Reid, civic leaders tour downtown LV

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D.-Nev.; Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Mayor Pro Tem Gary Reese shared a jovial tour of downtown redevelopment projects Wednesday, hoping that the senator's attention would translate into increased public interest.

"I think it's important that the public becomes aware of what's happening in our downtown," Goodman said. "So many folks move to our community and they go to beautiful residential areas ... and don't even know there's a downtown.

"This is going to become the cultural center, basically, of Southern Nevada, which of course is the engine that drives the entire state."

Included on the bus tour was the historic downtown post office, which is slated to be developed into a Mob Museum; Union Park, which will be home to the Smith Center for the Performing Arts and other development; and the Fifth Street School, which is being restored for use as an arts hub.

Reid was particularly interested in the restoration of the school, noting that it was built in the 1930s as part of the Depression-era Works Progress Administration.

"This school has always been one of my favorites," he said. "This facility was built by welfare recipients. It has a great history."

He was also interested in the high-rise condo towers that have gone up or are under construction, wondering how many of the units are being purchased by actual Las Vegas residents. (Answer: Between 50 percent and 70 percent, depending on the building, according to Scott Adams, Las Vegas business development director.)

People were generally excited to see the entourage pass by, even if they didn't always know exactly who it was they were seeing.

Tonia Williams was waiting for a bus outside the Fifth Street School when she spied Goodman's familiar face in the approaching throng of officials, media handlers and television cameras.

"Excuse me! Can I take a picture with you?" she cried, pulling out her cell phone.

Goodman obliged, but he pointed out that Reid might make a better "get": "You know, this is the third most powerful person in the world," he said.

"OK!" Williams said. "I'll take a picture with you too!"

She didn't. And as the throng moved on, she turned to a bystander and said, "That was the governor, right?"

Contact reporter Alan Choate at achoate@ reviewjournal.com or (702) 229-6435.