NLV judge: Cash crunch blocks secure parking for prosecutors

North Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge Warren VanLandschoot says he shares the safety concerns of some prosecutors who work at his courthouse. He's just not sure he can help them now.

A recent column on the lack of secured parking for prosecutors at the court generated a variety of responses. Judges and court administrators enjoy fenced, secured parking.

VanLandschoot, a 28-year cop and longtime homicide detective who has been on the NLV bench since 1997, points to fiscal concerns as a reason the court's secured parking area hasn't been expanded enough to make room for the prosecutors, who park next to where defendants are released from the North Las Vegas Detention Center. The city's fiscal crunch makes the expenditure unlikely, he says.

"I would obviously hate to see anybody hurt, but in my 40 years with the city, I've never seen or heard of anybody being hurt at North Las Vegas Municipal Court," he says.

His definition of "hurt" doesn't include some attempted assaults on court personnel over the years.

"I have great security," he says, speaking of the courthouse generally. "I feel that my employees are safe. But I can't stop some lunatic who wants to come here and harm somebody."

True. But I notice no court official with secured parking has volunteered to trade with the prosecutors.

RATS NO MORE: Division of Welfare and Supportive Services spokesperson Miki Allard says the rats that plagued the agency's building on Rancho Drive have been eliminated.

"We will continue to monitor this situation to ensure the rodents do not return," Allard says.

GOODMAN-OBAMA: As a mob lawyer, Mayor Oscar Goodman hated rats. And he's not all that fond of President Barack Obama after a couple of remarks that put Las Vegas in a tawdry light.

"When he characterized Las Vegas as a place of excess, it certainly put a pall over our ability to attract legitimate businesses here for convention purposes," Goodman said Wednesday.

Whatever happened to "All publicity is good publicity" and "as long as they spell our name right"?

GAMBLING GUYS: While the word on the street is some big football game is going on this Sunday, Wynn Las Vegas Director of Race & Sports Operations Johnny Avello just announced his picks for the 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which takes place later this month at Madison Square Garden. Avello says he favors a Scottie that performed well last year.

I have $20 that says the terrier wins by a cold, wet nose.

Meanwhile, handicapper Chris Jordan points out the comedians at bodog.com offer a hilarious prop bet on how many times CBS cameras will show Super Bowl celebrities Archie Manning, Eli Manning, Reggie Bush girlfriend Kim Kardashian, former Colts coach Tony Dungy, and even Bourbon Street and South Beach.

So who says you need to know whether the ball is pumped or stuffed to bet on the Super Bowl?

ASPHALT APPEAL: With the Clark County Commission's vote to appeal the botched highway improvement bid that pits Las Vegas Paving against Fisher Sand & Gravel, this convoluted controversy figures to get more twisted.

The appeal comes after U.S. District Judge Robert Jones ruled a contract worth more than $100 million be awarded to low-bidder Fisher, which failed to impress commissioners.

Commissioners have chosen the road they want to travel, and it's anything but paved.

"It's unfortunate, given the current economic climate, we have to further delay employment opportunities and go through the judicial system at taxpayers' expense," jabs Fisher Nevada manager Joe Miller.

ON THE BOULEVARD: Don't forget Kendall Tenney's ninth annual Run For A Wish 5K run and 1-mile walk Saturday at Town Square. Proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada. For more information, go to www.runforawish.com.

John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.