Spring 2024

Sheriff Kevin McMahill

Changing Metro’s Culture to Protect Those Who Protect the Community Neon Museum Signs of the Times

Secure 2.0 Act and Nevada Saves: Retirement Planning for Businesses

Meet the Incumbent Judge Gordon

EDITOR IN CHIEF

PRESTON P. REZAEE, ESQ.

PUBLISHER

TYLER MORGAN, ESQ.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

JEFFRY COLLINS, ESQ.

MARKETING

DIANA COLLINS

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

BRANDON PIERCE

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CONTRIBUTORS

MARK FIERRO

JOSH KASOFF

ZULEKHA ADDISON

VALERIE MILLER

MARK MARTIAK

DAN HERRERA

DONOVAN THIESSEN, CPA

DON LOGAY

MYRON MARTIN

ANDREW CASH, M.D.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the latest edition of Vegas Legal Magazine, a publication where the spheres of law, business, and lifestyle converge to provide a comprehensive glimpse into the pulsating heart of our city. This issue comes with a sense of renewed vigor, as we delve into topics that resonate with the core of our community and welcome new partners who share our vision for progress and excellence.

Our cover story is a compelling profile of Sheriff Kevin McMahill, a figure whose leadership and dedication to public safety have left an indelible mark on our city. Through an exclusive interview, we explore the challenges and triumphs of his tenure, offering readers an intimate look at the complexities of law enforcement in Las Vegas. Sheriff McMahill’s story is one of resilience, commitment, and a deep-seated desire to serve and protect, reflecting the broader themes of responsibility and community that we cherish.

The legal landscape is ever-evolving, and this issue seeks to illuminate some of its most pressing facets. A detailed article on Judge Gordon provides insight into the judiciary’s role in shaping our legal environment. Known for his astuteness and fairness, Judge Gordon’s influence extends beyond the courtroom, impacting the very fabric of justice in our community.

Additionally, we delve into the critical issue of Section 230, a piece of internet legislation that has sparked considerable debate across the nation. Our comprehensive analysis explores its implications for free speech, digital platforms, and the legal responsibilities of online entities. As the digital age progresses, understanding the nuances of such laws becomes paramount for professionals and citizens alike.

In this edition, we are also excited to welcome new advertisers Synapse TBI and Lexitas to the Vegas Legal Magazine family. Synapse TBI, a trailblazer in the treatment and rehabilitation of traumatic brain injuries, and Lexitas, a renowned provider of legal support services, both represent the pinnacle of commitment to their respective fields. Their partnership with our magazine underscores a shared commitment to the highest standards of service and excellence.

Our magazine’s essence is not just to inform but to create a platform that fosters dialogue, education, and growth among the legal, business, and lifestyle communities in Las Vegas. This issue embodies that mission, bringing to the forefront the individuals, issues, and innovations that shape our collective experience.

To our loyal readers, we extend our deepest gratitude for your continued engagement and support. To those joining us for the first time, we welcome you to a publication that aspires to both enlighten and inspire. Together, we navigate the vibrant landscape of Las Vegas, driven by a shared pursuit of knowledge and a passion for the city we call home.

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

Aswe unveil the latest edition of Vegas Legal Magazine, we are thrilled to navigate you through the pages that epitomize the blend of law, business, and lifestyle, encapsulating the vibrancy and dynamism of our beloved city.

In the realm of law, we feature an exclusive article on Lakye Martin Esq., a distinguished member of the Nevada Cannabis Association. This piece sheds light on the evolving legal landscape surrounding cannabis in Nevada, offering in-depth analysis and insights from one of the leading legal minds in the sector. Martin’s expertise and forward-thinking approach provide a compelling look into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for both the legal community and the cannabis industry at large.

Turning our focus to the business section, we delve into the intricacies of the SECURE 2.0 Act, breaking down what it means for retirement planning and financial security. This legislation marks a significant shift in how individuals and businesses will approach retirement savings, and our comprehensive coverage aims to demystify the act’s provisions and implications.

Additionally, we spotlight the Nevada Saves program, a pioneering initiative designed to bolster the financial resilience of Nevadans. Through expert commentary and analysis, we explore how this program not only supports individuals in achieving their financial goals but also contributes to the overall economic health of our state.

Our lifestyle section is brimming with excitement, featuring an extensive coverage of CES 2024. As the world’s premier technology and innovation showcase, CES in Las Vegas offers a glimpse into the future, and our coverage highlights the groundbreaking products and technologies that are set to transform our lives. From the latest in smart home gadgets to advancements in automotive tech, we bring you the highlights that captivate the imagination and spark curiosity.

Moreover, we are proud to present a stunning photo spread from our 2023 Legal Excellence Awards held at the Legacy Club inside Circa. This event, which celebrates the achievements and contributions of the legal community in Las Vegas, is captured through a series of captivating images that convey the elegance, excitement, and camaraderie of the evening. Through this visual journey, we honor the individuals and teams whose excellence and dedication set the standard for our profession.

As we present this issue to you, our commitment to delivering insightful, engaging, and high-quality content remains steadfast. We believe that the blend of articles in this issue not only reflects the diverse interests of our readers but also underscores the unique intersection of law, business, and lifestyle that defines Las Vegas.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support of Vegas Legal Magazine. Your engagement and feedback inspire us to reach new heights with each issue. We hope that you find this edition both informative and inspiring, and we look forward to your thoughts and contributions as we continue to explore the ever-evolving landscape of Las Vegas together.

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“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

–Steve Jobs

Court of Public Opinion

By Mark Fierro

This is the story of a hardworking, creative and successful Nevada couple who were living the American dream — until it all went wrong, marred by what Erica and Markus Bender allege are ongoing incidents of vandalism, intimidation tactics, lies and outright racism on the part of the COA (commercial version of an HOA) at the commercial center property they own in Mesquite.

The Benders, an interracial married couple, launched their company in Southern California in 2015 before moving their operations to Henderson in 2016.

Erica and Markus describe the early days of building their company as a marathon of late nights, sacrifice and hard work as they pursued their dream of establishing a thriving business.

Their efforts paid dividends as the business took off and the couple began to realize their vision and dream. By April 2019, they were ready to expand their operations and ultimately acquired a 25,000-square-foot commercial building in Mesquite via a bank foreclosure. Although they knew the expansion came with the risk of possibly losing everything if it didn’t work out, the Benders opted to stick with their commitment not only to Nevada but also to the community of Mesquite.

In fact, shortly after that commercial property purchase, the couple made another significant purchase of a cinema complex in the same commercial center in Mesquite. The Benders plan to develop a family-oriented fun center there while using the other portion of the building to expand their growing apparel business. With that acquisition they became the single biggest property owners in the center.

From the time it became known that Erica is black and of Haitian descent, according to the Benders, they felt growing animosity from the property manager and the COA, particularly the board president, who is also the owner of a nightclub in the commercial center.

For instance, according to the Benders, the nightclub owner told Markus: “If you weren’t so litigious, I would smack the fuck out of you,” and “Your HOA fees will pay for our attorney fees, so bring it on.”

He also called Markus “Cupcake” and told him to “go back to California, Princess.” This is all on recordings.

Before the end of 2022, the Benders had compiled three video recordings made by surveillance cameras in which the nightclub owner tells the couple, “Go home.”

He also told Erica to “go black home,” according to the Benders.

“I was told by the nightclub owner, who is the COA board president, and neighboring building owner, to ‘go black home’ while I was in the back of my lot,” Erica says. “He is encouraging people to park in back of our building to intimidate me and my husband, so we’re in fear of going to our own property in fear of any altercation. The nightclub owner/board president gives our security camera the finger. They honk as they circle our building, at all hours of day and night. We feel very intimidated and scared. He is encouraging people to do this because we have a lawsuit against him, and he is allowing them to do his dirty work.”

Not only have these actions been captured by surveillance video, according to the Benders, but the nightclub’s own employees have told the couple that they were instructed to intimidate them.

“We have his employee on camera telling us that his boss instructed him to park back there on our lot,” Erica says. “The honking and the circling of our property, it is the board president/night club owner, his employees and provocateurs who are doing the harassing.”

At a board meeting, the president/ nightclub owner told Erica, who is also a board member: “Take your ball and go home.”

There were also times that we had to call the police, and even with the police there the board president can be heard shouting at me to ‘go home,’ ” Erica says. “I understood that to mean I don’t belong in the commercial center, I don’t belong in Mesquite and I don’t belong in this country.”

According to the Benders, the community manager as well as the president influenced others to spread lies at city council meetings and on Mesquite social media that the Benders were “planning to establish either a homeless shelter or a methadone clinic” in the center, also stating that the Benders “need to be watched because the town may not like what happens.” There is a recording of another property owner saying the Benders “will bring undesirables” to Mesquite.

To be clear, there have never been any plans for a homeless shelter, a methadone clinic or anything of the sort. The only plans besides the operations of the apparel company were for a proposed family fun center.

The board president/night club owner told Erica at a board meeting during executive session: “I’ve been here 10 years and I know everybody in this town, the council, the city attorney, police and city officials — they all hate

you, and want you gone” — also going as far to say, in an open letter to property owners, that he has been protecting the center from the Benders.

Meanwhile, the Benders’ properties have been burglarized and vandalized twice, with multiple attempted break-ins, causing their insurance to triple — some of which have been caught on video. The COA board has refused to act, according to the Benders, even denying the approval of security gates that the Benders offered to install at their own expense.

A person with facial tattoos appeared a few hours after one of the burglaries, telling Benders’ staff: “I hear you got burglarized.” When they asked him how he knew, he replied: “My brother (who works at an adjacent property in the center) told me.”

In support of their lawsuit, the Benders have compiled a massive series of security videos.

