Dotty’s owners face tough opponents in fight over ‘taverns’
From the sounds of the arguments made by representatives of the Nevada Resort Association at a Thursday Review-Journal editorial board meeting, Dotty's officials are in for a rough road as they fight to call their popular properties "taverns."
Expect a full-court press for Tuesday's showdown at the Clark County Commission.
The NRA is forwarding one of four proposals intended to rewrite and more tightly define a tavern. Dotty's, the NRA argues, resemble slot arcades of the kind no longer allowed by state law.
At Thursday's meeting: NRA President and former Clark County Manager Virginia Valentine, hall-of-fame gaming lawyer Bob Faiss, and NRA board member and Station Casinos Executive Vice President Scott Nielson.
THREE MAYORS: It was a scene that reminded me I have one of the best jobs around.
On Thursday at Ron's Steakhouse inside Arizona Charlie's on Decatur Boulevard, KLAS, Channel 8, reporter George Knapp and I had the pleasure of the company of the three living Las Vegas mayors, Ron Lurie, Jan Jones and Oscar Goodman.
It was the first time all three mayors have been together in conversation, and it was fitting they met for lunch in the restaurant that bears former Mayor Lurie's name.
It was a priceless experience, one I'll recount in Sunday's column. Knapp is surely keeping the footage for posterity and will air his report Sunday.
ASSAD-FIGLER: While most political types are busy handicapping the Las Vegas mayor's race, on Tuesday night I'll be watching the diminutive Municipal Court battle between incumbent George Assad and challenger Dayvid Figler and others.
Known to many locals as a poet and author, Figler has a lengthy career as a serious courtroom lawyer and also has served as a pro tem judge.
Assad has plenty of endorsements, but he's also gained a reputation around muni court as a tyrant.
It's an unscientific survey, to be sure, but during the year I receive more complaints about Assad's demeanor than any other local judge. Whether being tough on everyone makes him tougher on crime is debatable.
CLOSE SHAVE: Sports gambler Lem Banker has been around a long time. How long?
When the infamous Albert Anastasia barber chair (the one the Murder Inc. menace was killed in) was acquired by the downtown Mob Museum, Banker recalled the shaves and haircuts he'd had there back in the day as a member of New York City's sporting crowd.
Banker was a regular at the barbershop inside the Park Sheraton Hotel at 56th Street and 7th Avenue in midtown Manhattan. That's where two gunmen on Oct. 25, 1957, eliminated Anastasia.
GENUINE EXPERIENCE: The Las Vegas Mob Experience opened to a big crowd this week at the Tropicana. It's bound to attract plenty of customers, but one Brooklyn-born local who will remain nameless has decided to pass.
He says, "I remember as a kid growing up in Brooklyn I used to go down to the Gowanus Canal and watch the police drag it for bodies the mob left over the weekend."
Ah, such an idyllic childhood memory.
ON THE BOULEVARD: Former Sheriff Ralph Lamb remains the toughest guy in town even as he battles a loss of sight. Las Vegas mayoral candidate Carolyn Goodman, who appears to be a lock to finish Tuesday's primary as the leader of the pack, is spending $50,000 a week on television ads. Goodman benefited this week from a fundraiser hosted by former Mayor Jones. Meanwhile, candidate George Harris continues to take after candidate Victor Chaltiel, a fellow Republican. Clark County firefighters must be saving a lot of time and money this election cycle -- not being asked to walk precincts or endorse candidates. Mayor Goodman came out in defense of the city's firefighters and public employees, who accepted pay and benefit reductions.
Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.
