LAS VEGAS, NV: Rain. I love the rain probably because I grew up in a small town outside of Portland, Oregon. Video coming up

LAS VEGAS, NV: Confused by the numbers coming out of Las Vegas? Don't be.  Everyone is confused. ​Gaming revenue fell 9.25% in the month of October 2019 compared to October 2018. Tourism fell .3%. Room rates fell 5% as did average guest receipts. However, McCarren Airport boasted the busiest  October in Las Vegas history.

Michael Lawton was baffled as well. Michael Lawton is senior research analyst at the Nevada Gaming Control Board.  He cannot understand how October 2018 had the highest gaming revenue numbers in history to this enormous 9.25% drop in gaming revenue.  Especially for the last three months Miochael has been bragging to the press about the extraordinary revenue numbers. Michael did not have the ability to analyze the reports from the casinos to see that they were pushing the numbers from quarter to quarter since 2018. Or he works for the casinos.  Because anyone who has walked down the Las Vegas Strip since 2017 could see that the rooms were full but the casinos were empty. The casinos were selling cheap rooms to keep the tourism numbers up.  Unfortunately those tourists only wanted to go the Hershey Store. 

As expected, the average room rates fells 5% as did the amount spent per guest.

We have been writing that the numbers reported by Rick Velotta at the Review Journal have been misleading for over a year. Recently,  the biggest clue that the bottom was going to fall out was when the Las Vegas Review-Journal sent to the AP the headline "Nevada Gaming Win Eclipses $1B in Historic September".  That would be a sign to invest.

But wait what?  September was slow as snails compared to previous years. 

The casino's CFOs give their numbers to the Gaming Control Board (GCB).  The GCB analyzes the numbers and gives them to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.  The Review-Journal the sends a headline and the condensed reports to the AP wire.  The AP Wire sends the headlines to Wall Street. As Citizen Kane once said: "Its not the size of the news, it's the size of the font".   Everyon buys in October.  Now everyone sells in November. 

The problem?

The CFOs at the Venetian and the CFO at Review-Journal are one in the same. Patrick Dumont is the CFO for the Las Vegas Sands Corp (NASDAQ: LVS).  The Las Vegas Sands bought the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2015. Patrick can write whatever headlines he wants the paper to read because the reporter assigned to cover gaming is Rick Velotta.  Rick Velotta is like Bruce Willis in 16 Blocks.  He is a tenured journalist that is waiting to retire. He doesn't want to rock to boat . That is how the the Las Vegas casinos scam Wall Street. We will see how Sheldon Adelson and the Las Vegas Sands use the Las Vegas Review -ournal to be a political machine for Donald Trump in 2020.

We have been saying this for over a year.  The casinos have been reporting misleading numbers by pushing their sales from quarter to quarter.  Like a desperate gambler, they believe that they can always make up their losses next time by betting more.  If you listen to the analysts talk about Las Vegas, they are so optimistic it makes you wonder if Sheldon Adelson bought them too when he bought the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2015.

Chad Beynon, the Wall Street analyst covering Las Vegas stocks for Macquarie Securities says they missed their numbers but that's okay because November and December will make up for the losses.  Does Chad sound like a desperate gambler who thinks if he just bets more money, he will make up his losses? 

Find out next tie on the Naked Jedi Blog.

LAS VEGAS, NV: On November 5 2019, the City of Las Vegas council members and Mayor voted in favor of making it  illegal to be homeless in Las Vegas.

Despite crowds and shouts of protest, Mayor Carolyn Goodman pushed forward her political agenda of getting rid of the "trash that litters the streets" in Las Vegas by garnering 5 of the 7 council votes to make it a crime to be homeless in Las Vegas.  She justified this new law by telling FOX-5 Las Vegas that despite all the negativity from the people telling her not to do this, she said it had to be done. 