Videos showing drunks falling down seemingly unconscious, several fights between men who seem to be intoxicated, smoking of drugs & urinating, ALL taking place on the Benders property adjacent to the night club. Please note: the night club has only 3 parking spaces on their property and uses the Bender’s property 100%. Another video of a hit & run of Erica being struck down by a truck while walking in a parking lot at a nearby Mesquite grocery store. This incident took place just one day after she had called the Attorney General’s office stating that she had feared for her life.

“Eight years ago we were struggling financially just to get by and yet wanted to build up this company. We were borrowing money off our used cars to devote to the business. There were times we didn’t know how we were going to pay the bills,” Erica Bender says. “But we really believed in our company and what we were doing. We moved to Nevada because we thought we could have better opportunities there. We never imagined that they were going to try to take our opportunity away from us. We built this company from nothing, and they are trying to take that away from us because they don’t like us and they don’t feel we belong.”

“We went to Mesquite because we wanted to run our business here. We wanted to do good things for the community, with a family fun center for the town and opportunities to add employees, to create jobs. The reason they’re trying to stop us is not because we are doing anything bad. It’s because of the color of my skin. We just want prosperity for the town and for us.”

The Benders’ attorney, Milan Chatterjee of Milan’s Legal, says: “This is a hardworking couple who are just trying to grow a business, to create jobs and be a positive force in the community. For some reason there are people in Mesquite who want to stop them. Erica and Markus firmly believe that the vast majority of

the residents of Mesquite are good people, not racist. I think they’re right. This is a couple who built a thriving business from the ground up. They deserve to be treated fairly.”

Mark Fierro began his career as a reporter/anchor at KLASTV, the CBS television station in Las Vegas. He worked at the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. He served as communications consultant on IPO road shows on Wall Street. He provided litigation support for the Michael Jackson death trial.

He is president of Fierro Communications, Inc., which conducts mock juries and focus groups in addition to public relations and marketing. Fierro is the author of several books including “Road Rage: The Senseless Murder of Tammy Meyers.”

He has made numerous appearances on national TV news programs.

MEET THE INCUMBENT Judge Gordon

Vegas Legal Magazine (VLM): What does being a judge mean to you?

I feel a tremendous sense of obligation as a judge to be at my best every day, which means being prepared, impartial, and decisive. At my swearingin, I spoke about repairing the world, which is an important value of mine. Being a family court judge allows me to make a difference in the lives of others one case at a time.

VLM: Why did you become a judge?

I always aspired to become a judge but admittedly the fear of failure was my biggest obstacle. When my kids left for college, I wanted them to take risks in life and pursue their ambitions. I realized I was not doing the same. I decided to put my doubts aside and pursue my dream.

VLM: What has been the most memorable case you have presided over as a judge?

I recently had a case involving two young boys, close in age, living in dire circumstances, food insecurity, neglectful parents, domestic violence, etc. During a child interview, the younger of the two boys described how close he was to his brother, how the two of them leaned on each other for support, and how his slightly older brother was the only person in the world he could trust. I am a father of three children including two boys close in age. Every day as a judge, I see children robbed of innocence by their dysfunctional circumstances. Those two boys and their bond have stuck with me.

VLM: How do you exercise judicial discretion where legal authority is ambiguous? For example, how likely are you to sanction a litigant who violates a procedural rule, e.g. failing to file a document in a timely manner?

More than three-quarters of the litigants I see are self-represented. They are people with real problems who need the court’s help. But they have a tough time understanding and complying with the rules. There is tension between the formalism our legal system requires and the humanism needed to make justice accessible to everyone. We have to adapt and rethink how to make our courts more comprehensible, more worthy of respect, and better able to solve problems than create them.

VLM: How is the family court responding to the increasing number of self-represented litigants?

I am working on a plan to implement the use of “informal trials” in family court. Hopefully, the Nevada Supreme Court will approve our pilot program this year. An informal trial levels the playing field for those unable to hire an attorney. It is a finite, simplistic set of rules that litigants can learn, understand, and feel comfortable navigating.

VLM: What was the most memorable case you tried as an attorney before taking the bench?

An attorney never forgets their first trial. I was no more than a year or two out of law school and represented an elderly widow who went into business with a well-known land developer and then shut out of the company. Despite how green I was at the time (figuratively and literally as I threw up in the bathroom before opening statements), my client prevailed both at trial and on appeal and eventually recouped her investment plus attorneys fees.

VLM: Has there ever been a situation that tested the limits of your patience? Do you have any advice for handling those moments?

Patience is critical to being a judge. People universally want to feel seen and heard. Studies show that when litigants perceive that a decisionmaking process is fair and both sides treated fairly regardless of who “wins” they are more likely to be satisfied with the outcome. There is often value in family court to allowing litigants to say what they need to say to move forward. I may already know what needs to happen, but having the patience to hear everyone out helps build trust in the process.

VLM: Do you have any attorney pet peeves?

Be prepared. Know your client’s case. If I am asking questions, and you need to turn and ask your client something as simple as his or her work schedule, that is a bad look on you.

VLM: What is your best piece of advice for litigants and/or attorneys?

My best piece of advice for attorneys is to recognize

and address upfront the weaknesses of your client’s position. Take reasonable positions; don’t ignore the obvious flaws in your client’s case. Concede what you must or you risk losing credibility with the court.

VLM: What is your passion outside of law?

I enjoy playing pickleball. For years I played league tennis and scoffed at the thought of switching. A friend invited me out to play, and I was immediately hooked.

VLM: Finally…what do you love most about Vegas?

I am Vegas born. I have memories woven throughout the city from parks where I played little league, schools that I attended, restaurants and hotels where my family celebrated important milestones like birthdays, graduations, weddings, etc. Vegas is the backdrop for my story, and I don’t foresee that changing any time soon.

Lakye Martin Esq. with the Nevada Cannabis Association

By: Josh Kasoff

Regardless of which state we’re speaking of, every state’s individual cannabis industry is a multi-layered machine where every position and profession plays a unique and major role in the mostly successful operation of that industry. Far from just budtenders and the occasional brand ambassadors, the continued success of the American cannabis industry greatly benefits from several different ancillary and non-plant-touching yet vitally important roles. Human resources managers for employmentrelated matters, accountants and financial advisors specializing in the very uncharted world of cannabis finance and proper banking and most notably, lawyers from some of the most prestigious law schools in America who practice several different types of law.

Within every facet of cannabis business, lawyers and their particular expertise in various fields of law are necessary and endlessly useful. When cannabis

conglomerates such as the parent company of the Las Vegas cannabis megastore Planet 13 announced their nearly $50 million acquisition of Floridabased VidaCann LLC, you can bet that a team of diligent lawyers for both parties were ever present and facilitated the multi-million dollar acquisition. When tax season comes around and fully compliant cannabis companies are unsure of how to properly go about filing taxes due to the confusions caused by Tax Code 280E on top of various state taxes, lawyers who specialize in taxation law are certainly being consulted with.

When cannabis companies need to ensure that they’re remaining one hundred percent compliant with the oftentimes strict and stringent regulations present in every cannabis-selling state, they are certainly hiring a lawyer to provide that guidance, counsel and security from excessive fines and punishments. For all types of litigation, from partner disputes to

trademark issues, to administrative hearings and eventual settlement negotiations, experienced lawyers across America are being hired. Professional cannabis operations touch upon every field of law despite remaining illegal in the biggest and most powerful field of law, that being the federal level.

One such brilliant and distinguished attorney who leads a business organization advocating for the betterment and strengthening of the Nevada cannabis industry is Nevada Cannabis Association Executive Director Layke Martin.

Being born and raised in Las Vegas, Martin decided to attend UNLV for her undergrad, where she also followed in the initial footsteps of many great attorneys and majored in broadcast journalism, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2002. While working at Channel 3 KSNV, then KVBC, Martin was a news producer for the 5 AM morning show. Martin admits that this was a very valuable opportunity to be a news producer being so fresh out of college, but this incredibly early morning slot meant that she’d arrive at the office at 9 PM, while almost everyone else was unwinding after a long day.

“In part, I applied to law school to get out of working overnights.” Martin joked. “At the time, it was a reason to move to a new city and try something new, so I only applied to East Coast schools. Which is how I ended up going to Boston University.”

Another previous experience that certainly influenced Martin’s decision to attend Boston University’s School of Law is the fact that she interned at former Nevada Senator Harry Reid during her time at UNLV.

“Prior to law school, I was always interested in both policy and politics. I picked Boston University because it has a legislative policy and drafting clinic. During my 1L summer, I was doing an internship at Greater Boston Legal Services, and my supervisor told me that I have an aptitude for litigation and should pursue litigation instead. I was so delighted to have her mentorship and so I switched to the litigation clinic and after law school, I practiced business litigation at a law firm here in Las Vegas for almost five years. My course started with policy and legislation, then switched to litigation.

It took me about 15 years to get back to the type of work that led me to law school, and now I don’t practice litigation at all and practice all policy work.”

Before serving with the Nevada Cannabis Association, Martin served a variety of esteemed positions with UNLV’s Boyd School of Law for over a decade. From an adjunct professor for the legal writing program to Director of Career Development where she helped fresh law school graduates find employment and opportunities in the legal industry, Martin spent nearly five of those years serving as the very illustrious and influential Assistant Dean for External Relations.

“I ended up overseeing not only career development but alumni relations, fundraising, communications and events and everything outward facing at the law school. So, managing the relationships on behalf of the law school, managing events and bringing the community together whether that’s our alumni communities or donors, policy makers and elected officials making sure that the law school was a part of those important policy and legal conversations.”

Martin references one of her biggest highlights during her time at the Boyd School of Law being the 20th anniversary celebration of the creation of

the school. At this celebration for such an incredible milestone for a small but dedicated law school started in a desert that held their first classes in an elementary school, the keynote speaker was the long-time Delaware senator who later served as Vice President under Obama and before taking the highest office in the land himself, President Joe Biden.

