It’s crunch time.  The financial atmosphere in our beloved city of Las Vegas is not so good, we’ve got more than our share of scandals, (as usual) going to the gas station and the grocery store is more painful than ever and our utility bills are about to quadruple.  But despite all that, I’m happy to report the state of our “union” is strong.   By “union”, I mean the bond that exists between all true Las Vegans.  Our tenacity, if you will.  I’m feeling more love from the locals than ever before. 

True, times are tough.  Even the big casinos are finding themselves facing some belt tightening, but through it all, our community is growing more now as a city than as a bunch of transplants coming in to reap the rewards of Glitter Gulch.

A lot has happened.  We’re 2 million strong now, our beloved Runnin’ Rebels are resurgent and there seems to be more of a spirit of community.  I’ve noticed a friendlier vibe in the air lately.  Maybe it’s because we’re finally starting to value people instead of the almighty dollar so much.  Maybe we’re discovering that life is worth more than we thought.  Our recent medical debacle involving the Endoscopy Center is surely a travesty, but it hit home in such a way that it’s actually brought the locals closer together.  Sadly, it’s becoming painfully obvious that we need better leadership in our great state, but these are the times when those leaders emerge.

Sadly, it usually takes a crisis of some sort to bring out the best in the best.  My position as a broadcaster affords me the opportunity to speak to a lot of the movers and shakers around here, both on and off the record.  There’s a groundswell of community pride developing that will become more apparent as we move into the next decade.   A new, yet seasoned generation of leaders is about to take the reins, the latter era baby boomers, if you will.  They are the “too young for Vietnam, but too old for Kuwait” generation that’s been dormant in the leadership category until now.  Why? Because it’s time.

It’s time for everyone to get involved.  We all have the opportunity to take charge, by simply going to the voting booth. 

The national candidates are touting change, so why not here in Nevada?