In las vegas this week city officials implemented an initiative called Meth 360 which focuses on educating the community on the methamphetamine epidemic going on in the city. Crystal meth has surpassed cocaine and heroine in number of documented abusers and addicts in the city. This is only a glimpse of a greater epidemic going on in our country. Meth is taking over it is replacing other more "traditional drugs" in user circles because it is cheap, easily made by people in almost every major city so many obstacles such as transporting it and distributing it through major networks is alleviated. At the same time it is highly toxic, it is basically poison, and it is highly addictive but i guess it speaks to The greater laziness in society where we even take short cuts when it comes to our drugs, people take the more dangerous, dirty drug, because it is readily availible and cheap.

In other news a panel of nevada lawmakers voted unanimously tuesday for two compromise proposals that would restrict government agencies' use of eminent domain proceedings to acquire property. supporters of the compromise told the senate judiciary committee that assembly joint resolution 3 and assembly bill 102 would provide strong protections against government abuses of eminent domain powers while still providing the option for large public works, such as transportation projects. So in other words a persons valuable property will be protected. Unless the city needs to build a road, or a public building, which leaves them the perfect loop hole. So they may be protected from private industry for now, unless private industry and public policy become somehow tangled. (but that could never happen? right?).

Not much new in Las Vegas this week the OJ Simpson case was finally beaten out of the top story by the presidential debate that was held in Las Vegas this week. The Nevada caucus hosted the debate which featured all the main democratic presidential candidates.
As far as OJ goes his trial remains in the headlines with accusations of corruption and the that the trial may be a sort of make up trial for the murder many believe he got away with years ago.

The social movements going on in Las Vegas are based on capatalism and business as usual. Business expansion, and profit maximizing are what drives this city . Government plays a smaller role in Las Vegas than most other cities because private industry controls so much of the economy. There is however a green movement that some prominent businessmen are supporting which includes companies usuing vegetable oil powered cars and much more solar power then previously used in the past. It is an attempt to offset the energy being used to power the city, and surprinsingly it was started by a private company not through government regulation.

The town square venture i previously wrote about is opening on Wednesday. The 750 million dollar 1.5 million square foot shopping center has a movie theatre, a grocery store, numerous places to eat and drink, many high end retail shops, childcare services, electronic stores, basically it has any and everything a person could want or think they might want. Turnberry spent $5 million to build a private flyover road that takes shoppers directly into the main loop around the center from northbound Las Vegas Boulevard, WOW. James Lowry, a marketing professor at Ball State University, said Town Square is part of an emerging retail trend toward "lifestyle" shopping centers. They purposely didnt include any gambling or casinos in the project stating that people in the area are looking for something else to do which makes sense because people who live there probably arent the gamblers that tourists are in the same way that tourists probably arent grocery shopping buy home appliences, or spending a night at the movies. Makes sense to me

The notion that Nevada will soon be paved over by development is laughable. The federal government controls almost 90 percent of the state, and Washington's holdings continue to expand. With less than 10 percent of land available to be developed in the Silver State, it is clear that Nevada will never resemble New Jersey. U.S. Department of Agriculture figures show that in 1992, only 0.06 percent of Nevada's land was developed. (The agency will soon release revised figures based on data obtained in 1997.) So to the extent that sprawl is a problem in the Silver State, it is clearly a city and county issue. While the Reno metropolitan region's population continues to swell, Las Vegas' phenomenal growth has made that city a national symbol for sprawl. But what's true for Nevada is also true for Clark County: nine out of every 10 acres in Southern Nevada is controlled by the federal government.

In an update on the OJ Simpson case the AP reports that FBI agents were informed of his plan the retrieve his allegedly stolen items from a memorabilia dealer three weeks before the events actually happened. A man named Thamos Roccio went to FBI agents and told them about Simpsons plans to conduct his own "sting," operation in which he would confron the dealer, retrieve his items and supposedly video tape it so he could later televise the events. Roccio said he went along with the plan but had no idea Simpson would be bringing in other people who would be armed and use force to take back the items. Roccio also thought that because he warned police before the events occured he would be safe from further prosecution. He was arrested and charged with armed robbery, kidnapping, and a number of other felonies just like everyone else involved in the case.

Retail in Las Vegas is the most rapidly expanding industry. Las Vegas population is growing by 6,000 people a month the city has added nearly 1.5 million square feet of retail space during the last quarter. The retail vacancy rate in las vegas is among the 5 lowest in the country. Las Vegas is headed to become a national luxury shopping destination with many prominant high-end business opening in the area. A capital markets report stated that retail growth in recent years was largely supported by housing and mortgage refinancing, due to low interest rates and loose underwriting standards.

