Unlike Occupy Wall Street protests elsewhere, the Las Vegas bunch has been painfully quiet, polite and respectful by comparison. They did not initially take over some public space and turn it into a crime riddled shanty town. Instead they sought and obtained the correct demonstration permits and leased a section of land on the edge of town. There are no reports of open latrines, nor have we heard horrendous tales of crime in the encampment so common to the New York crowd.
In all fairness, the Las Vegas group is relatively small in comparison and our local laws, and law enforcement, are less favorable to protesters in general. But today they really showed their mettle. Organizing fairly early, before 8:00 a.m. by some accounts, the group gathered on Las Vegas Boulevard between the Lloyd George Federal Court House and the Alan Bible Federal Building in downtown.
About 50 people gathered (with about the same number of law enforcement from various agencies nearby) to chant, pound drums and generally protest everything. Some were upset about the middle east in general while others had a beef over the wars. One fellow felt 9-11 was an inside job and the "Facebook President of the World" - as declared by his shirt- believes bridges are in order, not walls and somehow that translates to a free...Palestine.
Then the mood changed. Not the frenetic build up of a riot, but the compelling surge known to every person who has ever attended a planned event. "The show is about to start" was the mood, ushered in when the main stream media arrived. Like clockwork a small group of protesters walked into the street and sat down. The rest of the group gathered closer in symbolic if not actual support.
The police immediately closed of the north bound lanes of traffic and reminded the group to stay out of the south bound lanes, per the agreement. The mass transport bus was brought from its holding area together with several officers. The lead officer read a prepared statement informing the crowd to disburse or be arrested. Five minutes to find common sense was allowed. Four minutes later a second warning was followed by what was clearly a pre-planned ballet of arrests, each demonstrated rising to be restrained and led away as polite as pie.
Leaving all else aside, this was an incredibly civil demonstration and example of pre-planned civil disobedience. Close observation of the crowd revealed a female and two males clearly directing the others. The female provocateur’s accent suggests she is from a large eastern city. Wonder that.
Still, I would love to have been in on the negotiation between the protesters and the police. Were the arrestees selected for looks, ideology or ability to raise bail? Did the Sheriff pick his most photogenic officers to conduct the arrests? Maybe those with a proven tolerance for stupidity without feeling the need to flash back to the 1968 Democratic Convention? We will undoubtedly never know, but it was wonderful street theater for about an hour, and for that I thank the "so called" 99%!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Truth or Consequences, Racial Politics Style
And here we go again. According to the census, some redistricting is in order in Nevada to account for population changes. Like it or not, Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group and now comprise a significant portion of the "voting age" population in Clark County, Nevada. Clark County is the dominant political region in the state and is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of the Democrat Party.
So the problem is: Do we create a Hispanic majority district, virtually ensuring Nevada’s first Hispanic member of the U.S. house of Representatives, as the Republicans suggest; or, do we spread them out a bit to give "weight" to the generally liberal Clark County Democrat party? Both sides are submitting their recommendations that will ultimately be decided by Carson City District Judge James Russell. For the full details,The Las Vegas Sun gives this issue a fair reading today at http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/oct/11/democrats-present-redistricting-plan/
As I’ve said before, the real issue here is one of political survival. Southern Nevada is now a liberal Democratic bastion of state politics, with many of the state leaders term limited leaving them to run for less attractive statewide offices, or try to move to the ‘big leagues" of federal office. My experience with local politics in Las Vegas for the last three decades leads me to believe the Hispanic vote is reliably liberal AND a block vote. What does this mean to the current political power if the Republican "Hispanic Majority" district is drawn? Currently powerful Anglo politicians will almost certainly lose to Hispanic candidates.
I predict this one will require a flow chart and popcorn before it’s over, but no matter how it shakes out, neither side will be truly happy.
So the problem is: Do we create a Hispanic majority district, virtually ensuring Nevada’s first Hispanic member of the U.S. house of Representatives, as the Republicans suggest; or, do we spread them out a bit to give "weight" to the generally liberal Clark County Democrat party? Both sides are submitting their recommendations that will ultimately be decided by Carson City District Judge James Russell. For the full details,The Las Vegas Sun gives this issue a fair reading today at http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/oct/11/democrats-present-redistricting-plan/
As I’ve said before, the real issue here is one of political survival. Southern Nevada is now a liberal Democratic bastion of state politics, with many of the state leaders term limited leaving them to run for less attractive statewide offices, or try to move to the ‘big leagues" of federal office. My experience with local politics in Las Vegas for the last three decades leads me to believe the Hispanic vote is reliably liberal AND a block vote. What does this mean to the current political power if the Republican "Hispanic Majority" district is drawn? Currently powerful Anglo politicians will almost certainly lose to Hispanic candidates.