The Mayor justified this new law by telling FOX-5 Vegas it will help the local business owners who have been complaining about the recent surge in homeless people. “We have the most wonderful, gentle, kind, caring members of law enforcement out with us, helping and talking to individuals and saying, 'You’re not allowed to sleep here. You’re not allowed to encamp. Let us help you go down to the courtyard,'” Goodman said.

Mayor Carolyn Goodman is delusional.  Even after YouTube videos surfaced from Las Vegas showing three  LVMPD  officers choking a man for selling water on the strip over the summer, she tried to convince the Publix the police officers are the best solution when dealing with the mentally ill. Oh more recently in September 2019, two LVMPD officers killed a man using the same chokehold.  

Do you know what will happen when you put a chokehold on a schizophrenic?  They will lose it.  POermanentl;y.  this is cruel and usual punishment on the mentally ill and the poor.

Oscar and Mayor Carolyn Goodman made their money from mobsters.  They were successful in getting their drug dealing, murderous friends out of jail.  So they could keep on murdering people and selling drugs.  "Anything for money", said the Goodmans to the Las Vegas Sands-Reveiw Journal in a recent memoir written by Oscar Goodman. 

But now, they are responsible for governing a major metropolitan city. This isn't about kickback and scams anymore.  Society has more needs than just a Casino.

So what is the solution? Other countries have Universal health care.  So everyone is covered.  But in Las Vegas, if you don't have insurance, you won't get you mental health covered. If ou are a schizophrenic on the street, you will get arrested and taken to a hospital.  The hospital ill hold you for a max of 7 days.  They won't spend any more money and they kick the person to the street.  the Mayor is suggesting "Enough is Enough.", in an interview with FOX-5. "We are going to jail these mentally ill people once and for all until they learn their lesson"

Goodman said she’s not paying attention to the negativity but focused on how the ordinance will positively affect the homeless and the city.

Some critics argue the bill criminalizes being homeless. Goodman said police will be taking a more sensitive approach to the problem.

Having the police deal with mental health issues is about the stupidest thing you could do to society. Polcie are not trained to deal with homeless aka schizophrenic, mentally ill people.  The worst thing you could do to a schizophrenic is put them in a cage or in handcuffs.  The reason they live outside is because they can't be confined.  And they can't fit out forms to be in a shelter.  They are crazy, but not criminal.  You are punishing people for being sick.

The Goodmans are criminals. They defended murderers and kept them out of jail so that nthey go on to murder a federal judge.  Legally, they've figured how to stay out of jail.  But Universally, everyone knows the Goodmans are guilty being an accomplice to murder by keeping mobsters out of jail. 

Las Vegas has a strong Jewish history. Oscar and Carolyn Goodman are two prominent members in the Jewish community in Las Vegas.  ​As history notes, Bugsy Siegel was known as one of the most "infamous and feared gangsters of his day". He was also a driving force behind the development of the Las Vegas Strip. Siegel was not only influential within the Jewish mob but, like his friend and fellow gangster Meyer Lansky, he also held significant influence within the American Mafia and the largely Italian-Jewish National Crime Syndicate.

There is no connection between the Goodman's and Bugsy other than we have generations of criminals all attending the same religious organization.  The point is: the Goodman's defended and associated with known criminals who the F.B.I. and the prosecutors were we are trying to put in jail.  Here are more of the notorious murders and drug dealers that the Goodman's were able to set free from jail:

Meyer Lansky, Nicodemo Scarfo, Herbert Blitzstein, Phil Leonetti, former Stardust Casino boss Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal, and Jamiel “Jimmy” Chagra, a 1970s drug trafficker who was acquitted of ordering the murder of Federal Judge John H. Wood, Jr. He also represented reputed Chicago outfit mobster Tony “The Ant” Spilotro, who was known to have a short, violent temper. In the semi-factual 1995 movie Casino, the character of Nicky Santoro was based on Spilotro (portrayed by actor Joe Pesci).

If your a LVMPD officer and you did not sign up to arrest poor people for rich Jeish people, then you need to throw down your tools. This is a time in your life to check your moral compass.  Watch some movies about Nazi Germany.  Do you want to be those kind of police, ironically in reverse?