After a career-defining decade at the Boyd School of Law, Martin was invited to apply for the position of Executive Director for the organization then called the Nevada Dispensary Association, the business organization founded to “develop and promote best practices among Nevada cannabis businesses as well as supporting the efforts of cannabis establishments to provide high quality, safe cannabis to Nevada’s consumers”, according to their website.

“I knew that cannabis was a really interesting and fast-paced area that was an intersection of business, law and policy. While I didn’t have any experience in cannabis law at the time, that’s a common story for a

lot of folks who do get into cannabis law. Until now, cannabis law hasn’t been something we studied in school. Now, we have more cannabis law and policy classes.”

“We’re starting to have more cannabis law and policy classes at UNLV., which is a graduate course in the School of Public Policy and we’re looking to expand the offerings at UNLV. The university also just launched the Cannabis Policy Institute, so I think that we are about to really see a lot more courses in different areas related to cannabis law, policy and regulation as well as administrative law in this area. We’re going to start seeing more lawyers and law students who have exposure to cannabis law while they’re still in school.”

One of the most milestone moments for both Martin as Executive Director and for the organization itself occurred only six months into Martin’s term when the transition went from the previously named Nevada Dispensary Association into the Nevada Cannabis Association.

“We had previously only represented licensed dispensaries, and the board made the decision to open up membership to the other types of licensees–cultivation, production and distribution. From an advocacy standpoint, we’re much more effective when the industry is speaking with a unified voice and these new licensees have been a great addition. It’s been great everyone having a seat at the table and coming to these decisions and how we should move forward in unison.”

Among the board of the NCA, it’s entirely composed of board members and C-level executives from the most notable names and brands in Nevada cannabis, from Thrive to Deep Roots Harvest to Fleur and even the distribution company Blackbird. Along with Martin, there’s also two other attorneys who are serving on the NCA board who specialize in varied fields of law that all pertain to cannabis.

On the subject of current federal and state policies that are detrimentally affecting the success and eventual expansion of the cannabis industry, Martin agrees with all other industry professionals in that Tax Code 280E is easily the most damaging policy. Martin hypothesizes that if cannabis were to be rescheduled to Schedule III, it would alleviate at least some of the steep taxation and financial-related disadvantages that come with Tax Code 280E.

“Even though we now have state legal businesses, it’s a Schedule I drug so they can’t deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses, resulting in a 70 to 80 percent effective tax rate. Even though we now have state legal businesses, it’s a Schedule I drug so [these businesses] can’t deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses, resulting in a 70 to 80 percent effective tax rate. That is the biggest hindrance. That’s why it’s so hopeful, looking at some of the potential outcomes of rescheduling from Schedule I to Schedule III, such as the removal of 280E from applying to these businesses.”

For Nevada specifically, Martin believes that there needs to be effective policies in place to minimize the illicit market, but also without starting another colossally unsuccessful drug war.

“But I don’t think enforcement alone is the answer, and we are always looking at ways to reduce the cost of regulatory compliance and taxes, because those prices are part of what contributes to people purchasing from the unlicensed market instead of the licensed market. I don’t think there’s an easy answer and there needs to be more of a comprehensive

approach.”

Still, Martin stresses the importance of finding a solution to dealing with the rampant illicit market that has greatly impacted other states’ legal industries such as California. Although since the two states share a border, California’s cannabis problems often become Nevada’s problem, as quite a bit of illicit cannabis from California ends up being sold in the illicit Nevada market.

As the Nevada cannabis industry goes into the presidential election year of 2024 and the state prepares for the 2025 Legislative Session, the NCA has several plans to continue to advocate for the strength and possibilities of the state’s industry.

“We’ll spend the next year meeting with candidates, and particularly for the Legislature, we do most of our work at the state level. We’ll bring them on tour of cannabis businesses, educate them about the benefits to the state as well as the challenges that cannabis businesses face. In terms of issues, we have a super fast-paced industry and a Legislature that only meets every two years. Some of the limitations are in statute and so we have to go back sometimes and find ways to clean that up in the next Legislative session and a way to streamline operations, such as agent cards and the number of necessary agent cards and application fees.”

Josh Kasoff can be reached at joshkasoffwriting@gmail.com.

The Incremental Approach: Driving Successful Adoption of Legal Tech

By: Zulekha Addison

magine this: You’ve invested significantly in the latest legal tech promising to transform your legal department’s operations. But weeks, then months, pass and the fancy, new software is barely used. Sound familiar? This scenario underscores a vital point often overlooked in the race to stay ahead of technology: human adaptation doesn’t keep pace with technological evolution.

The Power of Incremental Change

The rallying cry across Silicon Valley is: move fast and break things. But things necessarily move slower in other parts of corporate America, including in the legal industry, because while software may scale, people don’t. That’s why change within most organizations happens incrementally.

The value of an incremental approach to institutional change is not new. Consider the evolution of the assembly line, one of the most transformative innovations in the industrial era. When Henry Ford introduced this concept, he didn’t overhaul the entire production process in one fell swoop. Instead, the change was incremental.

Initial adjustments included simple rearrangements of workstations for efficiency. Over time, as workers adapted to these changes, Ford introduced conveyor belts to automate certain aspects. This progressive implementation facilitated workers’ adaptation to new work methods and paved the way for the fullfledged assembly line system we recognize today.

More than 100 years later, it’s more of the same. No matter how promising a technological advancement or streamlined process may be, without a focus on adoption and implementation within an organization,

the potential gains will go unrealized. That’s why the incremental approach to change is so important.

Strategies for Effective Adoption and Implementation

Steering through the journey of change can be daunting. However, certain strategies and practical steps can simplify the process, driving incremental adoption within your organization.

Simplicity and User-Friendliness

The easier a technology is to use, the higher its adoption rate. This not only involves selecting intuitive tools but also simplifying procedures around the tech. For instance, instead of implementing a full suite of features all at once, consider introducing key features first and gradually rolling out additional capabilities.

Practical Steps: Consider the user experience when choosing a platform. Does it have an intuitive interface? Can it be easily integrated with existing systems? Does it mimic familiar patterns? When rolling out the new technology, introduce one feature or function at a time, allowing users to familiarize themselves with each aspect of the platform before introducing the next. This gradual learning process can reduce overwhelm and increase the chances of successful adoption.

Getting Your Data in Order

Artificial intelligence-powered legal tech has tremendous potential to help businesses sort through, analyze, and optimize massive amounts

of data. However, for the software to do its job, it must be able to access the data it needs. Layering software on top of a disorganized system won’t solve the problem.

Practical Steps: Rather than spending time and resources trying to integrate software to manage “dirty” data, a better investment would be to clean up existing data and implement more organized systems for data capture moving forward. Once those systems are in place, legal tech can then be deployed to extract and analyze data, and create efficiencies in the review, negotiation, and management processes.

Creating Awareness and Educating Users

Change requires buy-in from all stakeholders, and this starts with creating awareness about the need for the tech and educating users on its benefits.

Practical Steps: Consider setting up regular meetings to discuss upcoming changes and conduct workshops for hands-on experience with the new tech. Provide clear, concise, and easily accessible learning materials such as user guides, video tutorials, and FAQs. Working with legal tech providers to offer a “sandbox” environment where users can explore and practice with the new tech without affecting live data can also be helpful.

Personalizing Benefits and Demonstrating RealWorld Impact

While showing the overall benefits of a tech solution is necessary, illustrating the direct benefits to individual users is equally important. To drive adoption, it’s critical to help your people understand how new tools will help them make their jobs and lives easier.

Practical Steps: Tailor the training and communication to address the specific challenges and goals of different teams or roles. Highlight case studies or success stories from within the organization to reinforce the practical value of the tech. For example, if you’re implementing an AI-based contract analysis tool, demonstrate how it can significantly reduce the time spent on contract review, allowing legal professionals to focus more on strategic tasks.

Integrating Tech into Existing Workflows

Integrating new tech into existing workflows can promote its usage. Rather than expecting employees

to drastically alter their work patterns, find ways to incorporate the tech into their current routines.

Practical Steps: This could mean integrating a new contract management system with the existing CRM or embedding legal research software into the company’s intranet. Work closely with teams to understand their current processes and identify opportunities where the new technology could be seamlessly integrated.

Fostering a Culture of Innovation

Creating a culture that embraces innovation can significantly improve tech adoption.

Practical Steps: Encourage employees to experiment with new solutions and provide feedback. Set up a suggestion box or a digital platform where employees can share their experiences, ideas, and challenges related to the new tech. Recognize and reward those who make effective use of new technology. This not only motivates the rewarded individuals but also inspires others to explore and embrace new technology.

How can Lexitas’ Legal Tech Help You

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Medical records often contain unstructured data, such as images or handwritten documents. Record Insights™ uses natural language processing (NLP) to analyze medical documents and extracts relevant information in a user-friendly report. Users are presented with a case overview of key impairments and recent findings and can view relevant information with an easy-to-use navigation system.

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Sheriff McMahill Changing Metro’s Culture to Protect Those Who Protect the Community

By: Valerie Miller

Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill is marking his first year on the job in a big way. His goals not only include protecting the residents of Southern Nevada, but taking special care of his officers as well.

One year into his job leading the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, McMahill knows the toll protecting the public takes on his officers. He worked for Metro for 30 years before retiring. Today, he is working to protect both the physical and mental health of those in his department.

“I believe if I focus on taking care of our officers in ways we never have, they’re going take care of this community in ways we never have,” he says.

For years, police officers have suffered in silence. Cops were afraid of the career consequences of seeking professional help for the psychological scars left by seeing the very worst things humans do to one another. That strong-silent image was the cultural norm in the department. But not anymore, McMahill says.

