Why "The T Word" Can No Longer Be Avoided

Today, we are reminded again of why why taxes are becoming a big issue this year. And both High Jackson & Bob Fulkerson made that clear on "The Agenda" today.



As we've discussed before, this is no longer an issue that can be ignored. Teachers are now being laid off, and programs at CCSD and higher Ed are being cut or eliminated entirely. And as we've discussed before, Nevada's economy will never reach its full potential if we never develop the public infrastructure needed to bring lasting jobs into this state.

This is really no laughing matter. And this is why the corporate margin tax initiative may really be the right issue coming to the right place at the right time. As our schools continue to fall apart, our teachers are not allowed to do their job, and our kids fail to receive all the opportunities that they deserve, we can no longer afford to be complacent. Rather, we the people must start getting proactive.

Hopefully, we'll see that happen this year as this initiative picks up steam.

Who Said What About an Organized Party? (@nvdems Day 1-Day 2)

Late on Saturday, State Senator Ruben Kihuen (D-Las Vegas) gave his speech to the Nevada State Democratic Party Convention as he was running to be Nevada's DNC Committeeman. And while Ruben touched on that, he also reminded the crowd of why they were all there.



Like the rest of Saturday's big headline speakers, he stressed the need to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. And Ruben pledged to do his part to accomplish just that. Again, it wasn't the kind of drama that Nevada Republicans regularly put out. But really, it's more of a relief than a disappointment.



Actually, most of the drama occurred yesterday, when the party had to adopt a new platform. A delegate from Douglas County tried to amend the new provision supporting marriage equality. At first, that amendment had succeeded... Then it was found to be in violation of platform adoption rules, so it was thrown out and the original provision clearly supporting LGBTQ equality was restored.

There was also tension building over the new provision in support of a mining tax. But once the party's executive board laid down the rules, the path was cleared for the new platform to pass without any further roadblocks, revisions, or other complications.

I'm assuming most of the media were yawning over the Democratic Convention because it was so anti-climatic compared to the Republicans'. But again, that's not really a bad thing. In fact, it's how a state party is supposed to function. And as we're increasingly seeing in the field, Nevada Republicans will have a steep price to pay this fall for airing out all their dirty laundry in public.

Wild About Harry (Day 1 @NVDems Convention)

When glancing at media coverage of the Nevada Democratic Convention happening in Las Vegas this weekend, one gets the sense that it's a boring snooze fest because there weren't as many attendees as the Republican Convention last month. However, what they forgot to mention was that the Democratic Convention wasn't as full of unbridled batshit crazy as the Republican Convention.

Case in point: There was no need for armed guards. There was no all night showdown over rules. There was no fight over whether to vote with hands, with feet, with voice, or with signs. Oh, and there was no need for top elected officials to hide and find excuses not to attend.

Outgoing Assembly Speaker and current NV-03 candidate John Oceguera made it a point to come early and excite the base.



And this isn't even the entirety of Oceguera's speech! He really seems to have learned how to thread the needle in pushing issues that excite the base (like marriage equality, public education investment, and creating more green jobs and renewable energy infrastructure) while also appealing to the movable middle that tips elections in Nevada's key battleground district. Oceguera also reminded the crowd of that, and he wasn't alone in saying it.

Mr. Majority Leader himself also came by to say hi.



And Harry Reid kept singing to that tune. While Reid himself isn't up this time, this election will be crucial in deciding how much he can do for Nevada next year. That's why he urged the crowd to work extra hard for President Obama, Shelley Berkley, John Oceguera, and Steven Horsford. Reid pointed out the stark contrast between Democrats standing up for working families and Republicans' loyalty to "tea party" extremism over everything and everyone else.

And no, Reid didn't shy away from hot button issues. He framed the Affordable Care Act as economic justice, and he framed the DREAM Act & comprehensive immigration reform as a matter of social justice that we can't afford to ignore. Reid received thunderous applause during his speech, as well as plenty of happy supporters afterward. (He actually walked the room for a few minutes to meet some happy Nevada Democrats!)



And this is just some of the sights and sounds of the room at Bally's on the Las Vegas Strip. In addition to all the politicians on stage, there were activists on the floor discussing which campaigns to get involved with. And of course, there were activists busy recruiting even more volunteers for the likes of OFA. Here's a glimpse of the kind of energy that always defines OFA's Henderson grassroots team.