In Las Vegas this week famous magaician David Copperfield is the subject of an ongoing FBI investigation that started in Seattle and resulted in a late night raid on a warehouse owned by Copperfield in Vegas. Police siezed a digital camera, a computer, a storage chip containing pictures, and over two million in cash. Copperfield was recently in the news when reports surfaced that he had a history of inviting women from audiences to perform in his shows, inviting them backstage after where he would reportedly drug and rape them. This is another case of these rich individuals with high social class standing believing that they are above the law and can get away with doing anything they want.

After visiting the census web page I found the Las Vegas economy breaks down as follows: Food service employs the most people 39,122, makes about2,416,602,000 it lists 962 establishments in the city. Professional, scientific, and technical services have 1843 establishments empley 14919 people , retail trade 1563 establishments, making 6.5 billion and employing 27809 annually. Health care and social assitances employs 23420, there are 225 manufacturing establishments employing only 3000 people. And educational services lists 77 establishments, employing 496 people. So it appears as if education isn't high on the list of positive things going on in Las Vegas Nevada.

excuse.my.post.this.week.my.space.bar.is.broken.and.i.cant.go.anywhere.else.so.please.bare.with.me.
In.sticking.with.what.we.have.been.talking.about.in.class.Las.Vegas.is.using."short.sales,"as.alternatives.to.foreclosures.Because.millions.of.adjustable.rate.mortgages.
will.reset.over.the.next.18.months.Short.sales.allow.a.home.to.be.sold.for.less.than.what.is.owed.rather.than.having.the.home.foreclosed.on.In.Vegas,there.are.3,350.homes.listed
as.short.sales.This.number.has.more-than-doubled.in.the.last..4..months...Banks.are.excepting.these.losses.because.they.say.it.is.better.than.paying.attorney.fees.loss.of.prolonged.vacancy.and.marketing.costs.so.its.not.a.bail.out.for.home.owners.but.it.is.a.result.of
having.no.affordable.housing.for.middle.class.people.
In.other.news.Police.in.Las.Vegas.have.formed.a.new.task.force.to.help.solve.gang-related-murders.in.the.poorer.areas.of.Las.vegas.It.is.especially.concerned.with.developing.trusting.relationships.with.neighborhood.residents.in.order.to.deter.crimes.against.witnesses...A.new.trend.of.anti-snitch.tactics.are.being.deployed.by.gang.members.in.order.to.intimidate.and.even.physically.harm.witnesses.
I.find.this,interesting.because.the.rich.prominent.neighborhoods.don't.have.task.forces.to.help.protect.witnesses.because.witnesses.ususally.arent.intimidated.by.thier.neighbors.in.these.neighborhoods.
another.positive.to.having.enough.money.to.live.in.a.high.priced.neighborhood.

A las vegas firefighter named Sam Bond was arrested for breaking into the firestation and stealing drugs. Apparantly while the on duty crew was out on a call Bond broke into the station from an upstairs window. He stole and then overdosed on an undisclosed controlled substance and was admitted into the hospital the following morning for the overdose. He was then booked into the clark county detention center until he was later released on house arrest. This was the second time he was arrested for breaking in and stealing drugs. Guess no one is above the law.

In other news regents at the university of nevade narrowly rejected adopting policy that would allow faculty and staff to carry guns on campus. Concerns over campus safety are driving people to look for a quick fix, but I'm not sure if i would want anyone carrying a gun on campus, I mean what if a situation occured that saw a student take a gun from a teacher and then shoot someone with it, can you imagine the public outcry that would happen in that case. Also I think teachers should concentrate on teaching and if conditions are that dangerous law enforcement should be increased on campus.

In las Vegas this week a little girl who had been sexually abused on camera by a convicted sex offender was found safe with her mother. The little girl was abused on camera and las vegas police had to make a decision of whether or not to release the tape in order to help find the person guilty of the crimes against her. Some people belierve police revictimized the victim by releasing the tape, Lead investigator Tony Demeo said that they had never seen a case like this before and that they only wanted to find the victim to make sure she was safe.

She was identified after news media aired pictures of the girl taken from the video tape. She was found safe and sound and the suspect was also identified. Some people will say that the officers should not have released this tape with such graphic abuse of a child on it. I feel like they did the right thing because they found the girl and they were also able to get a suspect. The safty of the child right now should out wiegh anything else.

