Ludmila Wirt and her 9-year-old daughter, Polina, may soon be homeless again. Photo by CHRISTINE WETZEL

Thursday, August 14, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Quick and Dirty: A notebook of news and politics

Mystery shoppers baffle City

Last week's killer turnouts at the opening of the 430,000 square-foot Las Vegas Premium Outlets mall across from the Clark County Government Center has left a few city officials scratching their heads, wondering whether they did the right thing when they agreed to spare the developer $3.3 million in property taxes.

In June 2002, the City Centre Development Corp., the city's advisory redevelopment group, recommended, and the city council approved, tax increment financing--a plan where 41 percent of the developer's property tax bill is refunded. But a few members last week questioned the wisdom in granting the rebate since mall officials predicted they would probably revise their annual 10-million-shoppers count upward.

The reason? Co-developer Chelsea Property Group 14 months ago held the $95 million project "hostage," claiming that following the 9-11 tragedy prospective tenants were leery about signing on and without them Chelsea's 14 percent "profit" would be jeopardized. Tax increment financing was needed, they said, "to provide an acceptable risk-adjusted rate of return" and without it, the project was dead.

But big, overflow crowds means big, overflowing sales, which means satisfied tenants and that means a healthy rate of return--all the more reason to question the questionable tax incentive.--FC

A learning experience for Gilcrease

The city council's Aug. 20 meeting will see a long-brewing skirmish in rapidly growing northwest Las Vegas come to a head. The Clark County School District and supporters of Gilcrease Orchard will learn whether a controversial high school is approved to be built next to the 100-acre pay-to-pick operation. The Gilcrease brothers, Bill and Ted, sold the school district a 40-acre parcel for $2.7 million in 2001, and now the district wants to build a new closed-campus high school that will hold as many as 2,700 students.

Ted Gilcrease is in the hospital; Bill was not available for comment. But orchard supporter and long-time friend of the Gilcrease brothers Sharon Linsenbardt says the school would invite problems--from traffic to vandalism--that would ruin the orchard.

"I'm not anti-teen or anti-education," says Linsenbardt. "But the vandalism and other problems that will come with this overbuilt, incompatible building will be the demise of Gilcrease. I'm not saying we don't need schools, but we only have one orchard."

Matt LaCroix, assistant director of demographics zoning and realty for the school district, counters that if Gilcrease can survive the impact of being surrounded by residential housing, a school won't make much difference. "Besides, it's a closed campus, a controlled environment. Students can't wander off," he says. "Actually, I think the school will have a positive impact [on the orchard]. We're reviewing the opportunities to have an educational component at the school to deal with aspects of the orchard."--AK

Russian family still in limbo

Just over a month ago, things finally seemed to be looking up for Ludmila Wirt and her 9-year-old daughter, Polina. The pair had been homeless and shelter-hopping for several months when Linda Lera-Randle El, director of the non-profit Straight from the Streets (an organization that works directly with the homeless), found them sitting on a downtown bench. She managed to find a temporary motel room for the Russian mother and daughter, and arranged to obtain Wirt's file from the Immigration and Naturalization Service for evaluation.

However, since then there's been little progress for the destitute family, says Lera-Randle El. "[Wirt] has gotten some day labor work here and there--cash jobs, the kind you probably don't want," she says. "But money is tight and I will not be able to keep paying their rent."

Wirt's green card application was revoked when her American husband died unexpectedly. Then her temporary work card expired, leaving her unable to legally work in the U.S. Because she and Polina are now considered to be in the country illegally, neither is eligible for any kind of public assistance. They could even face deportation.

Unless they get help soon--in the form of an immigration lawyer who's willing to work pro bono to figure out Wirt's legal options, and rental assistance--Lera-Randle El says Wirt and her daughter may become homeless again. To reach Straight from the Streets, call 496-6087.--LC

Radio intolerance

Alternative viewpoints aren't welcome on KDWN 720-AM, as Doug Bashem found out the hard way. Basham had a talk show on the station, but his refusal to toe the station's conservative line left him without a forum. He says the station manager told him, "I don't like what you do on the air."

"I spent too much time bashing the president," he says.

"It was political," he says of his show, "but not from the right-wing perspective, as everything else was on this station. If you dare ask a question, they automatically assume you're on the left."

Basham says he lost his time spots in May, despite significant gains in ratings. As is the custom, the show was paid for by an outside party who remains anonymous.

Basham stayed on at KDWN as an engineer but then he landed a nonpaying talk show on KLAV 1230-AM, Mondays through Fridays from 8 to 9 a.m. "The breaking point started because of the other station," he says. "How dare me to be on another station."

He was fired as an engineer. Basham says his ratings are up at KLAV, but his pay is way down.

"I tried to present an alternative opinion to counterbalance the glut of right-wing rhetoric out there," he says of his on-air stint at KDWN. He says callers to KDWN who were critical of the Bush administration were cut off. "Sounds like censorship to me. They equate dissent with treason."

Bob Fisher, president of the Nevada Broadcasters Association, refused to categorize most local talk shows as right wing. "I'm uncomfortable putting a label on anything. But when it comes to talk shows, it's a slippery slope."

KDWN General Manager Claire Reis did not return two phone calls last week.--LW

Bid for the Goldfield

C'mon, you know you want a chunka old Nevada: rusty old mine tailings, warped-wood grandeur, desert scrub, space to think, a well to dig and the wind in your ears.

That's why you're going to the fourth annual Goldfield Land Rush auction on Aug. 23, neh? Esmeralda County hopes to sell off 90 parcels that day (including some mine claims). The jewel in the lot is the old Goldfield Hotel, built in 1908 to the symphony of half a million bucks. It's 85 percent restored. The starting bid for the four-story, one-time five-star hotel will be $359,000 (plus taxes plus cost), says LaCinda Elgan, Esmeralda County clerk/treasurer. That's what the delinquent owner, Las Vegas Investments, owes in 13 years of back taxes.

Other parcels include 371 acres of water rights-less desert in Fish Lake Valley (but you can dig a domestic well), and assorted other land there and in Silver Peak. Most of the parcels are in Goldfield, however--where, if you do bid and win, you will have about 350 other neighbors to chat with down at the Mozart Club.

Even if you're not bidding for land and glory, you can come for the Goldfield Days celebration Aug. 22, 23 and 24: parade, balloon rides, games, food, beer, chautauquas. Just drive north on U.S. 95 160 miles and stop. There's street dancing Friday night, and then on Saturday the parade starts at 9 a.m. The auction follows directly after. For a bid packet, send $25 to the Esmeralda County Clerk/Treasurer, P.O. Box 547, Goldfield, NV 89013. Or call (775) 485-6367. For celebration info, call the Goldfield Chamber of Commerce, (775) 485-3560.--HW

Just a matter of time

When Las Vegas city officials nearly five years ago approved plans for the "futuristic" Town Center, that bastion of new wave planning in the far northwest area, there were visions of fresh architectural styles, colorful logos and graphics and a bright spirit caught up in something new.

But like most plans, they've been altered. And with the first easing of the standards, the whole plan began to slip--after all, a Wal-Mart is a Wal-Mart even though the exterior might be inlaid brick instead of mundane stucco.

And so it is today, following the city council's approval of a 740-unit Storage One mini-storage and RV parking complex, the first such use in Town Center, along with 51,000 square feet of retail space on the 11-acre site.

With a use permit, the land is appropriately zoned for mini-storage, but that probably doesn't comfort Gail and Charlie Shields, whose property across the street includes a $400,000 home on one acre. They will be reminded of the "futuristic" Town Center daily.--FC