“We are confident that unaltered copies of the video were made, before the video hard disk was damaged.” Bill Scott said in an e-mail to the group created on facebook called ‘In Memory of Erik B. Scott.’

Here is what the family is looking for:
The imagery must show Erik’s activities inside the Summerlin Costco store, as well as the shooting by three LV Metro police officers in the Costco foyer area. Video data must encompass the period between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on July 10, 2010.

Hopefully the $25K payday will motivate the brave soul to come forward and give the family some answers. Please contact the family at: www.erikbscott.comor 702-383-5088.

Devil in a blue dress

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few months you already know that Sharron Angle is running for Senate vs. Harry Reid. Although I am not truly a fan of either candidate, I definitely believe that Reid is the lesser of two evils. If you happen to catch the only debate that aired last week, you probably realized that this is one crazy bitch! Unless you want this C-U-Next-Tea party to turn our state into a conservative hell, you better get your ass out there and vote against her!

I realize that there are other Sin City locals who don’t care for either candidate, but please don’t let that distaste make you not want to vote at all. If you choose not to vote, remember that the die-hards WILL! Do your part and vote. People have given their lives for that freedom. Let your voice be heard!

Register to vote here.

For all the people that are rallying for Harry Reid, You can join President Barack Obama tomorrow in Las Vegas, at Orr Middle School Park. Admission is free, and doors open at 3:30.

The latest round of tax increases are about to hit us where it hurts—our checking accounts.  However, we’re here to scatter some myths about the new fiscal burdens.  Yes, SINNERs, there is light at the end of the financial tunnel.

A SINFUL PROPOSAL
Rumors have run rampant about new taxes on liquor and tobacco. “Sin taxes” may make you think that your dirty little secrets will come back to haunt your check book, but they are actual taxes on products like liquor, tobacco and junk food.  Although no new taxes were imposed by the state government on popular party favorites, the federal government made sure we pay for our sins.

Governments love sin taxes because it shifts the burden to people who choose to partake in such activities.  Not to mention, the government feels higher taxes will promote safer choices. But in Sin City, we thrive on living life on the wild side.  For example, consumers can expect a significant boost in the price of cigarettes this year as a new federal tax on “small” cigarettes and cartons of large cigarettes will increase 258%  For a pack of “small” cigarettes, taxes will increase from 39 cents a pack to $1.01 a pack.  For cartons of large cigarettes, expect taxes to go from $3.90 a carton to $10.07 a carton.  This leaves less money in consumers’ pockets and more to the federal government.  In addition, the government raised taxes on junk food and sodas as well.  However, the extra money will go toward addiction recovery programs and certain health programs. Irony.

Nevada specific, the only provisions affecting alcohol come from the passage of AB 552. Basically, retailers who sell alcohol and/or tobacco products receive a collection allowance of .5 percent if they pay the taxes on these products in a timely manner.  So if a vendor owes $10,000 in taxes, and they make that payment in a timely manner, they receive a kick back of $50.  However, since July 1, 2009, the collection allowance decreased to .25 percent leaving alcohol and tobacco retailers with less kick back.  State financial advisors said retailers may put the burden of the lower collection allowance back on the consumers by increasing the prices.  This means that Nevadans may see a price increase in our sinful pleasures, but that remains in the hands of the retailers this provision affects.

YOU’LL PAY FOR THAT
SINNERs know that we pay a little extra for all of our toys.  This is called a sales tax, but after July 1, 2009, this tax increased from 7.75 percent in Clark County, to 8.1 percent, a .35 percent increase.  This means that for every $100 we spend at our favorite sex, er, grocery store, we will pay an extra 35 cents.  This little extra goes toward the Local School Support Tax, but takes more out of our pockets.  On the bright side, K-12 education will get a fiscal kick.  On the down side, SINNERs will have to pay more when purchasing anything.  This makes it more difficult to buy groceries or other essentials, especially when money is already hard to come by in this tough economy.

Some good news
The service taxes everyone has heard about on the radio and in a handful of news stories will not go into affect.  The Nevada legislature planned on implementing taxes on things like hair cuts, massages and other services. These taxes would go toward the severe budget deficit, but there were arguments on what services should be taxed and by how much.  For example, should health care services be taxed as much as that new hairstyle?  Because of problems like these, SINNERs can avoid higher bills at the salon.

PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB
The controversial lodging tax may leave some tourists without a place to crash and casino workers without jobs.  The newfound tax allows the hotels to increase room taxes no more than 3 percent, without exceeding 13 percent.  The extra taxes will go into a state general fund, and after June 30, 2011, the extra funds will go toward K-12 education.

SINNERs beware!  Although this tax will affect tourists, it can have negative consequences on the gaming industry as a whole. While people are clenching their wallets and watching every dime they spend, higher hotel rates may drive tourists away, opting for cheaper getaways. In turn this will leave hotel workers out of a job and looking for work, sending Las Vegas’ already high unemployment rate skyrocketing into the upper Stratosphere.  On the bright side, tourists may not notice or care about the extra 2 percent and the increased taxes will generate much needed state revenue.