While they may not be as flashy or loud as the "revolutionaries" raising hell at last month's Republican Convention, they're also not as combative or power-hungry. Rather, they're just going about their quiet business in reelecting President Obama... And increasingly, helping local Democrats up and down the ballot as well. They may not make for a salacious story like the G-O-TEA's, but their story is just as compelling... And probably more productive.

So keep that in mind while you're hearing all the media hype & spin.

Day 1 @nvdems Convention

In case you were wondering why my Twitter has so many photos today, here's why. The Nevada State Democratic Party is having its convention today. And yes, I've been here all day to take in all the action.

And yes, we've seen action today. While the morning started slowly, it's picked up over the course of the day.

Funny enough, John Oceguera started firing up the crowd in reminding them what's at stake in NV-03. Dina Titus & Harry Reid later spoke, and they got the crowd roaring in pointing out the differnces between Nevada's Democratic candidates and the Mitt Romney-"tea party" unholy alliance. While the action hasn't been as lively as the Nevada Republican Convention, it's been more productive.

All in all, it's been an interesting day here. Tomorrow morning, I'll have a full recap of today's action... Along with video! Stay tuned for more.

All Aboard the Nevada GOP (FUBAR Express)?

Earlier this week, we discussed the reasons why Jim Messina is smiling about President Obama's chances here in Nevada. Today, we're reminded of yet another reason why Mitt Romney operatives are worried. And funny enough, this gem comes to us from Utah!



When we started the week, it looked like Carl Wimmer would be the new political director for the Nevada Republican Party. Instead, it looks like quite a few elephants are being forced to eat crow. It's looking ugly for Wimmer. It's really ugly.

The former state lawmaker and congressional candidate said he was driving on I-15 near Cedar City when he got a call from a Nevada reporter who'd been told the party hadn't hired him. He said he didn't turn around because others assured him the situation could be resolved.

What he said he found in Las Vegas, however, were party officials who were "not just dysfunctional, they're non-functional." After a day of meetings Tuesday with a number of Nevada Republicans, Wimmer said it was time to head back to Utah. [...]

[Nevada GOP Chair Michael] McDonald, Wimmer said, likely was getting pushback from others in the party about how he filled the political director spot and "wanted to put the genie back in the bottle and say, OK, this deal is over."

Wimmer acknowledged he never actually talked to McDonald or anyone else associated with the party other than twopeople he said he couldn't name, and Jesse Law, whom he called the Nevada GOP's "acting political director."

It turns out, though, that Law doesn't work for the party.

"He has no title with the party. He's not on staff," said Nola Bonecutter, controller for the Nevada Republican Party.

Law, described as an aide to McDonald, apparently had expected to be hired as executive director as supporters of presidential candidate Ron Paul swept into power at the Nevada GOP.

So you must know what comes next. Oh yes, what a fool believes...



Who could have guessed that Michael McDonald would cause (even more) problems at the Nevada GOP? Who could have guessed?

Really, the Nevada GOP is reaping the rewards of its great organizationial skills... And for that matter, its rebuke of any and all proper regulations. When one thinks about it, one can see that this is the "tea party" ideal put into practice. Gut all regulatory authority, get rid of all those pesky adults in the room, and let the boys play with their toys. (Sorry, girls, but teabaggers are just not that into you or your civil rights.)

And just look at what's become of the Nevada Republican Party ever since it started drinking the "tea". It's become a train wreck that Mitt Romney, Dean Heller, Joe Heck, and Brian Sandoval are always trying to run away from. Now, I have to wonder if that's enough. Even if they escape the train wreck, how are they ever supposed to arrive at their intended destination?

Why Obama Came to UNLV Today

So President Obama was back here in Vegas today. He was officially here to discuss student loans...



But this was also seen through the prism of the campaign. After all, President Obama had an opportunity to remind UNLV students of what he wants to do to make higher education more affordable. And Republicans really can't make an honest rebuttal.

Here's what Obama said at UNLV today.

“This is a no-brainer,” Obama told hundreds of attendees inside UNLV’s Cox Pavilion. “I’m telling Congress, get this done.”