You want to be a hero. What is a hero? A hero is someone who stands alone, against the evil of tyranny, greed and injustice.  Usually, you are arresting those who do not abide by society's defined laws.

However, there comes a time in person's lief that defines their moral character - forever.  Law enforcement officers often take the law in their own hands when dealing with the homeless people.  This is because the officer knows that jail is not the solution.  Homeless people are mentally ill. Every cop knows that. But now, the council and Mayor Goodman are asking you to shovel away poor people and put them in jail because their rich friends don't like seeing them on their property.  Is that really your job?

Now, we all know this is not a solution. But why did the Mayor move forward against the will of the people?

In 2015, possession of marijuana was a felony.  That is a serious crime that would generate  a lot of arrests.  When pot became legal, arrests went down by 50%.  Clark County had just raised taxes .25% in 2016 for a cop hiring spree.  Today, there is no way to justify the size of the police force.  Unless you make a new massive crime: its illegal to be homeless. They tried before with the bottle law but everyone figured out a way around that. 

People, like doves, have a Universal right to be here. ​

If you don’t believe that Karma exists in Las Vegas, then you won’t be in office for very much longer.

LAS VEGAS, NV: On October 31st, 2019 KAOS Nightclub opened the Demon Dome at the Palms Casino (NASDAQ:RRR) in Las Vegas. On November 5th, 2019 the mega-million dollar club closed.  The opening of the Demon Dome was the final piece to celebrate the $690 million remodel that the company embarked on last year in 2018. The Jedi are hearing rumors about defaulting on the note.

KAOS bartenders and servers were given the choice: take two weeks severance or stay on for 60 days to cover banquets and events.  From what we've heard, the staff was informed of the layoff via the news.

Earlier this month, Nightclub Manager Alex Cordova was escorted off the property by Palms security.  He was fired in a harsh way.  Rumor is that Alex was skimming millions off the top of contracts from DJ Skrillex and DJ Marshmellow. Alex previously worked at Hakkasan and PURE.  He instated the policy where then bartenders at PURE had to make cold calls in the office because they made so much money in tips.  

After claims that several executives were getting payoffs to book DJs including paying Marshmello an overwhelming $60 Million Dollars, it seems that the Palms has decided to close their entire nightlife venue at an extreme loss. 
​
The Review Journal pointed at John Gray being at fault,while purposely avoiding any claims that there was “fraud” or payoffs. “Gray’s departure lined up with the collapse of the Palms’ relationship with the superstar DJ Marshmello at Kaos Nightclub and Dayclub, a two-year agreement worth a reported $60 million. Gray was one of several high-level executives, including the resort owners, who signed off on the deal. It was apparent pretty quickly that the company over-shot Marshmello’s value to Kaos, currently dark as the ballyhooed Kaos Dome is installed in time for Cardi B’s “Demon Dome” Halloween party.
In a statement from Red Rock Resorts, Inc. to KTNV Las Vegas, the company cites challenging entertainment and fixed costs as the reason for their decision. “Therefore, we have decided to take some time to reassess the programming and use of those venues going forward,” reads a passage. “In the interim, we intend to use the venues for private meeting space and special events, in addition to everyday resort pool operations.”
From the start, KAOS appeared to be paying frothy valuations to secure their all-star talent roster. Marshmello reportedly received a record-breaking $60 million deal from the club. However, after just a few months the cracks began to show when both Marshmello and Skrillex abruptly ended their residencies in September. 

One person named in the Scandal was Wynn Executive Alex Cordova, who Bob Morris, a local “in the know” claimed was involved in a scam to inflate the value of DJs while getting kickbacks. According to him, “Alex Cordova, who managed Wynn Nightlife, was walked out the door a few days ago by security there. Much of the management at Kaos Club at Palms, who booked Marshmello, have been fired. Top management there is being fired too, including the GM.” 

