The
Chamber Should Change
(July 4th, 2009)
The Laughlin Chamber of Commerce should change its name. It does not represent Laughlin Commerce. Its Board of Directors is controlled, and must always be so, by the casinos. The vast majority of its members are Arizona businesses. In an interview on TV2, the full-time executives of the Bullhead City and the Laughlin Chambers agreed that Arizona was for retailing and residences, while Laughlin is for gaming, entertainment and the jobs they provide.
I have been told by a commercial landlord in Laughlin that a representative of the Laughlin Chamber told him they would prefer that he not lease space to anyone that would compete with any of their members, specifically including those from Arizona. Casinos were so concerned that they may have to compete with new casinos operating under the same conditions as they do, that they conspired to eliminate last year’s Laughlin Town Advisory Board, even though it had voted down the ordinance amendment opposed by the casinos. It was such a threat that it would even be considered, they had to be eliminated. Janet Medina now is on the Town Advisory Board and can help block any similar future consideration.
The Chamber also opposed the right of Laughlin residents to have a chance to vote on our form of government. This position was taken before the Bill authorizing the citizens of Laughlin the right to vote had even been introduced, let alone studied and/or the true facts known.
The Chamber has recently used Governor Jim Gibbons to reportedly raise funds for Bullhead City Economic Development. Governor Gibbons delivered a good speech in support of business and job development FOR NEVADA. Based upon the Governor’s comments to the Laughlin Economic Development Corporation, it was not disclosed to him that his luncheon appearance was being used to benefit Arizona and not Nevada.
The Laughlin Chamber is not promoting commerce or business in Nevada, instead it is working to prevent it. The Chief Executive of the Bullhead City Chamber announced on TV2, during an interview on June 22, that he plans to begin attending the Laughlin Town Advisory Board meetings. I wonder to what end.
The Laughlin Chamber should more correctly be known as the “Casino Drive Office of the Bullhead City Chamber of Commerce” and Janet Medina should drop the pretense of representing the interests of Laughlin.
Dick McCall
(Editor’s Note: Mr. McCall is a long standing active member of the Laughlin civic community and has served with numerous civic organizations and committees. A veteran who served as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy, he also owned our Township’s leading homeowner association management firm before he retired. He testified at the recent state legislative hearings in Las Vegas in support of AB 383, the Laughlin incorporation bill. In 2008 he served as Chair of one of Laughlin’s two Democratic Presidential Caucuses and later resigned from the Democratic Party in protest at the political Occupation of Laughlin.)
We welcome the public’s feedback. Please send your Letters To The Editor to editor@laughlinherald.com