Spurring Congress to action was a theme throughout Obama’s speech, which touched on several topics, including the economy and jobs.

The president said the nation’s economy was improving but admitted it was a hard path that would take time to turn around completely.

He called on elected leaders to take action.

“My message to Congress is: Let’s get to work. Let’s get to work,” he said.

“Congress should pass a bill, like I’ve asked them to do, to help states like Nevada ... put people back into jobs,” he said.

Obama, pulling a page from Harry Truman’s presidential campaign playbook, chastised a do-nothing Congress.

“You’re not sitting around doing nothing,” Obama told the audience. “You should expect the same from your elected representatives

And here's why.

Doubling interest rates will cost the average student and their families approximately $1,000 more for each year in school. This increase comes at a time when tuition has been rising at 8 percent per year on average. Students are actually paying more than the cost of tuition when loan interest payments are factored into the equation. Those borrowers relying on Stafford Loans will see a 20 percent increase in the effective cost of college next year.

Millions of students and their families will be impacted by this change. There are 20.5 million college students in the United States and of those, an estimated 7.4 million students take out Subsidized Stafford Loans. In other words, one in three students will see their interest rates double.

This increase in the cost of college will hit students and their families at a time when young adults have struggled to find work and wages have stagnated. Median weekly earnings for 25- to 34-year-olds have fallen 5 percent since 2001. The result is that young adults are less able to pay their student loan debt even as the amount they owe balloons with rising tuition. This will make it harder for young adults to afford college at a time when having that college degree is more essential for employment than ever.

And here's the really disgusting thing about this latest show of G-O-TEA obstruction. Republicans in Congress, like Nevada's own Dean Heller and Joe Heck, are voting to make college education unaffordable and inaccessible for Nevada's 99% working class students simply because they want to protect their 1% patrons. Yes, that's what it's really about.

Yet now, they're trying to pass the buck and pin all the blame on Obama. Oh, and they're now complaining about President Obama setting the record straight here at UNLV today? Give me a break.

Why the "Tea Party" Fears Honesty on Tax Reform

As we noted yesterday, the corporate margin tax is finally going live. And already, it's making a big splash. And already, the radical right is making noise on how "dangerous" this is.



The usual "tea party" suspects are kicking up the scare tactics. Who knew a simple margin tax, a tax proposal that some progressives complain doesn't go far enough. That's why I had a good laugh when I saw NPRI's hand wringing, and why I then rejoiced when I saw Sebring's rebuttal of NPRI's fearmongering at The Nevada View.

Anti-tax reform groups, like NPRI, feeling like they have duped and confused middle class citizens go on to state that “research shows there’s little to no correlation between $ and student achievement.” The facts are not on their side though. As the Student-Teacher Achievement Ratio (STAR) project and the Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE) project have shown, “Research concentrating on class size is important because the findings have largely concluded that smaller class size leads to increases in student achievement, helps to close the minority-majority achievement gap, and has several other long lasting benefits.” Class size reduction though isn’t possible without an increase in the number of teachers in classrooms within a district. Logic tells us that these increases in teacher counts will cost money. Thereby showing that increased financial investments in schools most certainly does increase student achievements, as well as providing other socially relevant benefits.

For decades, the likes of NPRI have deceived Nevadans into thinking we could get something for nothing. But in the last decade, we've had to learn the hard way that we really can't get "money for nothing and chicks for free". Instead, our penchant for rewarding tax evasion has only caused us unnecessary pain and suffering as we've failed to invest in the public infrastructure (like public schools) necessary for growing a sustainable and diversified economy.

Even Ralston, who sometimes wants to like NPRI almost as much as he hates the initiative process, couldn't stay mum on NPRI's idiotic attempt to stifle reasonable discussion on badly needed tax reform. And that's what has "Tea Party, Inc." running scared. The frustration is real, the need for reform is real, and now the first step in building a lasting solution to our chronic budget AND economic development woes is real. They're trying desperately to stifle this, but their days of bullying Nevada into remaining a failed state (just so their corporate patrons can reap the rewards of our suffering) are numbered.

AFL-CIO & NSEA Corporate Tax Initiative Filed, Petitions Going Out Soon

It's here. It's finally here! This is what we've been waiting for.

