,” Riggleman said. “In all my years with the city I can’t think of a time when a mayor was disinvited. The mayor and Sisolak have been at events where they give out keys jointly.”
Riggleman is convinced Caesars Entertainment disinvited the mayor because “it was getting pressure.” He said he was informed by a Caesars Entertainment public relations executive that the invite was being rescinded
Asked if he had the mayor disinvited, Sisolak responded, “I didn’t issue the invitations. It’s not my event. They asked us to come, and we’re showing up.”
The unusual act of disinviting a mayor symbolizes a line drawn in the sand, whether it’s by a gaming giant or political entity. A hard line.
“It’s just a respectful boundary, jurisdictional-type issue,” Sisolak said.
“I get invited to a lot of events. In Henderson I get invited a lot because I cover part of Henderson. But I always defer to (mayor) Andy Hafen and the City Council in Henderson. It’s their jurisdiction. If there is a grand opening in Henderson, they usually take that event.
“Just like I don’t go down to the Fremont Street Experience for events,” Sisolak said. “I’ve been down for some private ones, if someone’s having a charity or something I’ll stop by, but if it’s a ribbon-cutting or groundbreaking type thing, I don’t normally do that.
“This event is not about the County Commission, City Council or the mayor. It’s just not,” Sisolak said during the interview in his office. “It’s about Britney Spears and Caesars Entertainment entering into this long-term contract for the good of the community and tourists coming to visit the Strip.
“That’s what the focus should be on, and it shouldn’t be on jurisdictional issues between elected officials.
“I don’t get invited to some things I wish I’d be invited to also, and that happens. If they invited the mayor of Las Vegas they might just as well invite the mayor of Henderson and mayor of North Las Vegas, too. That’s a decision that Caesars has to make, and I support their decision. This is not about the cities and the county. This is about Britney Spears and Caesars Entertainment as far as I’m concerned.”
THE SCENE AND HEARD
The Soul Train Awards will be held at The Orleans on Friday, with Wendy Williams hosting and featured performances by Chris Brown, Lil’ Kim and Tank, among others. Presenters Trey Songz, Tyrese, Wolf Blitzer and Mo’ne Davis, the teen sensation of the Little League World Series. She was the pitching star of the Philadelphia team that reached the semifinals before losing to the Mountain Ridge team from Las Vegas.
SIGHTINGS
NASCAR legend Richard Petty, signing autographs and meeting fans at the SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Tuesday. … Correction: Actor Shane West was celebrating the birthday of fellow actor Christopher Paul — not West’s — on Saturday at Katsuya and The Sayers Club (SLS) on Saturday.
THE PUNCH LINE
“Apparently Tom Cruise is dating Lindsay Lohan. I think this is just a rumor started by the only people who desperately want it to be true — late-night talk-show hosts. We pray to the comedy gods for something like this.” — Craig Ferguson
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
