Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman delivered her eighth State of the City address on Thursday to about 500 spectators at City Hall, focusing on public safety, health care, downtown development and reducing Las Vegas’ homeless population.
“Adding more funding for more LVMPD officers, an obligation we share with the county,” Goodman said during an hour-long speech after pledging to support law enforcement and work “proactively” for local fire and rescue teams.
Goodman said that with the government shutdown on the federal level, the city must tackle problems in communities of need — including the mentally ill, homeless, food insecure and homes without internet — by themselves.
“We are a city of compassion on an international scale,” she said, citing a recent distinction from an international humanitarian organization. “Critical changes necessary to help this population and simultaneously affect all the areas affected by these issues.”
Goodman said she would continue to seek funding for what she described as “imminent and growing” problems of “more tents popping up all over the city, over the last two decades.”
She criticized the “recycling” of mentally ill and homeless people who commit crimes, “are taken to a hospital or jail, medicated for 48 hours, and thrown back into society,” without any plans for long-term care. She said the city plans to work with Clark County School District Superintendent Jesus Jara to address more than 15,000 children who are homeless.
Before addressing the homeless issue, Goodman teased over two dozen projects — gaming, residential and retail — scheduled to be built within city limits in 2019. Among those projects, the mayor said the former Las Vegas Club would be rebuilt with a 469-foot tower 777-room new tower, the first standalone such facility built downtown from the ground up since 1975. After the Goodman speech, Derek and Greg Stevens’ revealed plans for the new property.
“More impressive investments will continue,” Goodman said.
She also touched on expansions efforts at Stratosphere, Palace Station, Plaza, Downtown Grand and the El Cortez. Goodman praised the Las Vegas North Premium Outlet Malls for being “the best outdoor shopping center in the country,” and commended its growth despite nationwide consumer trends away from brick-and-mortar establishments.
“Over 1,200 people are dropped off at the premium outlet malls by the RTC each day, and that doesn’t include the people who arrive on foot, drive on their own, or take a tour bus,” she said
Among other projects lauded by the mayor, who is seeking reelection this year for a third term, included the development of a 40,000 square foot library on Bonanza and 28th St., the National Atomic Testing Museum in the heart of downtown and 684 acres for medical facilities, including UNLV’s medical school.
“Here in Las Vegas we are bullish,” she said. “The economy is strong and we’re going to keep that going.”