The measure seeks to impose a 2 percent margins tax on businesses that gross more than $1 million annually. Money raised would be earmarked for K-12 education.

AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer Danny Thompson has been spearheading the proposal, and the Nevada State Education Association recently agreed to co-sponsor it.

Supporters will have until Nov. 13 to collect 72,352 signatures and send the issue to the 2013 Legislature. Lawmakers would then have 40 days to approve the proposal. If they reject it or fail to act, it would automatically go to voters in 2014.

Now that both NSEA and Nevada AFL-CIO are again backing the corporate margin tax initiative, they will indeed be collecting signatures for it this year. So finally, finally (!!!), Nevada voters can have a grown-up conversation on taxes, budgets, and investment in important public infrastructure (like public education!) this year.

And next year, we'll know if Carson City is ready to join in as well.

As we discussed in April, the ongoing crisis facing Nevada's public schools is giving us all a brutal reality check on what happens when we fail to properly invest in our future. Now, we finally have a chance to start correcting that. Will we seize this opportunity? We'll know once we start seeing the petitions fly.

Dean Heller (Again) Ignores Discrimination Against Nevada's Working Women

Surprise, surprise. Dean Heller voted (again) against the Paycheck Fairness Act. Apparently, Heller really doesn't care about the challenges facing Nevada's working women.

Berkley and other female Democrats from the House spent much of the day stumping for the Paycheck Fairness Act. As she watched from the back of the Senate chamber, Heller joined other Republicans in voting against the bill.

“There is no excuse for anybody voting against this,” she said. “This is more than a woman’s issue; this is a middle-income family issue. This is not the 1950s. We’re not talking about women who have a little job that at the end of the week they fill their cookie jar with extra money for the kids. These are the mainstay breadwinners. It’s their paycheck that is paying the rent, putting food on the table, putting clothes on their children’s backs and putting gas in the car.”

So what did Dean Heller really vote against? Here's a good explanation from Think Progress.

Pay equity is a real problem: Nearly half of all workers in the United States are women. But women tend to hold lower-paying jobs overall, and even when they have the exact same title as men, they make significantly less. Overall, women make 77 cents to a man’s dollar, and in some professions, specifically high-paying careers,that disparity is much higher. The Paycheck Fairness Act would help close the gap more quickly by providing incentives for employers not to discriminate.

Lost earnings have serious consequences: The amount of money an average woman loses to the pay gap could feed a family of four. And while the wage gap is slowly shrinking, at its current rate it won’t actually disappear for 45 years. Still, more women are becoming the primary breadwinners or dual-earners in their family, with nearly 40 percent of women out-earning their husbands and a larger number of women with high degrees entering the job market.

Existing law doesn’t go far enough: The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act ensured that a woman has the proper window of time to sue for pay discrimination. The Paycheck Fairness Act takes significant steps to close loopholes in the original pay discrimination law, the Equal Pay Act, and to ensure that women can investigate whether they are being discriminated against. It also makes stronger penalties so that employers don’t violate pay discrimination laws. Included in the bill, too, is a grant for a salary-negotiation training program for women, who tend to be reluctant to negotiate.

Yet again, Dean Heller refuses to cease fighting the "War on Women", then acts like anyone pointing out this reality is somehow "killing jobs". Oh yes, that's right. Ensuring equal pay for equal work is now just another "job killing regulation" for Heller... Even though his opposition is really what's hurting the economy.

I'll let Desert Beacon explain the problem here.

GOP Math: Women control 73% of household spending; Our economy is 76% based on consumer purchases; therefore it’s OK to pay women 25% less?

How on this little blue planet are we supposed to sustain demand for goods and services when employers are allowed the license to pay female employees who comprise at least 47% of the total U.S. workforce 25% less than their male counterparts? And, we’re not talking about small amounts of pocket money here – 73% of American women in the workforce are holding full time jobs, 27% are only working part time.

Additionally, the increase in the female portion of the workforce isn’t slowing down [...] We’re at 47% already and we’re not even shoving up on 2050 yet. We may have even surpassed the 49% mark as at least one JEC white paper cites a 49.8% female participation in the workforce rate.

When women make less at work, that means women have less money to spend. And when American women have less money to spend, that means there's less money to be injected into the American economy. And right now, we need for American consumers to spend more so we can avoid the "double dip recession" now plaguing much of Europe.

