The Fremont East Entertainment District spent considerable money to install historical markers in the sidewalks of Fremont Street from Fifth to Eighth Street.  These markers form a historical time line of events in Downtown Las Vegas history.  It was hoped that these markers would spur interest in our history as people walk up and down Fremont Street.

We think it was a good idea.  With the coming PostModern Museum at Stewart and Third, the Visitors Center on Fremont Street and Union Park, we believe that there will be renewed interest not only in the history of Fremont Street but in the history of Las Vegas.

There's just one problem with the markers, some of the history is wrong. 

Now this being Las Vegas, where myth trumps most of our real history, some believe it isn't that big of a deal.  But to those of us who believe that the real history of not only Fremont Street but of Las Vegas is much more interesting and much more fascinating than the myths, we believe it is a big deal.

Eighteen bronze medallions were placed in the sidewalks in the Fremont East Entertainment District.  City officials spent $3,600 for each medallion so it is not likely that they will replace the ones with the faulty historical information.

"If people are getting their history from markers in the sidewalk ..." said Las Vegas City Manager Doug Selby.

Well Doug, people tend to think that if a city goes to the effort to chronicle its history either in plaques, sidewalk medallions or signage, that the history they are reading is accurate.  Otherwise, what's the point of spending the money?  What's the point of continuing to perpetrate the misinformation?  Doesn't anyone in the city government care about the real history of our town?

There are plenty of historians here in town they could have reached out to, thus ensuring that the history on the plaques would be interesting and accurate.  Instead, it sounds like those tasked with this mission, got the majority of the "interesting and pithy" historical facts from "intense internet research".  One of the reasons we started our Classic Las Vegas Project and Blog was because we were appalled at the amount of historical misinformation on the Web about Las Vegas.

Mayor Goodman, when first told, had this to say: "I'm going to see what we can do, and I'm going to find out who's responsible for this," he said, adding he would consider tearing up the markers.

The next day however, Goodman had retreated from that statement and issued this one instead:

"It's a fun thing," he said of the markers. "I'm hoping people on the Fremont East are half-lit, and could care less what the markers say."

The fallacy with this thinking is that only drunk people visit Fremont Street. I'm going to go out on limb and say I'm fairly certain sober people visit Fremont Street regularly.  

What about all those folks who will be living in Union Park?  Won't they be taking their out-of-town guests and families for walks down Fremont Street (it will be their closest historical neighborhood after all) and they are not all going to liquored up beyond recognition. 

What about those who tour the PostModern Mob Museum and then want to explore Fremont Street to see some of the historical sites they read about in the Museum?  How many people visit Museums when they are "half-lit"?

Cultural tourism is going to be important on Fremont Street because Fremont Street is one of the few remaining links to our past where people can visit, read and imagine what life was like here in the 20th Century.  By disregarding cultural tourism in his own backyard, Mayor Goodman discounts one of the main reasons for the renaissance that he believes so passionately is coming to Fremont Street. 

If the City of Las Vegas is successful with plans for Union Park, the PostModern, the Smith Center for the Performing Arts and other grand plans, then the demographic of those who visit Fremont Street will grow beyond the current demographic of tourists looking for a deal, locals who love the El Cortez and the homeless and addicted who still populate too much of the Street. 

If you are the main cheerleader for better days are coming to Fremont Street because of gentrification and all your efforts to help spur that renaissance then why do you discount and disregard the cultural tourism that will be a main factor of interest?   Isn't the whole idea of a cultural renaissance coming to Fremont Street is because Fremont Street can not survive without it? 

Regarding his earlier pledge to find out who is responsible for the errors, the mayor joked: "That's when I thought there was one (a medallion) about me. I really could care less."

I know that Mayor Goodman likes to shoot from the lip but the message he is sending not only to the people who live here but to those that visit, is that our history is not important and is not anything we should care about.

Our history is worth caring about and worth discovering because Las Vegas did not spring fully formed from a fever dream of Bugsy Siegel or Benny Binion. 

"Is it necessary to debunk a legend and the mystique that continues to draw 40 million people annually to this part of the desert?" asked Scott Adams, director of the Office of Business Development, in a written statement.

Yes, Scott it is because this isn't a John Ford movie, it's our history.  Do people visit Boston or New York City or San Francisco or Los Angeles or Chicago to soak up the wrong history?  No, the people who go on historical tours of cities do so because they are interested in the real history. 

Las Vegas is here because the men and women who lived here and refused to give up on the town they called home despite the many hard times they endured.  When their faith was finally rewarded during the War years and the Post War era, they continued to believe in their town and continued to help it grow.  This history is much more important than the myths that have sprung up over the years.

