Thursday, October 23, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Editor's Note: Into the hyperbolic chamber

Hyperbole has always been with us. Webster's, which defines hyperbole as "extravagant exaggeration," dates the word to 1571. But hyperbole seems to be enjoying a renaissance of sorts lately, as commentators of all stripes struggle to slice through the media static.

Generally speaking, this is not a good thing. First of all, hyperbole is, by its nature, inaccurate. And second, it is usually intended to influence public opinion in an unhealthy manner.

Take, for example, a statement made last week by Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association. Fahrenkopf, the casino industry's chief lobbyist in Washington, is known for a lot of things, among them his efforts to downplay the prevalence of compulsive gambling in American society. His bosses, of course, have the same problem as the tobacco companies have had: Their product is addictive. The casino industry has paid for an array of studies attempting to minimize the prevalence of compulsive gambling, but reality keeps showing up to suggest otherwise.

Anyway, Fahrenkopf, speaking to the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, urged the city not to limit its growth. Before we get to the hyperbole, let's examine the general thrust of Fahrenkopf's speech. At what point, from what source, did he get the idea that North Las Vegas was thinking of restricting its growth? Certainly neither North Las Vegas nor any other jurisdiction in the valley has shown the slightest interest in limiting its growth, calling into question the underlying premise of Fahrenkopf's speech. Since when did a handful of letters from random citizens printed in the local newspaper constitute a movement to limit growth?

But here's the hyperbole: Fahrenkopf urged North Las Vegas, "Don't do what Reno did," meaning that Reno, his hometown, has restricted its growth to ill effect. In fact, Fahrenkopf says a "no-expansionist mentality has destroyed Reno."

"Destroyed Reno"? How's that again?

I was in Reno recently. It didn't look "destroyed" to me. In fact, it looked quite intact, even alive and well in most respects. Talking to people I know in Reno, where I went to college, I find that it's growing quite heartily--not as fast and out of control as the Las Vegas area, of course, but growing and thriving nonetheless.

To be sure, the casino industry in Reno has seen better days. Competition from Indian casinos in California is hitting Reno pretty hard, although, on a Friday night, Virginia Street is still a hoppin' place.

What's more, Reno, unlike Las Vegas, is not completely dependent on the casinos for its survival. As Harry York, chief executive of the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce, told the Las Vegas Sun, Reno's economy is flourishing thanks to an influx of warehouse, industrial and high-tech firms fleeing California. "There's a pretty rapid expansion of retail and housing," York said. "You see valleys fill up that used to be green and you see rolling hills that now have houses on them."

Put aside for a moment the argument that developing those "green" areas and "rolling hills" on the outskirts of Reno is a net loss for the natural beauty of the Truckee Meadows. The point here is that Fahrenkopf is full of it. Some years ago Reno did embark on a course to better manage its growth, to employ "smart growth" policies to avoid the "Las Vegas-ization" (my term) of its community. But this effort did not involve stopping U-Hauls on the highway or rejecting applications for business licenses.

Over the past 10 years, in fact, Reno has been among the nation's fastest-growing areas. It has nurtured and promoted its recreational amenities, such as Lake Tahoe, Sierra ski resorts and world-class golf courses. It has supported the University of Nevada, which recently surpassed the 15,000 mark in student enrollment despite relentless strong-arm lobbying by UNLV for a greater share of the university system budget. The city's movers and shakers raised millions to build a world-class art museum.

"Destroyed Reno"? C'mon.

Clearly, Fahrenkopf has been tasked with sounding the alarm that a dangerous movement is afoot to slow growth in Southern Nevada. This concern has no basis in reality--unfortunately--but perhaps the growth machine (which includes the casino industry) simply wants to nip it in the bud.

Finding that bud would be difficult, as it consists of a handful of unconnected citizens who have written letters to the editor (and maybe cc'd some of their elected representatives) and one columnist for a small weekly newspaper. Not exactly a groundswell.

We all want the same thing: quality of life. Even Fahrenkopf uttered this well-worn mantra in his speech. The quality of life in Las Vegas is determined, in large part, by our nation-pacing growth rate. This growth has positive and negative effects. Those few who would like to see their elected officials do a better job of managing growth are frustrated that the negative effects are outweighing the positive right now.

The over-arching response we're getting from elected officials is more toeing of the party line: All growth is good. Grow or die. Don't kill the golden goose. Yadda, yadda.

What we aren't getting is thoughtful discussion of the single most important issue facing Las Vegas now and in the future. We just might spur some of that thoughtful discussion if Fahrenkopf's fears were justified.

--GEOFF SCHUMACHER