| 2/16/2021 |
Clark County Board of Commissioners
| Approved as Recommended
Agenda note: DOCUMENT(S) SUBMITTED:
1. Letters and e-mails (29 pages) submitted by constituents
DISCUSSION: Following introduction of the item, the Board was addressed by Rosemary Vassiliadis, Director of Aviation, who advised of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) process to change the name of the airport; and further advised that the airport name change will be paid for by private contributions and received by Clark County.
Dr. Michael Green, an associate professor of history at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, advised that the airport was named after the late U.S. Senator Pat McCarran who contributed to the development of aviation and was an anti-Semite and racist.
Commissioner Segerblom advised that all costs will be paid for by private contributions and not the taxpayers; the airport code “LAS” will remain the same; and advised of receiving letters in support of the airport being named for Harry Reid.
Commissioner Naft advised of receiving letters in support of the airport being named for Harry Reid; and expressed support for the name change due to being Jewish, associated with the Anti-Defamation League Nevada, and being that former Senator Harry Reid played a major role in the formation of Nevada.
Commissioner Jones advised that Senator Reid supported the environment and Nevada public lands by actions including co-sponsoring the bill that created the Red Rock National Conservation Area, designated Nevada’s only national park named the Great Basin National Park, and used the Southern Nevada Public Lands Act to return money to communities.
Commissioner Ross Miller advised some constituents expressed support to rename the airport; Senator McCarran was controversial and did not support all citizens; and further advised that Senator Reid represented the American Dream, was Senate Majority Leader, and achieved success through hard work and a dream.
Commissioner Gibson advised of a shared history with Senator Reid and his family; received emails, letters, texts, and phone calls regarding the matter; Senator McCarran held personal views which influenced his actions, and which he attempted to put into laws; and following the Board vote to begin the name change process, the matter will be sent to the FAA for further analysis; and advised that placing a financial burden on impacted businesses would be unfair.
Commissioner McCurdy advised that the time had come to make a change; and expressed support for renaming the airport after Senator Reid. | Pass |
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