Friday, April 4, 2008 | 2:05 a.m.
Las Vegas continues to be a great destination for vacations and conventions. In the 13 years I have lived here, Vegas has become home to more magnificent hotels, fine dining, excellent shopping, great clubs, concerts, Broadway productions, etc.
However, unfortunately, it is not such a great place to live. The increasingly large number of people who live here are basically tolerated by the casinos, city and state as a necessary evil to support their interests. Quality of life continues to deteriorate as our overcrowded schools, lack of good, affordable health care and general lifestyle slide downward.
The rich are doing well, as usual, but what about the homeless, the working poor and the so-called “middle class”? We have woeful budget deficits. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
As usual, those most in need will suffer the deepest, most damaging, and probably permanent losses. How can a state that is so woefully neglectful of its own people cut or end any more programs? The only result will be more suffering, higher crime and a greater number of unhappy people.
I am not even addressing the lack of police, road problems, traffic, crime, home foreclosures, etc. Las Vegas, for the most part, is a group of people who live in the same city, but it is not a real community. It will continue to become a less desirable place if the casinos don’t pay more taxes or the entire tax system isn’t restructured.
Many of us would leave if our financial situations would allow it. In the meantime, can’t we find some ways to save this city and improve the quality of life for everyone?
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