Candidates speak to problems of downtown's core

Two leading candidates for Las Vegas mayor shared their ideas for revitalizing the city's aging core during a forum Thursday night for downtown residents and business owners.

Criminal defense attorney Oscar Goodman told the crowd of 50 that revitalizing downtown will have to be a joint effort.

"We can make this downtown area what we want it to be," Goodman said in his opening statement at the Downtown Central Development Committee forum at the Arturo Cambeiro Center.

Developer Mark Fine said the committee of residents and business owners is a good example of what the rest of the city needs to follow.

"I believe that Las Vegas can only be as great as its weakest neighborhood," Fine said.

Former Henderson Mayor Cruz Olague and West Las Vegas activist Anthony Snowden -- also candidates for mayor -- focused on crime prevention.

Other mayoral candidates -- City Councilman Arnie Adamsen, radio show host Frank LaSpina, real estate broker Hillary Milko, resident Doug Opolka and City Hall watcher Tom McGowan -- did not attend.

The event's sponsor is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to addressing the problems of blight, crime, vagrancy and drugs.

Councilman Gary Reese, who is seeking re-election to Ward 3, told the group he has attempted to reduce blight one project at time -- including renovations to Doolittle Park, landscaping on Eastern Avenue and plans to demolish the old National Guard armory at Eastern and Stewart avenues to bring in a cultural center.

"I really think that we have, in Ward 3, been very aggressive," Reese said.

Harvey Munford, one of five other candidates seeking the Ward 3 seat, said he favored hiring more minority police officers to work in minority neighborhoods. As a 30-year educator, he cited improving schools as his main goal.

Ward 1 City Council candidates Steve Miller and Paul Holder railed against the incumbents.

"Your money's been squandered on the casinos for the past eight years," said Miller, who was a councilman from 1987 to 1991. "I'd like very much to put this city back on track."

Holder called downtown's ills "nagging, perennial problems" and suggested extending the Fremont Street Experience pedestrian promenade all the way to Seventh Street.

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