Goodman: Black Book is unconstitutional

By John Katsilometes

Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015 | 2 a.m.

Notes culled from around the scene in VegasVille, where former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is ready to take on the infamous Black Book:

• Goodman will speak about the book, at the fifth installment of his regular dinner series at Oscar’s Beef, Booze & Broads at the Plaza. The program runs 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 29.

One of his favorite topics, in previous sessions, Goodman has turned afield from the planned topic to fire at the Black Book, the list of “undesirables” the Nevada Gaming Control Board bans from casinos.

“Think about it,” Goodman told me recently. “A statute was enacted that allowed authorities to enter people’s names on this list, and that means these people are excluded from entering any part of a casino complex — like the bowling alley, even if it is not connected to the slots or gambling tables. They can’t go to a boxing match, they can’t use a restroom facility at these hotel-casinos. … It’s totally unconstitutional.”

Goodman promises a couple of juicy moments, in which he’ll dish on people he says are highly reputable but are included in the Black Book, including a supposed friend of mobster Tony Spilotro.

“This person is a well-respected member of the community, he takes his wife to shows at the Smith Center, but he’s in the Black Book, and he can’t even have dinner at Oscar’s at the Plaza,” Goodman said.

Goodman also promises to unveil a never-told story about how the Black Book came to be.

“It has been a secret, something I’ve never told anybody in my life before about how the Black Book decision was wrongfully influenced by authorities,” Goodman said. “It’s going to be very interesting, trust me.”

• Seeing former MGM Resorts executive and current Foxwoods President and CEO Felix Rappaport at Hakkasan this month while he celebrated the 21st birthday of his daughter brought to mind other odd resort executive “sightings” over the years.

A quick quiz: Which Las Vegas resort legend was known to hang out at the Klondike, which once stood just across from the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign? (Answer at the end of the column.)

• Dinner Confab of the Week: MGM Resorts Vice President of Entertainment Chris Baldizan and Life is Beautiful founder Rehan Choudhry. Likely topics: Outdoor festival strategy and the weather.

• Some fun with numbers: Steve Wynn’s salary has dipped from $4 million to $2.5 million a year. Andrew Luck, quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, who reached the AFC Championship Game two weeks ago but were drubbed 42-7 by the New England Patriots, is working on a deal that would make him the highest-paid player in NFL history at $25 million per year. Wynn, however, has had a far longer career.

• After recommendations from resort executives and elected officials, especially Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, I finally dined at Fat Choy restaurant at Eureka casino. Very good, especially as this place is “double-tucked,” tucked inside a little casino that itself is tucked away on East Sahara Avenue.

Try the Peking duck bao. The short rib grilled cheese sandwich also is a winner. Fat Choy is now in the restaurant rotation.

• Two events not to count on anytime soon: the reopening of the Stirling Club at Turnberry Place and the return of the stage show “Vegas Nocturne.” The owners of the Stirling Club are said to be “sitting on” the property, unsure of how, or even if, to open the former spa, lounge and restaurant complex for residents of Turnberry Place. “Vegas Nocturne” might be back in some form, but likely in Chicago.

• The answer to above quiz: Bob Stupak, who hung at the bar with his cronies and drank cheap draft beer when owner Bob Woodrum ran the place. They don’t make ’em like Stupak, the Klondike or Woodrum anymore.