Mayor Carolyn Goodman Talks Innovation In State Of City Address

LAS VEGAS, NV - When Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman learned that no Clark County commissioners were present for her annual State of the City address on Thursday night, she came up with an idea on the spot.

“Let’s annex now,” she suggested to the crowd at City Hall chambers in Las Vegas. The joke set the tone for Goodman’s entire speech, which included moments of jest and painted a rosy picture of the future of the city of Las Vegas. When it ended after about an hour she joked, fittingly, that she stayed “under” the projected duration.

The address began with a video tribute to the 58 people who were killed on Oct. 1 during the Route 91 Harvest Festival on the Las Vegas Strip. The day changed the city of Las Vegas exposed the inherent risk of being a global tourist destination.

“Vulnerability demands funding, and support, and our attention,” Goodman said. “We are not immune to recurring safety issues.”

Goodman went on to talk about improvement initiatives planned for the medical district and Symphony Park, as well as the continued development of Downtown Las Vegas.

“In our pursuit of more housing downtown, the recession put that initiative on a real pause,” Goodman said, before mentioning that the city plans to add 5,500 housing units to Downtown Las Vegas in the coming years.

Goodman said the city’s master plan “will be key to setting the stage for the future development of the Las Vegas medical district, Symphony Park, Cashman (Field), and all the new developments coming into the heart of the city.”

The master plan will focus on redevelopment and sustainability, Goodman said, while aiming to make “vacant parcels in our city developable and harmonious with its surroundings.”

She also had a message for the casino industry: “Don’t charge to go to the bathroom, don’t charge for everything you’re doing,” Goodman said.

She said the technological advancements the city is making is turning Las Vegas into more than just a gambling destination.

“The eyes of the world are on Las Vegas because of our innovation district,” Goodman said.

Before ending her speech, Goodman mentioned a plan to reduce the city’s homeless population, which is among the highest in the country.

“Together we’ve been addressing this, we haven’t solved it yet,” Goodman said. She mentioned a city initiative to provide homeless individuals with medical, housing, and employment resources that will begin this year.

Image via Gregory Bull/Associated Press