IN GOOD COMPANY?
Nevada has always been known for its friendliness to new businesses.  Low business taxes have been the driving force behind the expansive growth Las Vegas has witnessed over the last 10 years.  However, that’s all about to change.  In addition to new taxes, the fee to renew a business license will increase from $100 to $200 effective July 1, 2009.  The modified business tax changes the rate businesses are taxed and implements a new tiered system. Taxes will be dependant on whether or not the company pays out more than or less than $62,500 each quarter in wages.  A tax of 1.17 percent on the amount an employer pays over $62,500 in addition to a $312.50 fee, or a flat tax of .5 percent on the entire amount under $62,500 will be administered and effective July 1, 2009.

So how does this affect you, SINNERs?  Legislative analysts say the tax burden the companies will face may be put on the consumers.  This means a general increase in prices across the board, from groceries to clothes, tattoos to gym memberships. Although it’s speculated, many believe companies aren’t going to absorb the increased taxes.

STEP OFF, MAN
So what can we SINNERs do if we don’t like these tax increases?  Unfortunately, the Nevada legislature only meets every two years on odd years for 120 days, and the 2009 legislative session ended on June 1.  However, you can send a letter or email to your local representative or start a petition, on which you need the equivalent to 50 percent of the number of voters who voted in the most recent election to sign it in order for the legislature to consider it in 2011. Visit http://mapserve.leg.state.nv.us/website/lcb/viewer.htm and find your representative.

WHAT’S RTC GOT TO DO WITH IT?

“We’ve spent a lot of time and money in the past few years in that system and making it a system that’s worthy of a city of our size,” says Allison Huntly, Public Information Supervisor at the RTC. She can’t say enough about the innovations, technology and sustainability that are leading the way for public transportation in the Las Vegas Valley.

The RTC of Southern Nevada is its own agency, created by state statute back in the ‘60’s. They wear two major hats: Metro Planning Organization (MPO) of Southern Nevada which plans and funds major roadway projects in the valley, like the 215; and operating and maintaining the public transit system, now one of the most efficient in the country. Funded through federal dollars and fare box recovery, the RTC also subsidizes additional costs. As a public transit system, they’re not out to make money. So any errant profit they make (like on The Deuces’s Strip route) gets reinvested into the agency.

YOUR SEXY NEW RIDE

The RTC’s products and services are all about making public transportation as appealing and efficient as personal vehicles. Therefore, Allison knows it’s important to get you there on time. “We have great on-time performance. Our on-time performance is in the ninety percents. So we’re really something that people can count on out there on the roadways.”

They’re committed to improving the fleet, routes, and amenities; all while actively pursuing environmental sustainability. So, Allison just put it out there. Way out there. “We want to make transit sexy.” Holla! Yes, SINNERs, the RTC of Southern Nevada wants to permanently lure you away from your one passenger/one car commute.

Seriously. They want you to park your cars and leave your keys in the bowl by the door. Why? ‘Cuz they’ve got you covered from all angles.

Club Ride is an employer-based system that promotes car pooling, van pooling, cycling, walking, and public transit. Park and Ride is the express bus service catering to the residents in the outlying areas. The Deuce is the doubledeck bus that was such a hit on The Strip, it has expanded into residential areas. Plus, it’s got a tasty international feel. How can you look at it and not think Big Ben with a side of fish and chips?

ONE ACE CAN CHANGE THE GAME

And then there’s the ACE, debuting in 2009. The ACE rapid transit system will connect Las Vegas, Las Vegas Convention Center, The Strip, Henderson and North Las Vegas. It’s the latest and greatest in high-tech, fuel-efficient mass transit, designed to fuse train technology with the flexibility and cost effectiveness of a bus. Sleek, sexy and bullet-shaped, this high-speed transit system will get you there with a portion of the route operating on a dedicated transit lane. So the contact with general traffic will be limited, and stops will be less frequent. All of this works to get passengers longer distances, faster than the fixedroute system. Other amenities will include offboard fare collection, doors that open four-wide, platform-level embarking and disembarking, and onboard Internet access.

This national demonstration project will be all Vegas, baby. Historic neon signs will decorate the shelters on the downtown leg of the system. The original signs for the 5th Street Liquor Store and the Landmark have already been secured.

IT COULD HAVEN BEEN WORSE

As dedicated transit riders already know, the fare rates were increased last month. But why now? Why increase rates, when many people are already finding it hard to make ends meet? According to Allison, “It’s not something that we take lightly.

And it’s not something that we like to do, especially in this economic climate. But, the question we had to ask ourselves was ‘Do we want to raise fares slightly, or do we want to cut services?’ And because so many people depend on the system, we
thought cutting service would not be an option.”

Let’s be fair. The fuel and operating costs for every industry have increased over the last few months. Plus, the RTC hasn’t raised fare rates in ten years. That’s back when we partied like it was 1999, folks!

WAY WORTH A SECOND LOOK

Like most 15-year-olds, the Southern Nevada public transit system is striding confidently in the now, with an eye on a bold and innovative future. They truly want you to relax and enjoy, multitask and text, email and teleconference while leaving the driving to them. They’ve even placed Bus Concierges—bus-savvy students in bright, easily identifiable gear—on routes to help passengers better navigate the transit system.

So if you’re committed to going Green or you simply Can’t Afford Transportation, check out the new rides around town. The RTC of Southern Nevada is betting the ACE up their sleeve that you won’t be disappointed.