I predict this one will require a flow chart and popcorn before it’s over, but no matter how it shakes out, neither side will be truly happy.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Democrats against minorities...Again
History is replete with tales of Democrats voting, acting or agitating against minorities. It's unpopular to say, but the deep south was a Democratic bastion during the civil rights era. Now the Clark County Commission, Democrats all, have elected not to allow predominately minority districts to be formed as the 10 year census allocation of population suggests should happen.
Why you ask? Of the seven commissioners, all but one are day-glo white. If, as suggested, two or three primarily minority districts were created, a couple of them would be out of a job no matter how liberal they are. Can't be giving up that power just for the sake of the constitution, now can we.
Why you ask? Of the seven commissioners, all but one are day-glo white. If, as suggested, two or three primarily minority districts were created, a couple of them would be out of a job no matter how liberal they are. Can't be giving up that power just for the sake of the constitution, now can we.
Bring em all down!
MGM has announced it will demolish the Harmon hotel due to "structural issues." Little wonder that. And this after we were told the project simply "had to be finished for the good of Las Vegas!" by none other than the senior Senator. And we payed the price. Wonder when the other litigants in the multi million dollar lawsuit will run to the court for an injunction claiming the hotel must be preserved to prove they were not the negligent party in its construction?
However, now that there is a move to demolish a hotel before it opens (as opposed to knocking down older "historic" locations), maybe we can get a few more things deconstructed. I vote for the Fremont Street Experience and all failed ventures there and most of the neighborhoods bordering Fremont Street all the way to the Boulder Highway. If nothing else it will make Metro's job a little easier!
However, now that there is a move to demolish a hotel before it opens (as opposed to knocking down older "historic" locations), maybe we can get a few more things deconstructed. I vote for the Fremont Street Experience and all failed ventures there and most of the neighborhoods bordering Fremont Street all the way to the Boulder Highway. If nothing else it will make Metro's job a little easier!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Lamentations as Gripes, Groans and Observations
While in the strictest sense a lamentation is a complaint, I use it here in a broader sense of rambling observations about the world we inhabit, or more specifically, the world I, and approximately 2.1 million people (and rapidly falling), inhabit.
Las Vegas Nevada is a dichotomy, wrapped in an algebraic equation stuffed into the box it created for itself some years ago. The original adult playground (at least modernly: if television is to be believed ROME was a pretty wild place in its day), Las Vegas has become a pale shroud of its original self. I "lament" this change and wanted a forum to bring some of the more troubling elements to the greater public's knowledge. I also wanted to be able to trumpet how great my city can actually be when she deserves the praise.
To make sure my ramblings get the full impact I will learn how this blogging thing works. I will learn how to bring you pictures of America's Playground, warts and all. Just as soon as I can find a reasonable 12 year old to explain how! You see, I'm a Luddite at heart. I did not catch the tech train when it started and I'm now racing along side her as she chugs out of the station, one hand almost on the rail to make the fateful jump aboard. So, please be patient as I come to grips with the "brave new world" of Orwellian communication and interpersonal relationships that is social media and blogging.
A few house keeping issues. I have a job. I work long hours and my time is often not my own. Posting may be sporadic at times. My writing will probably be disjointed and poorly composed from a classical grammar perspective. Please look past these inadequacies as I bring the inner melange that is Las Vegas to your attention. I will make every effort to bring quality comments here as often as possible and look forward to creating a rewarding experience for you as a reader of my thoughts.
Las Vegas Nevada is a dichotomy, wrapped in an algebraic equation stuffed into the box it created for itself some years ago. The original adult playground (at least modernly: if television is to be believed ROME was a pretty wild place in its day), Las Vegas has become a pale shroud of its original self. I "lament" this change and wanted a forum to bring some of the more troubling elements to the greater public's knowledge. I also wanted to be able to trumpet how great my city can actually be when she deserves the praise.
To make sure my ramblings get the full impact I will learn how this blogging thing works. I will learn how to bring you pictures of America's Playground, warts and all. Just as soon as I can find a reasonable 12 year old to explain how! You see, I'm a Luddite at heart. I did not catch the tech train when it started and I'm now racing along side her as she chugs out of the station, one hand almost on the rail to make the fateful jump aboard. So, please be patient as I come to grips with the "brave new world" of Orwellian communication and interpersonal relationships that is social media and blogging.
A few house keeping issues. I have a job. I work long hours and my time is often not my own. Posting may be sporadic at times. My writing will probably be disjointed and poorly composed from a classical grammar perspective. Please look past these inadequacies as I bring the inner melange that is Las Vegas to your attention. I will make every effort to bring quality comments here as often as possible and look forward to creating a rewarding experience for you as a reader of my thoughts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)