When Dean Heller refers to the Paycheck Fairness Act as some "job killing regulation", he reveals that he's really clueless on how our economy works. In reality, the Paycheck Fairness Act would have boosted our economy if passed by simply ensuring equal pay for equal work. Not only does Dean Heller not understand the plight of Nevada's working women, but he doesn't even understand how to make our economy work again.

Supreme Shift for Marriage Equality

It's happening. It's finally happening. California's landmark Prop 8 case is heading to the US Supreme Court.

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals' decision to deny an appeal of February's ruling against Proposition 8 paves the way for a U.S. Supreme Court decision on gay marriage by next year.

The decision means the U.S. Supreme Court is likely to have two major gay-rights cases on its docket in the near future. Another federal appeals court last week struck down a federal law that denied federal recognition to same-sex marriage.

Backers of Proposition 8 said they will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the 9th Circuit ruling. [...]

A majority of the circuit's active judges voted against such reconsideration. [...]

Judges Stephen Reinhardt and Michael Daly Hawkins, who voted in February to overturn Proposition 8, responded in a concurring opinion that their ruling was narrow.

"We held only that under the particular circumstances relating to California's Proposition 8, that measure was invalid. In line with the rules governing judicial resolution of constitutional issues, we did not resolve the fundamental question that both sides asked us to: whether the Constitution prohibits the states from banning same-sex marriage.

"That question may be decided in the near future, but if so, it should be in some other case, at some other time."

So what happens next? I'll let the experts at Courage Campaign's Prop 8 Trial Tracker explain.

Now that en banc rehearing was denied, the proponents have 90 days to file a petition for certiorari to the Supreme Court, seeking review of the decision striking down Proposition 8. It’s likely that Justices at the Supreme Court would have their conference to take up the petition and decide whether to grant review or not sometime after their summer break in October. Oral argument would follow a few months later, and then a final decision would be issued by June or July 2013. [...]

No one is certain if the Supreme Court would grant review of the case as it currently stands. Judge Reinhardt’s opinion for the three-judge Ninth Circuit panel is very narrow and the holding is specific to California’s unique legal circumstances. A denial of rehearing in this case leaves the decision California-specific and there may not be four Justices – the number needed to grant certiorari – who want to visit an issue that’s so limited in scope. On the other hand, the panel’s decision did strike down an amendment to a constitution of an enormous state involving a contentious issue. And allowing gay couples to marry in California would nearly double the amount of people in the United States who live in an area that allows same-sex marriage.

Remember that since the Ninth Circuit's ruling on Perry v. Brown (the Prop 8 case) was narrowly tailored to just the (mis)use of the initiative process to deny the already granted right of civil marriage equality in California, The Supremes may actually decide that this case is not worth their time. However since this case is already in federal courts and addressing federal Constitutional issues, they may yet take the case. They may particularly want to take the case if they're out to broaden the scope again and make a ruling applicable nationwide, so now the final fate of the Perry case rests on how "activist" the Supreme Court Justices are feeling this fall.

At the very least, the early signs look good for Nevada's own Sevcik v. Sandoval marriage equality law suit. After all, Lambda Legal is also presenting a narrowly tailored case in arguing how forcing LGBTQ families to take domestic partnerships instead of civil marriages does not provide equal protection under the law. While Nevada's case is different from California's in that we never had any time period of marriage equality to start with, the same logic that most Ninth Circuit Justices used in their Perry ruling can also be applied to Sevcik.

So we can at least celebrate some good news on the equality front in the Ninth. However, we'll have to wait until the fall to see if the nation's highest court is ready to make some broad strokes that could affect LGBTQ equality nationwide.

Nevada Republicans Prepare to Fight in Carson City... By Fighting Each Other.

Last week, we discussed the continuing role of Former State Senator Elizabeth Halseth and the increasingly contentious G-O-TEA primary to replace her in SD 9 in the Southwest Vegas Valley. Today, we're seeing how the deepening ideological divide among Nevada Republicans is complicating Republican efforts to hold onto SD 9 and win the new SD 18 in Northwest Las Vegas.

Republicans want to take over the upper house of the Legislature, where they sit at an 11 to 10 disadvantage to Democrats. To do that, they have to win four of five competitive seats in November’s election.

