THE BLACK KNIGHT
THE SAGA CONTINUES
BY GEORGE HARRIS

It seems that corruptive behavior is the norm for Clark County government officials. Once again the county sees itself embroiled in yet another scandal: Airportgate, The Ongoing Saga.

I’ve lost count of the scandals, but this latest embarrassment best showcases the disregard bureaucrats have for taxpayers. Through sweetheart deals, local developers have been able to purchase land below market value, cheating taxpayers out of millions. In reality, airport officials and county commissioners should sell the land at auction. This way, all citizens have a chance to get rich quick. 

It may be easy to get upset with developers taking advantage of airport officials, but let’s not lose sight of what’s going on and who’s responsible.

Developers are taking advantage of the market place by following rules set up by county commissioners. Commissioners vote on the sales to developers, so it’s clear the responsibility falls on their shoulders.

Commissioners should be questioning one another. Simple ones would be fine. Like, how much did Developer X donate to your campaign? Do you have any connection with the developer? It might shed some light on how things get done on Grand Central Parkway.

So, how do we prevent taxpayers from getting screwed at wholesale? Easy. 

It’s time that a local District Judge called for a Grand Jury in regards to the dealings of the airport and its officials. The old saying of “where there’s smoke there must be fire” makes a lot of sense here. 

This investigation needs to cover every aspect of airport management, from land deals to store leases. This is a terribly rotten onion that needs to be peeled back about three layers so we can begin to see the healthy inner core. 

Sources have told me that the management at the airport is guilty of everything from contract manipulation to nepotism. While stories are plenty, my favorite included an airport official with four family members working for McCarran. I admit I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but even I know four people from the same family demonstrates a little favoritism.

Another source confided her frustration about not being promoted because of her religious affiliation. “I’m very concerned that the vast majority of all the executive positions are held by members of one religious group. It just sucks.” 

It’s not solely the land deals at the airport that seem to be the problem. Without a complete review of how the facility is being managed, we can’t change their behavioral culture. And that, dear readers, means an ongoing saga of millions of dollars in revenue lost thanks to McCarran mismanagement. LW