'Red Resorts Inc owns the Station Casinos in Nevada.  These are the "local" casinos.  You know where you can always get cheap rooms and cheap $1 drinks.  Its the "old Vegas".  You don't expect much but a clean, decent room, a warm, decent meal and fair gaming with a smile. 

However, Station Casinos decided they wanted to "up their game".  They convinced investors to give them over $1 billion to purchase the Palms Casino and renovate it.   Huge project. This task was handed to Jon Gray.  I don't know much about Jon except you can tell a lot from a corporate photo. 

When I was a CEO, I could tell a lot from a person by their shoes. I could also tell a lot by how long someone takes to do their hair.  In business, you are often on the road together doing last minute calls.  Corporate appearance is important, but a handkerchief tells me that you spend more time in front of the mirror than you do hiring, firing and managing. 

A $690 million project is no joke.  When hiring executives, I have found that there are three types of leaders: the finders, the grinders and the minders.

A "finder" is a leader you want when you have a start up.  This leader has a different set of skills that require "off-the-cuff" thinking and quick action.  These are the people who hit the streets to sell along side the sales team. An example of a "finder" CEO  is John Ledger. His shoes are probably well-worn from wear.

The grinders come in after the finders. They grind the business once it's off the ground.  They find ways to reduce costs, simply processes  and they focus on profitably rather than growth. These leaders should be operations oriented.   An example of an operations oriented leader would be Gordon Gecko played by Martin Sheen in the movie WallStreet, or Donald Trump. Their shoes are polished, but worn.

In May 2018, Station Casinos headed up  $690 million in renovations project that was managed by Former General Manager, Jonathan Gray. Part of those renovations included The Demon Dome, which was scheduled to open Oct 31st, 2019.

We don't know all the details but the Jedi reported last month that Alex Cordova was somehow involved with skimming off the op of a botched a $60 million DJ contract with Skrillex and DJ Marshmello.

Last heard, Alex was headed for Ibiza where they have no U.S. extradition laws.

But that’s not why the servers are getting laid off. In April 2018 the employees voted to unionize with the Bartenders Union and Culinary Union. Ferittas and Jon Gray did not honor their vote.  The workers picketed in June 2019.  In August 2019, Bernie Sanders called out the Ferittas brothers as lazy fat cats who exploit workers. In September 2019, Alex got fired, Skrillex and Marshmello bailed on KAOS and Jon Gray resigned at Palms.  

If you want to be mad at anyone, its Lorenzo Ferittas who lost $1 billion of investor money.  But what would you expect form a guy who owned the Ultimate Fighting Championships?  Aren't those fights the fakest sport in history.  Shame on the investors for not paying attention. 

David E. Bergman's accounting department is under investigation for pushing sales from one quarter to the next to make the business appear more healthy.  

This is Vegas related because this an example of what the Jedi feel the Las Vegas Sands and the Las Vegas Review Journal are doing to investors on Wall Street: legally manipulating numbers to fool investors about  Las Vegas.

The journalists who cover the local businesses in Vegas seem to only write what the CFO's tell them; they don't question the numbers.

You cannot blame the journalists: today's CFOs are much more creative in selling their numbers than in the past.  However, the fact that they both report the Sheldon Adelson has to make you wonder why does the Las Vegas Review Journal write that Vegas is booming when everyone is selling their casinos and their are at least 4 mega-casino projects stalled.

LAS VEGAS, NV: Robots are here.  And they are in Vegas.  

The next time you order a drink at the MGM, the drink will be made by a robot bartender.  The service bartenders are being replaced by robots for accuracy and reliability.

Vegas is the first to have hunmans replaces by rotes in hospitality because Vegas bartenders are union.  as a former celebrity bartender from Aspen, Colorado, I figured fining a casino bartending gig would be a piece of cake.  Nope. It's all Union.  They won't hire you if you have a DUI.  Rules. Okay.

The judicial system and the community rules have proven to be more harmful to citizens than protecting them. The lied to everyone for 50 years, Why would you ever trust that system again?