Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008 | 2 a.m.
Mayor Oscar Goodman has been selected by the U.S. Conference of Mayors to serve on a working group to create a “Main Street Economic Recovery Plan” to try to sell to Congress.
The goal of the plan is create jobs and rebuild infrastructure. It would include 22 proposed projects for Las Vegas that focus on street improvements, transportation projects and clean energy.
According to a city news release, the projects would bring an estimated 687 jobs to Las Vegas.
The working group, composed of 24 mayors of large and small cities across the country, is focusing on existing federal funding sources.
According to a Dec. 15 letter to Goodman from Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz, president of the mayors conference, a major goal of the working group is to try to make sure President-elect Barack Obama’s proposed economic recovery plan, intended to create or save 3 million jobs nationwide, includes as many of the mayors group’s proposals as possible.
“While we have made good progress, we have not received any commitments that our package will be the basis” for Obama’s plan, Diaz wrote.
Diaz added that he wants to make sure that any such federal money finds its way directly to the cities “and does not get stuck in state bureaucracies.”
Diaz wrote that progress is being made and noted that Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to Obama, has agreed to set up a meeting that will include Obama’s top economic advisers and the mayors working group.
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We’re about to see an example of what makes Oscar Goodman the self-proclaimed Happiest Mayor of the Greatest City in the World.
An event like New Year’s Eve — with showgirls and fireworks and free-flowing gin drinks — is Goodman’s thing, and for the 10th year running, hizzoner will be downtown under the Fremont Street Experience canopy to shepherd in the new year.
Goodman will recite the countdown to the new year, and will be on hand from 9 p.m. until the party ends, with one showgirl on each arm, to revel with the crowd.
And according to promoters, that crowd is supposed to grow this year — possibly double, to 30,000.
That’s because this year, the celebration will be free for locals with a valid Nevada ID. The cover charge will be $20 for out-of-staters.
The Dec. 31 party is an adults-only affair this year, and those younger than 21 will be turned away.
This year’s Fremont Street celebration is being called “Tribute Palooza,” complete with eight tribute bands from across the country. From 6 p.m. on, they’ll be on two stages playing hits by Billy Joel, U2, Kiss, the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, Queen, David Bowie and Aerosmith.
An “indoor” fireworks celebration under the canopy will commence at midnight, said Tom Bruny, director of marketing for the Fremont Street Experience.
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The city is joining with several local agencies and businesses to offer free Christmas tree recycling throughout the valley.
The city asks that those looking to take advantage of the program make sure to first remove all non-organic materials from the tree such as tinsel, lights and ornaments.
A list of drop-off locations can be found at: www.springspreserve.org/html/about_tree_locations.html
Tree pick-up is available from area homes, for a $20 charge, by calling (800) 468-5865, which is serviced 24 hours a day.
Recycling trees, which converts them into landscaping-friendly mulch, keeps them out of local landfills.
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