Las vegas was originally built by mormons as a fort halfway between Salt Lake City and LA. In the late 1800's it became a mining town. Hoover dam was built in 1931 this brought many lots of people to the city and in the same year gambling was legalized. There is a parrallel in the growth of Las Vegas as Tourism and entertainment became the mainstay many government facilities were buitl in and around the area. In 1960 Las Vegas had 65,000 people in a 25 squrae mile radius. The main source of income for the city was and still is tourism and entertainment. Hotel and casino, strip malls, and food and beverage consumption, including alcohol which im sure contributes to the crime rate. Las Vegas is the largest metropolitan city in the US that was founded in the 20th century.

In Desert Springs hospital in Las Vegas Nevada there is a man in a coma. His name, or place of birth is unknown, and he is being sued. The hospital is sueing him and the attorney generals office because they believe he was in the federal witness protection program and has racked up at least 75000 in hospital bills over the last 2 years. Hospital officials either want him taken out of thier care or for his bills to be paid. A hospital in Uruguay has agreed to take him in only if the US verifies his identity which they havent done so far because he was supposedly in the witness protection program. What a story, it speaks 1. about the state of our health care system in the US, we have the best health care professionals in the world and millions of people who cannot acces the services because our healthcare system is a ridiculous maze of insurance agancies and buaracratic red tape. 2. he could be treated but the FBI refuses to give up his identity, which I understand on the one hand but on the other they should then pay his bills. 3. people in the United States will sue anyone at anytime for anything, we are a lawsuit happy society and some of the money wasted in many frivelous lawsuits could be better used in the field of helthcare.

For my topic I will start with the crime rate and types of crimes that go on in Las Vegas. Las Vegas is ranked as the 88th best place to live in the US by forbes magazine it is also ranked 1st in net migration and 3rd in job growth among cities with at least 100,000 residents. According to the census for the year 2000 Las Vegas reported 63,000+ arrests, the statistics also indicate that sometimes offenses are not reported so the number may by higher. Larceny is the most populous crime at 30000 incidents, burglary is second at 13000 motor vehicle thefts at 11500 robbery 4000 aggravated assaut at 3500 rape at 597 and murder at 109. Studies are currently being done to try and link cities with gambling venues to increased crime rates.

The economic influences in this city are capatalism at its best, people with lots of money invest in business ventures in this city and eventually make tons of more money. The majority of the profits turned by these disgustingly rich people are made off of the working class people who sink thier money into casinos hoping to hit one big one so that they can then be rich and can exploite other people instead of being exploited themselves. Although most of them dont realize they are indeed being used, they come and go and donate to no particular cause quite willingly.

OJ charged in Vegas

OJ Simpson was arrested and questioned in regards to an armed robbery that happened in a Las Vegas hotel this week. Apparantly armed men stormed a hotel room where sports paraphanelia was being held for auction. The men took items by force before leaving with no injuries being reported. OJ later said that he simply took items that belonged to him, because he didnt want people making money off of him if he wasnt going to get a cut. He also said there were no weapons and that he didnt break into the room. Also this week the family of Ron Goldman appeared on Oprah to discuss thier releasing of the book "If I did it," which supposedly tells how OJ would have killed Ron and Nicole Simpson, the book was originally supposed to be released by a publisher who would pay OJ royalties but the rights to the book were awarded to the Goldman family by a federal judge. I wonder if this effected OJ's decision making process this week?
The 2007 VMA's were also held this week at the Palms hotel and casino owned by the Maloof brotheres of Albuquerque NM. Lots of lip-syncing by people with little talent and lots of fans.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/9638447.htmlHere are some of the current news events in las vegas: A group of young men calling themselves the "311 Gang" have been responsible for numerous acts of violence in the city. Aggravated assaults, and attempted murder are among the crimes commited by this group who is using 311 as a reference to the Klu Klux Klan. In a trend that seems to be growing in criminal cultures they have been videotaping thier activities and assaults which has helped police arrest and convict numerous members of this group over the last year. I have included one of the clips there are more if you go to the link I have provided.

A standoff between residents and the government building the Yucca Mountain depository where nuclear waste will be stored underground came to a hault as drilling once again took place using more then 191,000 gallons of water for a project most people are strongly opposing.

There are many myths surrounding Las Vegas. It is after all Sin City, many think the mafia still controls most of it but through government intervention the control was shifted to the private sector many years ago, also many believe it is a city of wealth, this is not true. It is like the rest of the country the top ten percent have all the money, the rest of the people are working class or worse just trying to make it.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Wednesday Aug, 29

The city I decided to use is Las Vegas, (Nevada of course,) because I've always loved it! It has to be one of the most unique and totally socially devient cities in the world. I visited this summer for a friends wedding so I have a pretty good idea of what it looks like now.