City Cast Las Vegas
🫢 We’re shocked by CCSD-union impasse, says no one
September 13, 2023
Welcome to another hump day; would you like 🐪 or 🐫? Below we have news, your views, things to do, and, on the podcast, the Complaint Department is in. Carry on!
What's CITY Talking About?
🤜🤛 CCSD Declares Impasse
School district officials said Tuesday that negotiations with the teachers union have reached an impasse, and that arbitration is the only solution. This occurred on the day another four schools were closed by staff shortages; the school district is also asking a judge to stop the “rolling sickout.” That hearing is scheduled to take place today. Disclosure: My wife is principal of a school that closed last week. [Review-Journal, Las Vegas Sun, KLAS]
- Context: The podcast looks at the potential for teacher “work actions” amid negotiations. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]
🖥️ Force Quit
The FBI is now looking into the big “cybersecurity issue” that has hammered MGM International, disrupting credit-card transactions, online reservations, and other systems. [Review-Journal]
🛒👂 Let’s Talk Grocery Stores
Attorney General Aaron Ford has expanded the number of listening sessions his office will conduct as he gauges public sentiment about the proposed merger of supermarket titans Kroger and Albertsons into one superdupermarket titan. (🎧 Hear our take.) Reportedly present for today’s three sessions: Lina Khan, chair of the Federal Trade Commission. [KSNV]
🎙️😠 Today on the Gripecast …
I join host Dayvid Figler and former host Vogue Robinson in airing a few complaints about this crazy burg, from healthcare to blah Strip architecture to absent ceiling fans. Uh, ceiling fans, you ask? Yes damn it ceiling fans it’s a legit gripe OMG! (Ahem. Three guesses as to whose gripe THAT one is.) If you’ve ever had something bad to say about the valley, this is the episode for you. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]
Las Vegas Chatter
💥 Welcome to the Boomtown
Last week I wrote about imagining the implosions of never-built Las Vegas resorts. But what do you think we should blow up?
DDG: “Implode the new guitar-shaped hotel as soon as it's done. Talk about monetized kitsch!”
RD: “Terminal 1 at Reid International is fun, funky, loud, organic, interesting, and has gambling and food before you have to go through security. Terminal 3, by comparison, is like a huge tomb; cold and marble. Boom! Then build a new sister to the original terminal that’s more fun, funkier, louder, with live bands, gambling and food before you have to go through security …”
🤑 ‘Welcome to the Greedy City!’
That was reader Sloopy’s response to the cutting down of trees outside Bellagio to make way for F1 racing grandstands. Many of you felt the same. A sampling:
Juanita Floor: “It's an abomination!”
John J. Delibos: “Of all the bark-headed things to do, that TOPS THE LIST!! … If anything shows a blatant disregard for the community, writ large, that was it.”
Michael A.: “Look, yes, we demolish and build, but we now should know better that it should be more than that. Tearing out fully grown 25-year trees for money is pretty high on the godawful scale in terms of heat islands and (the) environment.”
Sadia: “YES, if you cut them down, plant TWICE AS MANY — and nearby!”
Tiffannie Bond: “If they can curate the Conservatory inside the Bellagio, you can't tell me they lacked the know-how to transplant trees on the outside. My guess is someone who didn't know the history, who's not from here, made that decision.”
Sloopy: “I will be glad to find a new place to live. LV is getting worse.”
What To Do
🎥 The Ramones and Cinema | Thursday | 4 p.m.
Utah Tech professor Stephen B. Armstrong discusses his book about the making of the Ramones film “Rock ’n’ Roll High School.” [UNLV; free]
📚 Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah | Thursday | 6 p.m.
The author of the acclaimed new novel “Chain-Gang All-Stars,” and the story collection “Friday Black” reads from his work. Sponsored by the Black Mountain Institute. [UNLV; free]
👻 ‘The Conjuring House’ | Friday | 6:30 p.m.
Corinne and Sabrina of the “paranormal comedy” podcast Two Girls One Ghost bring their horror and laughter to Las Vegas. [Wiseguys Comedy Club, Arts District; $25-$45]
- Pairs nicely with: Our podcast episode about the haunted Strip. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]
🇬🇷 Las Vegas Greek Festival | Friday-Sunday | Various times
One of the city’s top cultural festivals, this event evokes Greek passion for life through food, entertainment, play, vendors, and church tours. [St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, Camino and Hacienda; $10 general daily, $18 for three days]
Today on City Cast
We’re Peevish, Grr, Grr!
Gripes about Vegas, we’ve all got ’em: large, small, and at every level between. Join me, host Dayvid Figler, and former host Vogue Robinson as we sagely grouse about this valley we love — and wonder whether Las Vegans can turn their gripes into change.
Your turn: Email us your favorite (non-traffic!) gripe about the city.
In her email about the Bellagio trees quoted above, Tiffannie Bond also noted something that gets to the complicated core of living here: “Being a native Las Vegan,” she wrote, “I know not to get attached to things, although it's a lesson I've never taken truly to heart.” True, that. See you all tomorrow.
☕ Scott Dickensheets
Big 👍 to Layla Muhammad for the edits!
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