“I am smashing that culture as fast as I possibly can,” the new sheriff promises. To that end, McMahill has set up support services to actively reach out to his officers.

“I’ve hired five licensed clinical social workers, including one doctor, to start to work on seeing my people, and taking care of them in ways that we never have,” he says. The programs will also be expanded beyond Metro, to include other first responders, like EMTs.

Mental health problems can also linger long after cops hang up their badges. Former officers may lose their sense of purpose after retiring, McMahill explains. And with police suicides a rising problem, nationally, McMahill points to a tragic example close to home: “We just lost one of our retirees to suicide (in February).”

Viewing, or even hearing about graphic details of gruesome murders, car accidents, rapes or child abuse takes its toll on a person’s psyche, McMahill notes.

“This stuff messes with our people,” he says. “And I just think it’s time for law enforcement leadership across this country to stand up and do something about this so we can change the narrative on suicides and depression, alcoholism, divorce -- all the bad things we don’t want to lead in anymore.”

Excelling Under Pressure

Both as a cop and as sheriff, McMahill knows all about pressure of working in law enforcement. He has lived it for more than 30 years. McMahill’s wife is also a retired LVMPD Deputy Chief.

And after all, being sheriff is a non-stop job. Just days after successfully providing security for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas, Sheriff Kevin McMahill is looking forward to a little normalcy. It’s been a very long last four months for the relatively new-Clark County Sheriff.

Sitting down for an in-depth interview with Vegas Legal Magazine, McMahill talks about the very busy end to his first year on the job. It’s a high-pressure job under normal circumstances. But November through February had been incredibly intense.

Normally, the period of November through February in the Las Vegas Valley is marked by the major events of New Years’ Eve celebrations on the Las Vegas Strip and the Consumer Electronics Show. The latter of which begins the first week of January.

But, this past November also saw FORMULA 1 racing’s return to Las Vegas, the week before Thanksgiving. Two months later, Las Vegas then hosted its first-ever Super Bowl on February 11th, at Allegiant Stadium.

The extra tourist attractions could be planned for, albeit still requiring a lot of police manpower to protect the public and participants. But in the midst of planning – and protecting – all these big events in Las Vegas, a tragedy happened: A mass shooting on Dec. 6th at UNLV. A disgruntled professor shot and killed three professors at UNLV, while wounding a fourth. University police shot and killed the alleged shooter, Tony Polito, who had been denied multiple job interviews for UNLV positions.

While it is somewhat easier to safeguard a contained event, such as the Super Bowl, large open-air sites -- such as college campuses -- are much more difficult to guard.

“I think UNLV is an open-air campus, and I think unless you literally built a 30-foot wall around it, you’re not keeping people out of there” the sheriff says. “It’s sort of what we talk about for the hospitality industry as well. Hospitality and security sometimes don’t necessarily go so well together. So, you have to find ways to work together, to keep the place safe. And, you know, that’s where that relationship comes in.”

Teamwork also comes into play when working with the UNLV, and Nevada System of Higher Education and the Clark County School District.

“I got to be clear, I don’t run policing services for UNLV,” he states. “A lot of people like to think that we do that for UNLV and the (Clark County) School District, but we don’t. What we do is we partner with them.”

McMahill does credit UNLV students with taking calls to “run, hide, fight” to heart.

“Those students performed very well” he praises. “They went and hunkered down (behind) those doors, and it required us to break most of them down to get the students out. Because they were not opening the door. They didn’t know what was on the other side.”

McMahill’s Whole Life Prepared Him to be Sheriff

Kevin McMahill has been in public service, in some form, for most of his life. Starting at age 15 in his hometown of Denver, he was in the Police Explorers’ program. He was a Police Explorer until high school graduation.

“I had joined the military, in the delayed entry program at 17. And so, two days after I graduated high school, my parents dropped me off at the bus station and shipped me off to the Army,” McMahill recalls.

“So, I spent three years in the Army as a military police officer, and then came back down through (Las Vegas) and tested for both here and in Denver, and got hired at both. And, ultimately ended up here.”

In 2022, McMahill was elected sheriff, replacing then-Sheriff Joe Lombardo, who was elected governor of Nevada.

When McMahill arrived in Las Vegas in 1990, it was in the early boom-town era. The explosive growth has continued. The now-sheriff marvels at how the city has grown into a sports hub, with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Las Vegas Golden Knights, the Las Vegas Aces and soon, baseball’s Oakland A’s.

“I think probably the biggest thing that sticks out to a lot of people is we’re really on the verge of becoming a major American city, right? I mean, population-wise, we’re still far below places like New York, Chicago (and) Houston,” McMahill assesses. “But we now have professional hockey, professional soccer, women’s professional basketball, football (and) baseball’s on the way. And, obviously, we pulled all of those things off both with F1, New Year’s Eve and the Super Bowl. And I think Vegas shined really, really well in all of those.”

Taking a Bite Out of Crime

The new sheriff is pleased with a drop in major violent crimes over the last year.

“So last year, we went down basically 20 percent in robbery calls. We went down 13 percent in homicide calls and about 20 percent in sexual assault (calls),” McMahill reports. “Those are statistics I’m very, very proud of (and) that has a lot to do with a variety of different things.”

McMahill is also proud of Metro’s more-than 90 percent solve rate for homicides. He contrasts that to the city of Chicago’s much-lower rate of cracking murder cases.

“Last year, we were very close to a 100 percent solve rate. And that’s amazing. If you commit

a homicide in Las Vegas, you are going to get caught,” the sheriff notes. “Contrast it to what you’re talking about with Chicago. Chicago hovers around a 30 percent solve rate. So, seven out of 10 people are getting away with homicide in the city of Chicago. So, (Chicago residents) don’t have faith, oftentimes, in their police to do the very basic things that people expect of their law enforcement. (That) is to solve crime and to arrest criminals.”

When police fail to do the basic things that are expected of them, such as putting murderers behind bars, it breeds distrust between law enforcement and residents. Chicago is an example of that type of dynamic, McMahill explains.

“But the one area that we were not successful (in) last year was in the auto theft area,” the sheriff admits. In particular, Metro has had to deal with a TikTok challenge of kids stealing Hyundais and Kias. To help combat that crime, Metro handed out auto-theft safety devices known as the Club. The department has since run out of Clubs, which were supplied by the manufacturers.

“Auto theft was up about 37 percent by the end of the year. And most of that is attributed to the Hyundai Kia TikTok challenge, where they’re teaching kids on the internet how to go and steal Hyundais and Kias by simply popping the button and putting the USB cord in, and taking (the vehicle),” the sheriff says.

McMahill does have some advice, which he offered to Vegas Legal Magazine. “So, for your readers, if they own a Hyundai: Number one, get the update from the company. That will help. Supposedly, that works for (preventing) these cars (from) being stolen.”

The sheriff also suggests Kia and Hyundai owners buy the Club, which locks the steering wheel in place.

Retail Theft is a Crime on the Rise

One crime that Nevadans can now see almost anywhere is retail theft. Specifically, today, organized retail theft is increasingly taking the place of run-of-the-mill shoplifters. McMahill laments the law passed by the Nevada Legislature, which raised the amount a person could steal, as a misdemeanor, to $1,250. That means thieves can potentially grab a huge amount of merchandise and walk away with only a misdemeanor citation.

“The best my cops can do is go in there and issue a citation, and that’s it. And that’s just not acceptable. And so, I think we have to have a real conversation about what are the consequences of some of the decisions,” McMahill explains. “I’m the first one that says all the time that incarceration doesn’t fix any of the illness that we have. It doesn’t fix mental health, addiction or homelessness. It just doesn’t. But you can’t just go into stores and wantonly steal up to $1,250 and get away with it over and over and over again.”

Metro works with the Nevada Retail Association and its retail crime task force, The Southern Nevada Organized Retail Crime Association, or SNORCA, to combat the growing theft. In the process, McMahill has learned some very worrisome details about the growing problem in Nevada.

“The heads of many of these companies -- like Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Lowe’s and Target -tell me that the retail theft that we have here in Southern Nevada is worse than it was in California when they closed many of their stores in San Francisco,” the sheriff cautions.

Metro Reduces Officer-Involved Shootings

Officer-involved shootings have been the match that has lit the fuse for social unrest over the last decade in America. From the police’s use of deadly force in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014 to the George Floyd riots of 2020 -- the consequences of police using deadly force can devastate a whole community. Sometimes, deadly force is unavoidable. But other times, there may have been a better way to de-escalate in crisis situations.

In Las Vegas, Metro has been credited with successfully reducing officer-involved shootings over the last decade. McMahill is proud of the strides his department has made. And, it’s an ongoing effort.

“We were far ahead of the change curve when it came to use of deadly force. Obviously that was under Sheriff Doug Gillespie when we underwent the (Department of Justice) comprehensive use of force reform process,

(after Metro officers) shot 25 people in 2010. We’ve significantly reduced those numbers,” he recalls. “And, that’s really the biggest flashpoint between police and the community, when we unnecessarily use force -- particularly deadly force.”

As part of Metro’s process now, deadly-force incidents are reviewed and re-enacted, to examine what could have possibly been done differently.

“We built this beautiful reality-based training center … and the purpose of that was so we

can go back out and recreate a scenario that ultimately ended in deadly force,” McMahill explains. “But in this scenario, now all of a sudden, you can find an alternative to deadly force.”

Foremost in dealing with the public is one very important thing, the sheriff says. “Inject humanity … Treat people with dignity and respect. Treat (people) like they are human, you know?”

Vegas Legal Magazine Questions for Sheriff Kevin McMahill

Vegas Legal Magazine: What policing challenges do you face as sheriff that your predecessors may not have faced?

