[tr00th]

Like you didn't know already, here is the story on MSN about LLV and Clark Count.

Any opinions?

The 5 worst places to retire in the US - senior communities- MSN Money

[SportyandMisty]

Stupid article. So... one of the reasons cited about Clark County, Nevada is that the unemployment rate is over 14%. But as a retiree, this is a big plus: higher unemployment tends to keep down the price of various unskilled services. And, as a retiree, I'm not looking for a job - so the unemployment rate is in some sense irrelevant. Mortgages underwater? Big deal; as a retiree, when I moved here, I benefited from that.

So ... the negatives are really weak positives, as far as I can tell.

[UTES]

I think one of the major things the article overlooks is that many retirees (like myself) can snatch up fantastic properties at bargain rates. So, we're able to save a lot of money v. buying elsewhere. And, with the property tax structure, the most the property taxes can raise (if they do) is 3% a year. Add on to that the lack of taxes on individual income, and Nevada is a great deal. My wife and I love it here. We did not think we'd have this kind of opportunity presented to us at this point in our lives.

Bill

[ArmyFool]

Depends on how you look at it. High unemployment tends to lead to hundreds of negative problems for the city.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by ArmyFool

Depends on how you look at it. High unemployment tends to lead to hundreds of negative problems for the city.

High unemployment leads to miserable neighbors, shuttered businesses and higher than normal crime rates.

Las Vegas would be a better place to live if more folks had a decent job.

[ArmyFool]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

High unemployment leads to miserable neighbors, shuttered businesses and higher than normal crime rates.

Las Vegas would be a better place to live if more folks had a decent job.

Your correct ScoopLV!!! We all know that Vegas needs to diversify its economy. Being totally dependent on gaming is not a good thing. Unfortunately being in business, I have talked with many business owners about relocating their business to Vegas. The majority do not favor Vegas simply due to the fact the Vegas encourages gaming, drinking and other activities that do not fit their mindset. They would consider Arizona and Texas.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by ArmyFool

Your correct ScoopLV!!! We all know that Vegas needs to diversify its economy. Being totally dependent on gaming is not a good thing. Unfortunately being in business, I have talked with many business owners about relocating their business to Vegas. The majority do not favor Vegas simply due to the fact the Vegas encourages gaming, drinking and other activities that do not fit their mindset. They would consider Arizona and Texas.

Well, GOOD. People with such a mindset aren't going to do well here. They'll generally annoy Las Vegans the entire short time they're here. And then they'll leave, not having improved anything for anyone.

Besides, the entire idea is poppycock. Are these business owners trying to convince us that drinking doesn't happen in Texas or Arizona? That there aren't any poker games going on there right now?

And those "other activities?" While I could believe the entire state of Arizona is completely devoid of sex, Texas leads the nation in teen pregancy. So obviously there's plenty of "other activities" going on in the Lone Star state, at least. (Hell, that's the state that gave ZZ Top to the world.)

I'd argue that the problem with these business owners is "their mindset" more than anything else.

***

As for diversification, we've been round and round this issue enough. First we need better schools -- particularly at the college and post graduate level. That way we have an educated workforce. Then, more diverse industry will come looking for us.

Can't put the cart before the horse.

[Caltovegas]

All I can say is "Oh Snap."

[LVPoker1]

How does all of Clark County make this, then Lake Las Vegas too? Is Lake Las Vegas not in Clark County? I am pretty certain it is. It's hard to take this article seriously when they don't even know they named the same place twice.

Also, I would like to see the source that Clark County is #3 in violent crime. In 2009 Las Vegas was #25. Sort by violent crime:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_..._by_crime_rate

On that same graph you will see Henderson is the 3rd safest in the country. North Las Vegas isn't there but there is no way they have so much violent crime that they raise that up to #3. The Strip's low resident population must really make the crime there skyrocket the metro area. Then again, you have Summerlin, Enterprise, Spring Valley, Laughlin, Lake Las Vegas and Mesquite to offset that. It is likely the Strip crime is included in the LV city stats since they have the same department. I'm sure someone will know better than me but usually you see Las Vegas/Paradise as the same stats. If that is the case the strip crime is already included.

Edit: According to the FBI Metro LV was 6th and that only includes Metro's stats, not NLV or Henderson. Also of note, LV Metro stats have a very disproportionate number of assaults as opposed to other violent crimes where LV ranks much better. NLV and Henderson have their own departments and are not included in Metro stats even though most other cities include their entire metro and as already mentioned, Henderson is about as good as it gets as it relates to violent crime. Also, this does not include other Clark County cities such as Laughlin and Mesquite.

I'm pretty sure they pulled that #3 stats out of their... unless they have found 2010 stats that are not available on the FBI site and they were substantially worse than 2009.

[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by ArmyFool

Your correct ScoopLV!!! We all know that Vegas needs to diversify its economy. Being totally dependent on gaming is not a good thing. Unfortunately being in business, I have talked with many business owners about relocating their business to Vegas. The majority do not favor Vegas simply due to the fact the Vegas encourages gaming, drinking and other activities that do not fit their mindset. They would consider Arizona and Texas.

I would think a major deterant to businesses would be the amount of turnaround found in LV, due to its transient nature. Who wants to spend money and time training people to only watch them leave shortly thereafter.