Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman gives a prerecorded 2021 State of the City address.
Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 | 8:45 p.m.
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman is a veteran of nine State of the City addresses, always optimistically detailing future endeavors planned for the city and celebrating past accomplishments.
This year’s address certainly had a different tone because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has spared few from economic distress, including the city which was forced to slash $124 million from its budget.
Goodman acknowledged the struggles of 2020, but was also positive — she predicts 2021 to be a "comeback" year for Las Vegas, actually.
“We do look forward to this new year in 2021, hoping to welcome everyone back to the real Las Vegas, restoring what was a booming economy, just a year ago,” Goodman said in a prerecorded speech.
Part of the reason for the optimism is how the city worked to assist residents during the pandemic, she said.
She praised the quarantine complex constructed at Cashman Center for the homeless population, housing assistance grants for jobless residents unable to pay their rent and mortgage, and help for small businesses. Using federal aid, the city was able to help up to 1,500 business obtain personal protective gear, she said.
She commended business owners for navigating shutdowns and capacity limits brought on by the pandemic, saying “focusing on safety requirements has not always been easy, but by doing so we’ve paved the way for a very special comeback here now in 2021.”
She also raved about ongoing construction projects, including the more than $100 million project to improve a 2.5-mile stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in downtown — repaving roads, replacing gutters and traffic signals, and updating infrastructure that had been in place since the 1940s. Also, construction on the new $56.3 million municipal courthouse is almost complete and scheduled to open in May.
The city last year completed the $19.6 million Third Street improvement project, which provided a new sidewalk, traffic signal, lighting and architectural and landscape improvements.
At this time next year, Goodman predicts a much different outlook for the city. She intends to be talking about a historic turnaround.
“Las Vegas is a town that always comes back, no matter what is thrown our way. Lady luck has always had an eye on Las Vegas, and our city is primed for a new winning streak,” Goodman said.
