Revelers fill the Fremont Street Experience for the New Years Eve party on the Saturday December 31, 2022.
Monday, Dec. 25, 2023 | 2 a.m.
Nevada is a sprawling state with most of its people in two population centers. But beyond the reaches of Las Vegas and Reno is a land filled with attractions and history. Some of them, of course, might not be familiar to most Nevadans. The Sun has reached out to mayors and representatives of the Silver State’s 19 cities, giving them a platform in our pages to talk about their area’s history and attractions and to describe what makes them special and what challenges they face.
Today, we present a Q+A with Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman.
Give us a history lesson. What makes your jurisdiction unique?
Las Vegas has long captured the world’s imagination, and the city of Las Vegas is where it all started. The 1905 land auction began Las Vegas, and one can still embrace the vintage Vegas vibe downtown, while also enjoying our beautiful parks and recreational offerings in our beautiful neighborhoods.
What kind of attractions and events do you have that people may be interested in visiting?
There really are too many to count from our cultural offerings such as the Neon and Mob Museums to the world-famous Fremont Street Experience, there is something for everyone. We also have the booming 18B Las Vegas Arts District, home to Brewery Row, and the very popular Fremont East Entertainment District. Do not forget the Las Vegas Medical District and Symphony Park, home of the Smith Center for the Performing Arts.
What new development opening in 2024 has you excited and why?
We are very excited about the new Civic Plaza located across from City Hall. This new plaza will feature an outdoor area for special events as well as new office and retail space. We are also excited about the expansion of Area 15 and the new Universal project coming to that amusement complex.
What is the biggest challenge facing your jurisdiction?
Our top priority remains public safety. We know that without a safe city you cannot have a true community.
What industry is most important to your town’s economy? What about diversifying?
Tourism is the top industry, but we have also become a hub for new technologies over the past decade. Downtown Las Vegas has become a testbed for new technologies including driverless vehicles.
What opportunity does your community provide for public education? What challenges does it face?
The city works to help fill the educational gaps that the school district is unable to cover. Our focus is on pre-K learning through our Strong Start programs as well as before- and after-school education and care, and programs, such as Batteries Included, that prepare our teens for college.
What challenges do your residents face with health care availability and cost?
The Las Vegas Medical District continues to build upon the idea of world-class medical care here. With the new home of the UNLV School of Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, we are off and running and there is more to come.
Nevadans have lived with historic drought for the past two decades. What initiatives are in place to save the valuable commodity of water?
The city has long been a leader when it comes to sustainability. Water conservation is a focus with the city replacing grass and plants in roadway medians with beautiful sculptures, and we also utilize drought-tolerant plants in our parks.
What issues are facing your community regarding roads and transportation?
Taking care of our infrastructure and quickly and conveniently moving people around our city is a focus. We have finished many Complete Streets projects including Main Street and Las Vegas Boulevard downtown, making these corridors safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists. These projects also beautify the area and create a more business-friendly environment.
How can public safety be enhanced in your community?
Public safety is the city’s top priority. The city’s department of public safety works closely with Las Vegas Metro Police. Recently we have enhanced safety in the tourist corridor downtown with the opening of the new joint substation on Fremont Street, which is shared by the deputy city marshals, Metro Police and Fremont Street Experience security. We have also instituted a flex team of marshals who can be quickly deployed to hotspots around the city to increase police patrols and presence.
What is one thing you wish the rest of the state knew about your jurisdiction?
Everyone knows Las Vegas, but one thing they may not know is that the city is a leader when it comes to sustainability. From water conservation to solar power, renewable energy and recycling the city has received many recognitions from the U.S. Conference of Mayors and other organizations. You can find out more information at lasvegasnevada.gov/sustainability.