For City Officials and the Mayor to denigrate their efforts and their accomplishments because "half-lit" tourists could care less does us all a disservice.

At some point, Las Vegas needs to grow beyond the stereotype of catering to the drunken hordes who only come here because what happens here, stays here. 

If Las Vegas wants to be a place of culture, art and history, it is time we all grew up and realize that by denigrating our own history and the accomplishments of the men and women who made this metropolis possible, we continue to perpetrate the myth that nothing of historical significance happened here.

The REI Neon Group has been chosen to build a $9.5 billion sports arena/gambling/mixed use/retail complex near Charleston Blvd and Main Street.  REI Neon is based out of Michigan.  REI has the rights to purchase 85 acres downtown.  Still to be worked out are tax credits, incentives and a timeline for development and completion.

The local Arts District is up in arms about this.  The Arts District, with the success of First Friday, has turned an older, some would say seedier section of town, into a thriving arts community complete with galleries, artists and businesses like Nevada Radiator and the Swim-In-Pool Pool Supplies.

Councilman Gary Reese sees the Arena as a way to connect the Strip, Union Park and Downtown into a large entertaiment area.

George Postolos, former president and CEO of the NBA's Houston Rockets, has joined REI's team. REI was to  meet with NBA executives on Friday about their plans but there has been no word on the meeting in the wake of Friday's breaking story about the NBA Ref who was caught betting and possibly throwing games.   Postolos was a special assistant to David Stern in the late 1990s.  Stern is said to be lukewarm (before Friday's breaking news) on the idea of a NBA team in Las Vegas.

The City Council is set to vote on the preliminary agreement with REI on August 1st.  That will be followed by a 60 day negoitating period for the final agreement.  REI will be required to put down a $1 million deposit once the final agreement is reached.

Some sticklers that will crop up: 

The 85 acres in question are owned by different people and different families.  Each owner will have to agree to sell.  REI says that they agreements with all the property owners and that the sale should close escrow by September.  Steve Wynn didn't have this easy of a time when he bought out the home-owners on the old Desert Inn Golf Course.  Will REI?

On Wednesday, July 25th the State Board will hear a challenge to the City Council's decision last month to re-zone the area for gaming.  Local attorney Chuck Gardner, who is representing the plantiff, a Las Vegas resident, says that REI and the city fell far short when it came to presenting "clear and convincing" justification for expanding the gaming district. (LV Review Journal).

The Culinary Union has also challenged the project.

AEG, another big arena developer (ie the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles) is still moving ahead with their plans for an arena outside of the city limits.  Can Las Vegas support two large arenas and the smaller Sam Boyd Stadium?  Are there that many sports fans in Las Vegas?  Are there that many tourists interested in watching live sports in Las Vegas?

The Arts District:

This stadium will have the most impact on the burgeoning Arts District.  When Cindy Funkhouser and Whirlygig began the idea of First Friday years ago, the area was downtrodden and seedy.  Many of the long-time businesses had closed or abandoned the area for the suburbs.  Since then the area has become a hotbed of galleries, artists lofts, the Holsum Design Center (in the former Holsum Bakery building.  Talk about great re-adaptive use), mid-century furniture (Modify), antique stores and more.  Along Main Street are some of the oldest businesses in town such as the Swim-In Pool and Nevada Radiator.  The entire concept of an Arts District with its monthly street fair atmosphere will be deeply impacted by this development and no one should underestimate them.

From an email circulating regarding the State Board's meeting on Wednesday: 

Subject: WEDNESDAY, JULY 25th, 1 pm. Save the ARTS DISTRICT & our neighborhoods!

Please attend the Review Panel hearing of the Gaming Policy Committee. This hearing will determine if gaming can be expanded into the 73 acre parcel between Oakey, Charleston, Main Street and UPRR tracks.

We believe this naked expansion of gaming and the already-decided stadium project will not only destroy (wipe out) the ARTS DISTRICT but also the surrounding neighborhoods. This includes John S. Park, Glen Heather, Scotch 80s, McNeil Estates and others, since traffic in the area will be GRIDLOCKED. (If these neighborhoods, some of which are well organized get involved....)

Although there will be no opportunity to testify at the hearing, we need to let this Panel know that gaming is not the great panacea, especially when neighborhoods are this severely impacted. Please, please, please carpool and bring others with you and attend this WEDNESDAY's hearing. 555 E. Washington 2nd floor. State of Nevada Building.

This one will be worth watching.