The Senate caucus has endorsed a slate of candidates they believe are best positioned to win those competitive races. None of them have signed the anti-tax pledge — though that wasn’t a condition for the endorsement.

“We never had a litmus test over who we would endorse,” said state Sen. Ben Kieckhefer, R-Reno.

“I think we wanted candidates who were going to do two things: be excellent, pro-business legislators who would advance the cause of individual and economic liberties in Nevada,” Kieckhefer said, “and people who would win in the general election.”

So what's wrong with that? According to "tea party" elements, quite a bit is. Take a look at this SD 18 GOP debate on "Face to Face" last month.

Laurel Fee, a former staffer on Angle’s Senate campaign and a co-founder of the political group Tea Party and Republicans Uniting Nevada Conservatives said the problem is not that Republicans have been too conservative.

“The party has become too moderate,” said Fee, whose group is working with Jones and Assembly candidates running against establishment-endorsed candidates. “There are too many Republicans who don’t honor their own platform or principles.”

The insurgents were strong enough to take over the state party last month from the establishment.

June 12 will be the test of whether they’re strong enough to beat the establishment in an election.

As we've discussed before, the ideological warfare within the Nevada Republican Party is complicating Republican leaders' efforts to expand their power in Carson City. They were hoping Governor Brian Sandoval's flip-flops newfound "frankness" on taxes would soften skepticism over his & Republican legislators' ability to pass a reasonable budget and properly run state government. But instead, their shift angered the very "tea party" base that saved them in 2010. And now, the establishment's hand-picked candidates must fight for their political lives this week as primary season comes to a close.

After all, both sides realize next Tuesday's results will play a big role in not just the November general election, but also how the state will be run next year. Sandoval just wants to make sure his big corporate backers are pleased and his political career is preserved. His "tea party frienemies", on the other hand, truly want an ideological "revolution" that will result in the dismantling of what little state government we have. Party leaders tried to balance both sets of desires, but ultimately they sided with Sandoval. Yet because of that, the "tea party" is biting back and may yet succeed... In helping Nevada Democrats curb Sandoval's power.

Nevada Republicans... Are Still Not Helping Mitt Romney.

What on earth is Jim Messina talking about?



Remember when Jim Messina came here last August? Now think of all that's happened since then. Now, do you get it?

Certainly, there are many challenges that lie ahead. But as we've discussed before, it seems like Nevada Republicans aren't hesitating to lend President Obama's campaign a helping hand. Their latest hire serves as another reminder of that.

Former Utah state Rep. Carl Wimmer will become the new political director for the Nevada Republican Party — a key battleground state in the 2012 election.

Wimmer will continue to live in Herriman (Utah) and commute to Nevada "on a weekly basis."

"My primary goals for the Nevada Republican Party are to help Republican candidates get elected — including a Nevada win for Mitt Romney —aggressive fundraising and unification of the party," Wimmer said in a statement.

Wimmer was elected three times to the state House and was co-founder of the Patrick Henry Caucus, a group of conservative lawmakers focused on state sovereignty. He sponsored numerous pieces of pro-life legislation, gun rights bills and was the lead sponsor of legislation challenging federal health reform.

He was considered the frontrunner to win Utah’s new 4th Congressional District and resigned his legislative seat to campaign, but was soundly beaten at the state GOP convention in April by Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love, who won the nomination.

Oh, yes. Nothing screams #WINNING like hiring a new political director from out of state, then learning that the new political director won't even be moving into the state where his new job is! Oh, and this new political director showed his #winning skills by losing a Congressional race he was "expected to win"! So why did Carl Wimmer get this gig in the first place? Oh yes, that's right. He endorsed Ron Paul for President.

Come on, they have to remember their priorities! (And really, winning in November isn't one of them.)

This is why Mitt Romney is worrying about Nevada. And this is one big reason why Jim Messina colored Nevada light blue in his map today.

It's Not Easy Being Green

In case you were wondering, Las Vegas doesn't have a lot of park space. The Trust for Public Land noted the lack of parks in Las Vegas' city limits in its newest ranking of urban open space, though both the City and Clark County noted the Trust's study didn't include parks in master planned communities (like Summerlin) or Clark County operated parks in nearby unincorporated areas.