Kevin McMahill: (One of the) challenges is I think today’s environment, right? We’re also politically divided, number one. The police are often caught up in how one group or the other feels about them. And so, it’s a real challenge to continue to have your men and women focused on keeping the community safe when there’s so much public vitriol out there about law enforcement, and the role that we play. And so, helping redefine that, as we move forward, is something that’s been very important.

VLM: You were at Metro during the 1 October mass shooting. How did that tragic event change the way the department handles potential mass-casualty events?

KM: There are two buildings that cost $28 million to build, all obtained through private donations. And it’s called the JETI, the Joint Emergency Training Institute. And it’s basically one of the two buildings. And it’s pretty much brand new to Metro. The beauty of that though, and this is something that we learned from 1 October, see, this gives us the opportunity to train with police, fire, EMS private security in one space, in one location. So, that when it really does happen again -- which (the mass shooting at) UNLV proved -- we have seamless effort between all of the Southern Nevada first responders community.

And, the 1 October report had a significant number of recommendations for us to change the way that we operated. Things like making sure the command post is not located inside of the event when it happens. Because, when

the bullets came raining down on Route 91, our command post was located inside, and they were being fired upon.

And, having paramedics respond (to the scene, while) off-duty paramedics respond to the hospital. […] a paramedic can start a main line and a chest tube, but a regular EMT cannot, or a nurse oftentimes cannot. So, doctors were coming out having to do the nurse’s job, and nurses were doing the paramedic’s job. So now we’ve developed a joint response with the fire department, that on-duty resources will go to the event. And, so now we’ve developed a joint response with the fire department, that on-duty resources will go to the event.

And when those off-duty resources hear about the event and they’re coming in, they’ll be redirected straight directly to the hospitals. So, that we have the ability of paramedics to be there for triage and mainlines and those kind of things. Nurses can do their jobs in prepping for surgery and doctors can actually do the surgery. And it’s something that we teach all across the country. That unified command piece where police, fire, and EMS are all in the same location. That has proven just to be magical for

us, moving forward from 1 October. We work very, very well with our fire departments and our EMS.

VLM: One of the highest-profile arrests ever made by Metro was made last fall. Duane “Keffe D” Davis was arrested and charged with the 1996 Las Vegas murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. Why was it important to solve that case after nearly 30 years?

KM: Well, there was a lot going on when this first happened. There was a variety of different people involved in it. And … that was the sort of beginning of the gang culture and not talking to the police, and all of those kinds of things. And so, we were up against a number of those challenges. But a lot of these suspects lived in Los Angeles and they were involved with the Los Angeles Police (Department). And some of that stuff, as it continues to come out through this trial, will be interesting adding to the narrative about what happened.

VLM: Is there any expectation that there might be other arrests or any high-profile arrests (in the Tupac murder), or do you think this will be the one arrest of the surviving people involved? Is he the last one?

KM: The last one? Yeah. So, there’s a number of pieces of the investigation that obviously (we) can’t reveal before we get to the trial piece. But I don’t anticipate any large or -- any high-profile arrests coming out of this, any further.

VLM: You have said that the Clark County Detention Center is “the largest homeless shelter (and) the largest addiction-treatment center” in Southern Nevada. People had also long called the Clark County Detention Center the “largest mental-health facility” in the valley. How would you propose handling the homeless problem in the Las Vegas Valley?

KM: Incarceration’s not going to fix any one of those three things -- Addiction, homelessness, or mental health. So, I’ve been working with a number of other city and county elected officials,

as well as the state, the governor’s office, as a coalition of all the Strip properties. We’ve traveled to San Antonio to look at Corridor of Hope, which is their homeless shelter.

And we are looking at duplicating the same type of effort that San Antonio has had. We’ve also traveled to Tucson and Miami looking at what they’ve done. We’re looking at these community crisis centers here. There’s $100 million being put up by the Strip properties, as well as some matching funds coming from the state government. So, that we can truly actually have beds and wraparound treatment services for these individuals.

Because the reality of it is, people aren’t choosing to be addicted. They’re not choosing to be mentally ill. They’re not choosing to be homeless. And they all almost always go with one or the other. It’s very rare that you find somebody who’s mentally ill who has not dabbled in the narcotics or vice versa, which oftentimes leads to being homeless. And so, if you don’t treat all of them at the same time, to actually get some meaningful treatment to them … including jobs … we’re going be sitting here looking like one of these other cities that we don’t want to mention, very, very soon.

The other argument that I would tell you is, it’s also not okay to just completely decriminalize all the behavior of a homeless individual. In other words, they shouldn’t be allowed to park their cars on every street. They shouldn’t be allowed to sleep in front of the doorways of businesses. They shouldn’t be allowed to do all of those things. But I believe we, as a community can do a lot better. And I don’t believe that we should let them sleep in the tunnels.

Valerie Miller is a Las Vegas Valley-based award-winning journalist. She can be reached at (702) 683-3986 or valeriemusicmagic@yahoo.com.

BUSINESS

“I never dreamed about success. I worked for it”

– Estée Lauder

Business Spotlight

REAL ESTATE AGENTS

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY: (702) 496-9302

MITCH FULFER, REALTOR

ADG REALTY: (702) 315-6100

KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY: (702) 212-2222

FOSTER REALTY, LLC: (702) 552-0120

XTREME REALTY: (702) 384-7253

LAWYERS

PRESTON P. REZAEE, ESQ.: (702) 222-3476

ROSS GOODMAN, ESQ.: (702) 383-5088

DALLAS HORTON, ESQ.: (702) 380-3100

J. MALCOLM DEVOY, ESQ.: (702) 669-4636

NEDDA GHANDI, ESQ.: (702) 878-1115

AMANDA LAUB, ESQ.: (702) 329- 5282

MORTGAGE COMPANIES

RED ROCK MORTGAGE: (702) 320-9595

ALDERUS MORTGAGE: (702) 255-5783

VALLEY VIEW HOME LOANS: (702) 710-5626

FIRST OPTION MORTGAGE: (702) 669-5400

FAMILY MORTGAGE INC.: (702) 216-3000

DENTISTS

GARDEN COSMETIC & FAMILY: (702) 869-5700

GENTLE DENTAL RANCHO: (702) 680-1009

AFFORDABLE DENTAL: (702) 794-0304

DISCOUNT DENTAL: (702) 386-8811

PEARLY WHITES FAMILY DENTISTRY: (702) 605-7814

Business Spotlight

DOCTORS

DENNIS YUN, M.D.: (702)-386-0882

TEDDY SIM, D.C.: (702) 277-1371

MICHELLE HYLA, D.O.: (702) 386-0882

DR. NEVILLE CAMPBELL, M.D./M.B.A: (702) 476-9700

ANDREW M. CASH, M.D.: (702) 630-3472

CPAS

THE ACCOUNTANT, LLC: (702) 389-2727

DONOVAN THIESSEN, CPA

ELLSWORTH & STOUT: (702) 202-0272

MARK SHERMAN: (702) 645-6318

HALL & ASSOCIATES: (702) 629-1886

SANFORD & COMPANY: (702) 382-1141

LARRY L. BERTSCH: (702) 471-7223

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

REDROCK WEALTH MANAGEMENT: (702) 987-1607

SPARROW WEALTH MANAGEMENT: (877) 330-9191

ARISTA WEALTH MANAGEMENT: (702) 309-9970

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NY HAIR COMPANY: (702) 432-3333

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STATE OF THE MARKET

Written By Mark Martiak

As Americans entered the President’s Day weekend, a report on inflation at the wholesale level gave the latest reminder that the battle against rising prices still is not over. Prices rose more in January than economists had expected, and the numbers followed a similar report from earlier in the week that showed living costs for U.S. consumers climbed by more than forecast.

The data may have kept the door closed on hopes that the Federal Reserve could begin cutting interest rates in March, as traders had earlier hoped.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.29 percent from 4.23 percent late Thursday, February 15th. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, touched its highest level since December 2023 (1).

On February 27th, the December 20-city annual S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller home price index accelerated to 6.1% from November’s 5.4%, versus consensus of 6% in a Wall Street Journal poll. On February 27th it was reported that January durable goods sales declined 6.1%, versus estimates of a 5% shrinkage (2).

Higher interest rates and yields make borrowing more expensive, which can slow the economy and impact prices for investments.

‘Inflation Is Still Too High,’ Fed Chief Says

The Federal Reserve kicked off the year in neutral, opting to keep interest rates unchanged at a meeting of its policy-setting committee on January 31st.

The call, which was widely expected and unanimous, keeps the target range for the federal-funds rate at 5.25%-5.50%.

The Federal Open Market Committee’s policy statement omitting language suggesting there are more interest-rate increases to come.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell began his post-meeting press conference by reiterating that inflation is “still too high,” later adding that a March rate cut was not likely.

Annual core PCE – known as the personal consumption expenditures price index were no worse than expected when reported on the leap day of February, but the strong reading for core prices was not good news for the Federal Reserve as it keeps pushing to bring inflation back to 2%.

Markets felt relieved that prices did not rise faster, and that the annual pace of PCE inflation remains below 3%. And thanks to beneficial, high base effects from a year ago, the annual headline and core rates drifted lower.

Still, the rise in monthly core levels means the sixmonth annualized core PCE is now running at 2.5%, up from below 2% in December 2023. (3)

The 10-year Treasury yield is at 4.293%, a little lower than this year’s high reached after the surprisingly strong CPI reading in early February. The two-year treasury yield is at 4.695%.

