STATESIDE


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from a rural area, believed gaming promised prosperity and served as Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission in the late 1970s. However, both McCarran and Reid faced


multiple scandals during their careers. McCarran’s were almost 90 years ago. Reid and his family often faced accusations of fraud, campaign finance ethics issues and other self-serving activities during his 30 year-tenure. I reported this years ago. I was never a Reid fan, but admittedly, he left his mark on Nevada and the Senate. Not bad for a kid who grew up in “the sticks” without indoor plumbing.


• Sticking with Nevada, 80-year-old Steve Wynn has won a 2018 defamation lawsuit against California celebrity lawyer Lisa Bloom. She signed a financial settlement and publicly retracted her client’s sexual misconduct charge against Wynn. “I have spent the last three decades


redeemed our vouchers for cash at an ATM-like machine. Where was the cashier’s cage? Of course, they still


exist, but they are smaller and employ fewer people. Other changes over time include almost nonexistent


dress codes, which I regret, and an overall lack of glamour. On the plus side, casinos are now 24-hour businesses and more innovative because of technology. Summer begins nationwide this month and we hope


to see customers fill the casinos. Inflation and soaring gas prices may hinder vacations, but local casinos are typically a tank of gas away. That helps regional properties. Whatever else is great and contemporary, personal service, training and amenities never get old and outdated. I waited awhile for a Bally’s attendant to fix a slot’s error message while hearing a woman complain about her chair’s discomfort. I’m sure that will be corrected. It was only opening


day. With so many casinos expanding and opening nationwide post-pandemic, we all must be a bit patient.


Some tidbits to end the column:


• Did you know about Las Vegas airport’s name change? City leaders officially renamed McCarran International, which had honored Democratic Senator Pat McCarran’s 1930s-1950s career, on December 14, 2021. The new Harry Reid International Airport honors the longtime Democratic Nevada senator who died last December 28. Ironically, McCarran strongly advocated for Nevada’s


aviation growth, which transformed Las Vegas from a stopover into a metropolitan region. Reid, who came


10 JUNE 2022


aggressively representing victims, regardless of the opponent…Rather than litigating this dispute, I prefer to focus on representing my deserving clients, and would therefore like to correct the record and state that there has been no evidence obtained…,” said Bloom. Translation? She had nothing, but sued


anyway. Bloom and her mother, attorney Gloria Allred,


are publicity seekers and frequently on camera. Many grievances pan out, but others have proven bogus and harmful. • File this under potentially dumb. In Fall 2016, Local 54 union members who worked at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City went on strike during the summer. Billionaire Carl Icahn’s purchase had brought it out of bankruptcy in 2014. He promised better wages if the November 2016 election about North Jersey casinos failed, but still offered 18 months of benefits up front. It didn’t matter. Once members struck, the Taj closed and put 2400 out of work. In 2022, without a new contract and “significant wage increases, a late May strike threat at all nine casinos loomed. Local 54 claims to want to prevent workers from falling behind since labor shortages have increased salaries in other industries. Atlantic City’s casinos are finally doing well again. This is NOT the time to wreck that dynamic as summer begins. Plenty of people have made economic sacrifices and tough decisions for their families. I hope they settle. If not, they won’t be


sympathetic to me or many of the millions who live here and depend on the region’s economic health. Happy Summer!


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