Still, it's clear that there are serious challenges for Las Vegas and most of the rest of Southern Nevada in making our communities more livable. While Henderson actually has reaped some success with its open space master plan, but the rest of the valley hasn't been as successful. And especially when we add fast growing unincorporated communities into the mix, open space preservation hasn't kept up with the county's population growth.

And in case that's not bad enough, many older communities in the urban core of the valley have faced problems in recent years because they don't have enough parks nearby. Here's what many in Southern Nevada are missing out of.

Parks and open space outside of cities produce economic benefits as well. Parks attract non-resident visitors who put new dollars into local economies. Proximity to parks and open space enhances the value of residential properties and produces increased tax revenues for communities. Open space captures precipitation, reduces stormwater management costs, and by protecting underground water sources, open space can reduce the cost of drinking water up to ten-fold. Trees and shrubs reduce air pollution control costs. And of course, there is the value to human communities of protecting the habitats of wild creatures who live near us.

Nearly half of Americans get less than the recommended minimum amount of physical activity—more than one-third engage in no leisure-time physical activity at all. In the movement to improve the health and wellness of adults and children across the country, parks have a critical role to play.

Whether hosting a Little League team or a seniors’ tai chi class, parks promote physical and mental health for people of all ages. The Trust for Public Land’s research into best practices in planning, design, and programming helps communities maximize the health benefits of their park systems

I consider myself fortunate to live in a community where all of the above is not just possible, but where it regularly happens. However, one doesn't have to travel far to find other parts of Clark County where kids have to play in the streets and bike trails are nowhere to be found. Going forward, we really do need to fix this if we want a more livable community that's more attractive to people and businesses looking for better economic opportunities.

North Las Vegas: Center of the Universe?

Who knew a city on the brink of ruin could be so politically potent and determine the future of our state? Wait, what??!! Seriously, what am I talking about?

Let me explain.

Take a good look at these maps. Notice anything? You should. Right now, the hottest races are all in Nor'town.

Right now, #NVLeg watchers are fixated on the Lee v. Spearman SD 1 Democratic Primary. At the Congressional level, the NV-04 race is happening there. And in November, that, NV-Sen, and the Presidential race will all at least be partially determined by Nor'town turnout.

And in case that wasn't enough, the state's economic future may now hinge on if/how the City of North Las Vegas survives its budget crisis. Because so many city "leaders" made so many bad decisions, did no proper planning, and stupidly agreed to being shortchanged by the state, Nor'town residents are now paying the price as city services are being slashed to death and city workers are being backed into a corner by craven politicians desperate to blame someone else for all the city's woes.



So this is the insanely dramatic backdrop in which North Las Vegas politics is playing out. And ultimately, what happens in North Las Vegas probably won't stay in North Las Vegas. Rather, what happens in Nor'town will likely play a huge role in determining both the outcome of this month's primary and the November general election.



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Who knew that a city facing a budget unraveling law suit and possible state takeover could play such a major role in Nevada politics? And who knew the balance of power in Carson City, and even to a certain extent in Washington, DC, would be determined by the final decisions made by Nor'town voters in this last week of early voting? As Nor'town voters are making their final decisions, how are they feeling about the hot mess in their city hall? How frustrated are they with politicians who seem to be out of touch with the reality they're facing every day?

How these questions are answered may just determine the future of the entire state.

Why Primaries Matter

We've been talking plenty about the hot primary in Senate District 1. Last night, Pat Spearman took the hot seat and got grilled by Jon Ralston on "Face to Face".



Yet oddly enough, incumbent Senator John Lee didn't show up for what was originally to be a debate. Why wouldn't he show up to debate? It's not as if he has nothing to say. So why not just say it to Ralston and debate the primary opponent?

This is really why primaries matter. They give the grassroots an opportunity to "vet the candidates" and figure out what they really stand for. That's what John Lee has to understand. That's what's happening now in Senate District 1, as well as in other races across the state.

And this is how Progress Now Nevada's voter guide comes in quite handy. Occasionally, even I have trouble sifting through everything down ballot. It's important to know what we're voting on and why. SD 1 is perhaps the most glaring example of why these primaries matter. And especially when it comes to voting for our Legislature, we can't afford to make these decisions lightly.