In a series of eleven increases since March 2022, the Fed has taken up its key borrowing rate by 5.25 percentage points to reach its highest level in more than 22 years. Regardless, consumers, who power about two-thirds of the entire $26.8 trillion U.S. economy, have persevered. (4)

Overall, 79% of the companies in the S&P 500 have reported actual results for Q4 2023 to date. Of these companies, 75% have reported actual EPS above estimates, which is below the 5-year average of 77% but above the 10-year average of 74%. In aggregate, companies are reporting earnings that are 3.9% above estimates, which is below the 5-year average of 8.5% and below the 10-year average of 6.7%. Historical averages reflect actual results from all 500 companies, not the actual results from the percentage of companies that have reported through this point in time. (5)

In this highly contested presidential election year, expect the unexpected. The markets dictate the economy, not the other way around. Plan and stay disciplined about your asset allocation strategies. When you need to be defensive, cash can be your friend.

If you need to define whether you have any financial blind spots, please reach me directly at mmartiak@gmail.com

1. U.S Department of the Treasury website.

2. S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) February 27, 2024

3. Treasury Yields Hover Around Recent Highs by Paulo Trevisani, Dow Jones Newswires and BARRON’S ADVISOR February 27,2024

4. Press Release: Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement on November 1, 2023.

5. FactsetS&P 500 EARNINGS SEASON UPDATE By John Butters | February 16, 2024

Mark Martiak is a New York-based Investment Adviser Representative and Accredited Investment Fiduciary®. With Manhattan Global Wealth Management, LLC. Mark is a regular Contributor to VEGAS LEGAL MAGAZINE and has appeared on CNBC’s CLOSING BELL, YAHOO! FINANCE MIDDAY MARKET MOVERS, FOX BUSINESS NETWORK and has been quoted in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, Bloomberg.com and Investment News.

Such forward-looking statements are subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and actual results could be materially different. There are no guarantees associated with any forecast and the opinions stated here are subject to change at any time and are the opinion of the individual strategist. Data is taken from sources believed to be dependable, but no guarantee is given of its accuracy. Indexes are unmanaged, and investors are not able to invest directly into any index. Past performance is no guarantee of future result.

News items are based on reports from multiple commonly available international news sources (i.e., wire services) and are independently verified, when necessary,

with secondary sources such as government agencies, corporate press releases, or trade organizations. All information is based on sources deemed reliable, but no warranty or guarantee is made as to its accuracy or completeness. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed herein constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities and should not be relied on as financial advice. Forecasts are based on current conditions, subject to change, and may not happen. U.S. Treasury securities are guaranteed by the federal government as to the principal and interest. The principal value of Treasury securities and other bonds fluctuates with market conditions. Bonds are subject to inflation, interest-rate, and credit risks. As interest rates rise, bond prices typically fall. A bond sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, and there can be no guarantee that any investing strategy will be successful.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is a priceweighted index composed of thirty widely traded bluechip U.S. common stocks. The S&P 500 is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of five hundred largest, publicly traded companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-value weighted index of all common stocks listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The Russell 2000 is a market-cap weighted index composed of 2,000 U.S. small-cap common stocks. The Global Dow is an equally weighted index of 150 widely traded bluechip common stocks worldwide. The U.S. Dollar Index is a geometrically weighted index of the value of the U.S. dollar relative to six foreign currencies. The market indexes listed are unmanaged and are not available for direct investment.

Bait and Switch or The New Reality?

By Daniel Herrera

Welcome to 2024! The past three years have been a difficult reality to digest when it comes to home buying; but here we are. All economists were predicting constant rate drops by the Federal Reserve Bank (The FED) in 2024 but after the first meeting in January, Jerome “Jay” Powell (Chairman of The FED) said, not so fast. This meeting marked the fourth straight FED meeting where policymakers opted to maintain and hold the rates steady, dating back to September of 2023. With 6 more meetings scheduled for 2024, the next being in May, it’s now difficult to predict when exactly we are going to see the cuts to the Federal Funds Rate. Most major forecasters DO expect mortgage rates to go down in 2024, but now the timing will be strictly dependent on the economy’s performance.

Inflation has been the biggest factor in the increase to the Federal Funds Rate. From March of 2022 until July of 2023, The FED raised the Federal Funds Rate 11 times. The FED did however forecast that they should make three Quarter-Point cuts before the end of the 2024 calendar. The three scheduled cuts are not going to bring down mortgage rates to what consumers are hoping for. The new normal of 6% mortgage rates is what we should be looking forward to for the unforeseen future. So, in turn, what do these new normal rates mean to the Las Vegas Real Estate Market?

Mortgage rates and home values do have a direct correlated effect to one another. As rates go up, values have a tendency to stay steady or go down. The median home price sold did decrease 4.1%

from January 2023 to January 2024, bringing that amount down to $402,617. 1,518 singlefamily homes were sold in December of 2023. That number was 5.8% higher than the amount of homes sold in November, but was still less than the amount sold in December of 2022. Rising interest rates have priced some prospects out of the current market yet some buyers are taking advantage of the lower number of competitive buyers in the valley.

The higher mortgage rates have realtors fielding less offers on homes and is also creating a longer life cycle for homes on the market. Even though it is forecasted that the Las Vegas valley will have the 12th hottest market in 2024, some homes are still sitting a bit longer than they once were. Homes are currently averaging two offers and are selling at an average of 53 days in the valley. The current hot markets are found in Summerlin and Southern Highlands which are found in the Northwest and Southwest parts of town. With the costs of rent increasing approximately 29% from October 2021 to the end of 2023 and almost 40% since 2019, it’s not a surprise that buyers are still willing to purchase in this higher rate market. It is currently estimated that the average household income required to rent in Las Vegas has nearly reached $70,000. At that amount, a debt free household could still qualify for a mortgage of approximately $2900.

Buyers are beginning to realize that an investment in a home today will most likely NOT be their forever home. Life throws us curveballs; careers

change for better or worse, families grow, there may be some dramatic life event that just happens. Most homeowners spend around 5-10 years in their homes and a lot can change in that time period. If a buyer is ready to purchase their home and they qualify, they should jump on the opportunity now!

The waiting game has never benefitted any home buyer. Let’s wait until rates start going down; oh no, prices are increasing and you’re now paying out of pocket above appraised value. Let’s wait for values to go down; now rates are higher and we’re paying a larger mortgage for a smaller loan. Competition will drive the housing market and right now, buyers that are ready, willing and able,

Daniel

Herrera is the Senior Mortgage Loan Specialist at Laser Mortgage. He can be reached at 714.878.3112 or daniel.herrera@lasermortgage.com

Damage Control: Businesses Wrestle with Handling Bad Online Reviews, Law Limits Their Options

By: Valerie Miller

You have put your blood, sweat and tears into your business. Countless hours have been devoted to making it your life’s work. You provide excellent customer service. Then, a disgruntled customer decides to destroy the reputation of the business you have worked so hard to build.

In the age of social media, a reputation can be destroyed after a few minutes of typing on a smartphone or keyboard. And, because of what many consider an outdated law, the person – or business – who’s reputation is damaged online can do little about it.

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 is a federal law that mostly gives protecion to online platforms hosting the work – or opinions – of others. For example, a person could sue a newspaper or television station for stories that falsely ruined their reputation. But if a person or business is maligned on Yelp, Google Review or Facebook, generally the sites are protected from legal action.

While there have been efforts from both sides of the political aisle to repeal Section 230, for various reasons, those efforts have fallen short to date. Dave Nourse, a UNLV professor who teaches the Social and Digital Communications class as part of the school’s Urban Leadership Master’s program, thinks the nearly-30-yearold law has not kept up with our technology and society. “I think we are overdue to examine Section 230. The world has moved on, the law has not,” Nourse says.

He notes that the crafter of the law couldn’t have envisioned the type of technological world we live in today. “They didn’t see the unintended consequences of the law,” Nourse says.

Conservatives have been trying to repeal Section 230 in recent years, including then-President Donald Trump.

Many Republicans have claimed tech giants, such as Facebook and then-Twitter (now X), have used Section 230 to censor and malign people they disagree with politically, and then hide from any legal consequences. But much less is said about the impact Section 230 has on businesses that are smeared online.

At some point in the future, the law will likely be amended, Nourse predicts. But, in the meantime, there are steps a company – or person -- can take to limit the reputational harm caused by a bad online review.

The professor teaches his master’s students how to be savvy online. This includes dealing with the likely event that, at some point in time, they will have negative comments made about them online.

Sometimes, these online criticisms are outrageous. Nourse recounted a fellow UNLV professor who was maligned by one of her students on the site, “ratemyprofessor.com.”

“The student said the professor was teaching her class in lingerie on Zoom,” he recalls. Of course, this was an outright lie. Nourse was able to help that other professor get the false, damaging post taken down.

If there is an obviously false post about a person or business online, Nourse advises going to Yelp or Google Reviews and ask the site to remove the false content. While not easy, these attempts can ultimately be successful.

“If there is something in there which is false -- for example, you have somebody who is maliciously trying to harm the business by sharing information that’s false – and you can prove that, then you can absolutely go to the platform and ask that they take that information down,” the UNLV professor explains. “But it has to be something which is false, right? Just because it’s a bad

review doesn’t necessarily mean that these platforms are obligated to pull it down.”

“What is both more challenging and common is the review from a dissatisfied customer. Unfortunately, federal law as it is, leaves the business owner to do damage control, Nourse concedes.”

“Section 230 does cover these platforms, whether it’s Google Review or Yelp or, you know, name your online crowdsourcing platform of information. This is because the individuals that are posting the reviews, by and large, are not employees of these particular organizations. Instead, the platforms are simply hosting that information,” he explains. “Now, most of these organizations will have mechanisms for business owners to dispute the review, right?”

A Yelp or Google Reviews should have a way to dispute a review. But unless the review is a provable lie, the business owner is dependent on the good will of the platform to remove the negative post, Nourse points out.

“It might be a scathing review, but it’s more or less true -- because of the way that Section 230 is interpreted -the platforms (may not) have immunity. But (instead) they have this cover that Section 230 provides them.”

