Issue 159
September 29 - October 5, 2003
Volume 3
page 2
 

Las Vegas Paying for Sin City Reputation

LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas has become the nation's premier party town -- no question about it.

Tourists are flocking to Sin City to live out their vices because they know, as the
Las Vegas.

Convention and Visitors Authority is fond of telling them in national television ads, "what happens here stays here."

The LVCVA ads capture the essence of what Las Vegas is becoming -- a city bursting with opulent topless clubs that allow strip-tease artists to offer you more than just a lap dance; outcall services that will send an "entertainer" to your hotel room; and massage parlors that will give you more than a massage.

But the reality of the Las Vegas being marketed today is leading to an unadvertised special, a rise in prostitution.

Sheriff Bill Young and his overwhelmed vice detectives are seeing more prostitutes on the Strip than they've seen in a long time.

Cops will tell you that the working girls have become more noticeable everywhere you look -- in the casinos and even on the streets.

It's been more than 20 years since a sheriff acknowledged prostitution was a problem on the streets. The late Sheriff John Moran got elected in 1982 with a campaign pledge to rid the Strip of street prostitution, and he promptly followed through with his pledge after he took office.

In those days, Las Vegas was on the brink of marketing itself as a family destination. It was fine to discreetly send a call girl to a high roller's room at Caesars Palace, but it was a different matter letting a lady of the evening solicit Joe Sixpack outside the Flamingo Hilton in front of his kids.

For a sheriff to single out a prostitution problem in today's adult-oriented environment, you know things have to be getting out of hand.

It's at least bad enough for Young to start appealing to the megaresorts to give police more help.

"The hotels have to step up," Young says. "In my opinion some could be doing a
better job."

That means being more proactive about spotting prostitutes loitering on their property and alerting police.

Casino security chiefs understand that they could be doing more, and they say they're willing to work more closely with police.

But when you market the Strip as a place where anything goes, you've got to wonder how committed the hotels really are to reducing our prostitute population.

For the visitor, perception is reality.

The megaresorts on the Strip now are competing to fulfill your sexual appetite. They've produced X-rated strip-tease shows to lure you away from the topless clubs, and they've opened glitzy nightclubs with scantily dressed cocktail waitresses and go-go dancers to keep you hanging around into the early-morning hours.

The resorts also seem to welcome with open arms the hundreds of working girls throughout the West who pour into Las Vegas almost weekly to feed off special events, such as championship boxing matches or big-time concerts.

These girls come in droves and work 24-7 because they also know that "what happens here, stays here." If they're busted on misdemeanor prostitution charges, they pay a $200 fine, a small cost of doing business, and are back out on the streets the next day plying their trade.

The reality is that a rise in prostitution may be just the beginning of the social ills we're creating for ourselves, as we continue to encourage Americans to indulge in their vices here.

What's next on the Strip? An increase in drug use? Suicides? Thefts? Violent crime?

We better get used to hearing about these problems because they all are coming, if they aren't already here.

They are the costs of doing business in Las Vegas that tourism officials aren't advertising.

 

 


Westin Opening Delayed - LAS VEGAS -- Construction continues on the Westin Casuarina last week. This month's expected opening of the Westin Casuarina Hotel Casino in Las Vegas has been put off until next month because of construction delays. The 825-room Westin, which was rebuilt using the shell of the Maxim hotel-casino, has been a tricky construction project from the start, the hotel's owner says.

The 1980s-era hotel, at 160 E. Flamingo Rd. near the Las Vegas Strip, was an eyesore until owner Columbia Sussex Corp. began remaking it into a luxury hotel this year. Because of company policy, customers who made reservations at the Westin for this month have been given the option of canceling their arrangements or receiving accommodations nearby, Westin General Manager Tom Hagreen said. He said the property should open in the latter half of the month. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. licenses franchises under the Westin, Sheraton, Four Points, St. Regis and W brands.

Owners to Demolish Landmark Nevada Casino - CARSON CITY, NV – In a move that stunned city officials, the owners of the Ormsby House have announced plans to demolish the landmark hotel-casino built by the Laxalt family in 1972. The Carson City Building Department received an application for a demolition permit Friday from owners Don Lehr and Allan Fiegehen.

Despite spending $8 million to gut and renovate Carson City's largest hotel-casino over the last three years, the owners say they now want to demolish it because of frustration over city codes and red tape.

Mayor Ray Masayko declined to speculate whether he thinks the owners are bluffing to gain concessions from the city. He plans to talk with the owners.

"The Ormsby House helps put Carson City on the tourism and gaming map. We're not just going to stand still and say, Oh, well," Masayko added. Supervisor Richard Staub said he doesn't think the building will be torn down.

Closed in fall 2000, the 10-story Ormsby House was expected to undergo a nine-month, $10 million overhaul to convert it into a five-star resort. But workers have encountered one problem after another, causing several delays.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers will perform at the Events Center at Mandalay Bay Resort Casino on October 8, 2003.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers made a name for themselves and created a unique musical style by combining elements of funk and punk rock.

The band signed a record deal with EMI and released "Red Hot Chili Peppers" in 1984 and "Freaky Styley" in 1985 before releasing their first album to appear on the charts, "Uplift Mofo Party Plan," in 1987.

Price: $40.00

Price Note: May not include all taxes & fees.

Show Time: 7:30 p.m.

Reservations: Reservations Recommended

For more information please call: (877) 632-7800
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