Some Potential Legal Loopholes to Section 230 Online Protections

The legal protection offered to online platforms by Section 230 may not be absolute. Nourse suspects there may be exceptions to the law’s “cover” under certain circumstances.

“Let’s say you graduated from UNLV and you had a really negative experience and you worked for Yelp, and then somebody writes a really negative review of UNLV,” he gives an example. “And, you do something to modify that post to really make UNLV show as poorly as possible. I think that’s more along the lines of kind of where the platform could then get in trouble.”

This could happen if someone employed by the hosting platform – such as Yelp -- modifies a message “to make something seem even more damning, or to include some keywords that you think might gain some more traction through search engines. Or, (they change) the way algorithms work. Things like that could get (the platform) in trouble,” Nourse adds.

Companies Can Do Damage Control Online

When faced with a negative post about you or your company, Nourse advises other strategies to mitigate the effects of bad online reviews.

A business can opt to do nothing, and let its good reputation speak for itself online, he offers. “You can ignore the troll. If you have 33 good reviews, and only one or two bad reviews, people will know this doesn’t (fit), right? People are savvy. We all know what trolls are.”

But, in general, Nourse advises professionals to respond and try to respond to all comments made about them professionally – both the good and the bad.

“I teach ‘social listening.’ It means you need to be cognizant of what people are talking about, but you also need to have kind of a crisis plan in place,” he says of online business complaints. “Have you responded to it? Are you showing empathy? Are you doing the things that you know are going to make it seem like you’re paying attention to what people are saying about you?”

The professor advises his students to pay attention “both when (customers) saying good things and when they’re saying not so good things. Again, that’s part of doing business in 2024.”

He advises replying to most online posts, unless it is an obvious troll. Nourse also gave the recent example of AT&T promising its customers to “do better” after the massive service outage in February, as an example of handling bad press.

For those unfairly damaged online, Nourse does not know exactly when some legislative relief from Section 230 will arrive. But the professor says he thinks, eventually, the law will be changed.

“The fact that these conversations are happening is a good thing.”

Valerie Miller is an award-winning Las Vegas Valley-based journalist. She can be reached at (702) 683-3986 or valeriemusicmagic@yahoo.com.

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SECURE 2.0 Act and Nevada Saves:

Retirement Planning for Businesses

Written By Donovan Thiessen, CPA

Retirement saving has become a significant focus both in the United States and Nevada, as governments, employers, and individuals grapple with the challenges of ensuring financial security for aging populations. The importance of retirement saving is underscored by several factors, including longer life expectancies, the shift away from traditional pension plans to defined contribution plans (401(k), IRA), and concerns about the adequacy of social security systems to support retirees. New Federal and Nevada State laws were recently enacted to address these issues. This article provides an overview of these laws, the related income tax effects and compliance with the Nevada Saves program.

The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 is a piece of federal legislation passed as part of the broader Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. It builds on the foundation of the original SECURE Act of 2019 and introduces significant reforms aimed at enhancing retirement savings opportunities for Americans.

Enhanced Tax Credits for Small Business Retirement Plans

The SECURE 2.0 Act offers increased tax incentives for small businesses to establish retirement plans. Starting in 2024, small businesses can elect two tax credits to defray the costs of setting up and administering qualified retirement plans. Specifically, the tax credit for startup costs has been elevated to cover 100% of the expenses for businesses with up to 50 employees, up to certain limits, significantly reducing the financial barrier to offering retirement benefits. The specific limits of this tax credit under the SECURE 2.0 Act are as follows:

The credit equals 100% of the eligible startup costs for businesses with up to 50 employees. The maximum annual credit amount is $5,000, calculated as the greater of $500 or the lesser of $250 per non-highly compensated employee eligible to participate in the plan or $5,000. This credit is available for the first three years of the

plan’s existence, potentially totaling up to $15,000 in tax credits.

Additionally, the Act introduces a new small employer automatic enrollment credit of $500 per year for up to three years for businesses that include automatic enrollment in their new existing retirement plans.

Adjustments to Contributions and Benefit Limits

In 2024, the IRS has updated the contribution limits for various retirement accounts to reflect cost-of-living adjustments, enabling individuals to allocate more funds towards their retirement savings. For employees participating in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan, the contribution limit has been increased to $23,000, up from $22,500 in 2023. The annual contribution limit for Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) has also seen a rise, moving to $7,000 from the previous $6,500.

Individuals aged 50 and over have the advantage of making catch-up contributions to accelerate their retirement savings. The catch-up contribution limit for IRAs remains at $1,000, allowing a total contribution of $8,000 for those eligible. For 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the Thrift Savings Plan, the catch-up limit stays at $7,500, permitting a total contribution of up to $30,500 for participants 50 and older.

For self-employed individuals and small business owners utilizing SEP IRAs, the contribution limit for 2024 has been adjusted to allow contributions of up to 25% of compensation or $66,000, whichever is less. This adjustment ensures that SEP IRA participants can also benefit from enhanced saving opportunities in line with inflation and cost-of-living changes.

Delayed RMDs: New timeline for retirement savings

One of the most significant changes under the SECURE 2.0 Act is the further delay in the age at which required minimum distributions (RMDs)

from retirement accounts must begin. This adjustment allows more time for savings to grow tax-deferred.

Previously, the age to begin RMDs was set at 72, following an increase from 70½ years by the original SECURE Act of 2019. The SECURE 2.0 Act, building on this, further delays the start age for RMDs. Starting in 2023, the age at which RMDs must begin is increased to 73 years. Moreover, the Act outlines a future increase, setting the RMD start age at 75 years beginning in 2033.

Expanding Access with Emergency Savings and Roth Options

The SECURE 2.0 Act introduces several enhancements to retirement savings plans, among which the expansion of Roth options within employer-sponsored plans stands out as a significant development. This provision not only encourages the creation of emergency savings accounts linked to retirement plans but also broadens the availability and appeal of Roth accounts in the workplace. Let’s take a closer look at these Roth options and the implications of removing income limitations on Roth 401(k) contributions.

Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, employers can now offer more Roth options within their retirement plans, including 401(k) and 403(b) plans. This expansion means that employees have the opportunity to contribute to Roth accounts where their contributions are made on an after-tax basis. The advantage of Roth contributions lies in their tax treatment: while contributions do not

reduce current taxable income, the withdrawals, including earnings, are tax-free in retirement, provided certain conditions are met. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals who expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement or who value tax-free income in their retirement years.

Another innovative feature introduced by the SECURE 2.0 Act is the ability for employers to offer emergency savings accounts linked to their retirement plans. These accounts are designed to help employees save for short-term needs without tapping into their long-term retirement savings. Contributions to these emergency accounts can be made on a Roth (after-tax) basis, providing tax-free growth and withdrawals for emergencies, which enhances the financial resilience of employees.

One of the most notable changes under the SECURE 2.0 Act is the removal of income limitations for contributions to Roth accounts within employer-sponsored plans, such as Roth 401(k)s. Previously, high-income earners were restricted from contributing to Roth IRAs due to income limits. However, the SECURE 2.0 Act allows individuals, regardless of their income level, to make Roth contributions to their 401(k) plans. This change democratizes access to Roth accounts, enabling more employees to take advantage of the tax-free growth and withdrawals offered by Roth contributions. It’s a significant shift that provides all employees, including high earners, with a powerful tool for tax planning and retirement savings.

As the tax landscape evolves with the SECURE 2.0 Act, business owners must stay informed and proactive in their retirement planning strategies. By leveraging the increased tax credits, adjusting to new contribution limits, and embracing the expanded opportunities for employee participation, businesses can not only comply with the new regulations but also enhance their benefits offerings, contributing to the financial well-being of both the business and its employees.

Nevada Saves

The Nevada Saves program is a forward-thinking initiative by the state of Nevada, aimed squarely

at addressing the challenge of saving enough for retirement. This program is particularly focused on employees of small businesses that aren’t provided with employer-sponsored retirement plans, a common scenario that leaves a significant portion of the workforce at a disadvantage when it comes to retirement savings

Set to take effect on July 1, 2025, the program mandates that private-sector businesses with more than five employees participate if they do not currently offer a qualified retirement plan. This requirement underscores the state’s commitment to expanding retirement savings opportunities and ensuring that a larger segment of the workforce can look forward to a financially secure retirement.

A key feature of Nevada Saves is its automatic enrollment policy. Employees who meet the age and employment criteria will be automatically enrolled, though they have the option to opt out, providing flexibility and personal choice in retirement planning.

For business owners, navigating the new requirements will be crucial. The program introduces phased registration deadlines based on company size, starting with the largest employers in 2025 and extending to those with fewer than 100 employees by January 1, 2027. This staggered approach is designed to give businesses sufficient time to prepare for compliance.

Understanding and preparing for the Nevada Saves program is more than a regulatory requirement for business owners; it’s an opportunity to contribute to the financial well-being of their employees. As the implementation date draws closer, staying informed and seeking guidance from financial advisors or accountants will be key to a smooth transition. This proactive engagement will not only ensure compliance but also support the broader goal of enhancing retirement security for all Nevada workers.

Donovan Thiessen, CPA is the founder and owner of The Accountant, LLC. Our mission is to help business owners make better decisions by providing timely and accurate financial and tax analysis. You may reach Donovan at donovan@theaccounantcpa.com, www.theaccountant. cpa, and 702.389.2727.

LIFESTYLE

“Life is short, and it’s up to you to make it sweet.”

– Sarah Louise Delany

Neon Museum Signs of the Times

By Don Logay

Las Vegas is a city that is constantly reinventing itself. A drive down Las Vegas Boulevard today takes you past one spectacular world-class Casino/Hotel after another. But unless you’ve lived here or visited over the last 30-years or so, you probably are not aware of the dramatic changes that that have taken place – year after year – on the dazzling 4.2 miles known as the Strip.

The forerunner of today’s resort/casinos opened on Las Vegas Boulevard in 1941… the El Rancho Vegas. Shortly after, a second – the Last Frontier – opened in 1942. Together, they set the stage for the iconic names and locations

that followed in the heydays of vintage Vegas… from the 1950s to the mid-1990s.

Boom Time to Boom Time

Soon names that became iconic symbols of the exciting Vegas lifestyle began to appear on the Strip… Flamingo (1946), Desert Inn (1950), Sands (1952), Riviera (1955), Dunes (1957) and Stardust (1958) are but a few, that – with gambling, top-name performers and fine dining – brought millions of visitors every year to stay and play in the desert mecca that became the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Photo Courtesy Neon Museum

But like the winds that continually reshape the desert landscape, the sands of time take their toll and, along with the millions of tourists drawn to Las Vegas, came wealthy individuals that envisioned even greater venues, with vast potential, for the neon-drenched Strip.

Their dreams soon brought about great change… and a new, even more exciting Las Vegas began to emerge… along with a new word added to the town’s vocabulary: implosions!

Las Vegas 2.0

Envisioning a new level of super-resorts on the Strip, newcomer Steve Wynn began purchasing famous aging properties and was the first to introduce “implosions” as the latest form of entertainment on Las Vegas Boulevard.

The Dunes was the first of the original casino/ resorts imploded, and on October 27, 1993, with great fanfare – that included 2,000 onlookers and TV Coverage – a huge blast and choking cloud of dust set in motion a trend of “out with the old and in with the new” that exists to this day.

Soon, one-by-one, more iconic properties were reduced to rubble making way for the famous names of today. Following the Dunes (now the Bellagio), was Sands in 1996 (now the Venetian), El Rancho in 2000 (becoming the Fontainebleau), Desert Inn 2001 (Wynn and Encore), Stardust 2007 (Resorts World) and Riviera 2016 (the new West Hall of the Convention Center).

As each iconic property closed – with famed exteriors vanishing in moments – little was left but cherished memories… with one exception.

Signs of the Times

Along with the visionaries reshaping the landscape, were those who also foresaw the need to preserve a tangible link to the history and memorable legacy of vintage Las Vegas… and they did so by rescuing and showcasing one of the only items that survived implosions – the

brilliant signage that illuminated the dazzling 4.2 miles of the neon-drenched Strip.

Over the years, as “out with the old and in with the new” became an on-going process, demand grew for even larger, flashier and more complex sign projects. As a result, a steady flow of discarded originals came back to the Young Electric Sign Company (known as YESCO) and to a big fenced-in rear storage yard often referred to as the “boneyard,” where old relics were to be stored and forgotten.

But soon, the legend of this out-of-the-way “boneyard” spread and rather than being doomed to the junk pile, these famous signs with clever names and memorable shapes – once illuminated with flashing bulbs and glowing tubes of light – were now being discovered and featured in movies, TV shows and travelogues about Las Vegas… and amazingly, yesterday’s glaring, gaudy and garish discarded neon concoctions suddenly became glamorous highly-prized vintage works of art.

Gone but Not Forgotten

Today, many of these once forgotten classics have migrated from sources – like YESCO’s original boneyard – to 770 North Las Vegas Boulevard and what is now the famed Neon Museum.

Photo Courtesy Don Logay

As each iconic property closed – with famed exteriors vanishing in moments – little was left but cherished memories… with one exception.

Established as a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving and exhibiting the iconic signage of Las Vegas… today’s Neon Museum, established in 2012, currently displays hundreds of prized rescued symbols that bring the days of vintage Vegas back to life.

“In a city that has a reputation of building up and then blowing up… the historic preservation of this one-of-a-kind city creates a unique experience for Las Vegas visitors and locals alike,” notes Aaron Berger, Executive Director of The Neon Museum.

“Las Vegas is designed to dazzle and even overwhelm you,” he adds “and the Neon Museum allows attendees to peek behind the

curtain with a glimpse of yesterday… and to gain a better understanding of the history of this amazing city.”

Up Close and Personal

The Neon Museum welcome center is a “classic” in and of itself. Once the lobby of the historic La Concha Motel – originally located on Las Vegas Boulevard between the Sahara and Riviera – the eye-catching shell-shaped 1960s-era structure was also a rescue from demolition, and in 2006 was moved in sections to its current location.

The La Concha lobby welcomes visitors onto an expansive 2.7-acre campus with an outdoor exhibition space known as the “Neon

Photo Courtesy Neon Museum

Boneyard” featuring over 250 memorable signs and trademarks of vintage Vegas… of which, 25 have been fully restored, electrified and again lighted in their original form, such as those from the Stardust, Riviera and Moulin Rouge, to name but a few.

Seeing these signs close at hand, and only a few feet away, offers locals and tourists alike a unique perspective, as many were originally perched a hundred feet or more high above the Strip and downtown’s Fremont Street area.

While you can purchase general admission – to wander the Neon Boneyard on your own – it is highly recommended to take one of the 45-minute guided tours that are both informative and entertaining.

Photo Courtesy Neon Museum

Photo Courtesy Neon Museum

Photo Courtesy Neon Museum

The historic 1967 pylon sign and two iconic 1976 feathered plumes from the Flamingo Las Vegas (the oldest property on the Strip) are the Museum’s latest additions. Just removed February 1st, they will be fully restored, relighted and on display later this year.

There is also a separate North Gallery, with an optional tour of 40 unrestored, non-working signs that are magically brought back to life… with vivid audiovisual reanimation, historic films and Viva Las Vegas-style music… in a 30-minute show tour billed as “Brilliant.”

A Trip Back in Time

While it makes one wish they could climb through the tangle of old weathered discarded signs in the original boneyard, the Neon Museum has done a wonderful job of collecting, preserving and recreating the ambience of the original… and with the new “Neon Boneyard,” it has created an exciting journey to another place and time.

“The Neon Museum is a treasure and home to so much of Las Vegas’ history,“ states Las Vegas Mayor, Carolyn Goodman. “Neon is our native art form, and the museum highlights many wonderful, historic signs and marquees. Preserving our unique history is a priority for the city of Las Vegas, and the Neon Museum is a key stakeholder in that process.”

The Neon Museum is located at 770 North Las Vegas Boulevard. It is a popular attraction and reservations are highly recommended.

Hours of operation, tour times and pricing vary and there are discounts available for Nevada residents, active military, veterans, students and seniors. For more information visit www.neonmuseum.org.

Viva Las Vegas!

Don Logay is an award-winning journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of three national magazines. Today he writes luxury lifestyle articles for numerous publications. He can be reached at (949) 240-4444 or press@donlogay. com.

Photo Courtesy Neon Museum

Photo Courtesy Neon Museum

One Good Turn and Then Another

The Smith Center wouldn’t be what it is today without Mayors Oscar and Carolyn Goodman

By Myron G. Martin, President and CEO, The Smith Center

In the earliest days of The Smith Center, well before we had broken ground on our Downtown Las Vegas campus, Oscar Goodman was our best cheerleader. Las Vegas’ then-mayor seized every opportunity to get in front of people and explain that this was the largest city in North America without a world-class performing arts center. And as things came more into focus, he was great at promoting what we were planning.

One specific memory from that time really sticks out. We took a trip to West Palm Beach, Florida, to look at a similar 60ish-acre development down there. It was mixed-use – a hotel, shopping, dining, a movie theater – and the impetus for the whole complex having been built there was the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, just across the street. Oscar, Smith Center Chairman of the Board Don Snyder, thenCity Councilman Lawrence Weekly and I toured the

Photo Courtesy The Smith Center for the Performing Arts

neighborhood, ate lunch and then walked across the street to the Kravis Center.

We were sitting third-row center as Judy Mitchell, president of the Kravis Center, told us their story, how the Kravis Center provided the spark for all the other development around it. Oscar was looking around, checking it out, and then he nudged me with his elbow and said, “So is this what we’re going to build?” And I said, “Well, yeah, Mayor, something like this.” And without skipping a beat, and with Judy Mitchell still speaking onstage, he yelled out, “Holy sh*t! We’ve got to have one of these!”

That’s my mayor. That’s Oscar Goodman.

He and his wife Carolyn both deeply understood the importance of making this a world-class city, knowing for that to truly happen, Las Vegas needed a world-class performing arts center. They felt that personally, not only for their own family but for the broader community. And they recognized that it would become a great economic development tool, too.

Oscar Goodman was there when we needed him, not only to talk about the value of what we were doing but to help others get to a place where they could vote for it. The City of Las Vegas provided the land, the parking and the infrastructure to the curb to make The Smith Center possible. And it

partnered with Clark County on the rental car tax, which had been passed by the state. The city, county and state working together speaks to the power of the project.

Cut to opening night, March 10, 2012. Carolyn Goodman was mayor. And she will tell you what a joyous time that was, seeing The Smith Center on national television with the greatest performers on earth celebrating Las Vegas, not only as a destination city or the Entertainment Capital of the World, but as a place that celebrates the arts and entertainment.

I often say there would be no Smith Center without Fred Smith or without the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, and I often say there would be no Smith Center without Don Snyder. Likewise, The Smith Center would not be the same without the Goodmans. They were tireless in their efforts to promote what we were doing.

So as I see Carolyn’s term drawing to its finish later this year, I think back on the quarter of a century that has passed while they both have been in office, and I realize how much The Smith Center signifies the great work they’ve done for Las Vegas in general.

It’s fitting that their name is Goodman, because they did so many good things for this city and this community of ours.

What’s New - What’s Next 2024 CES

By Don Logay

Photo Courtesy Don Logay

The greatest consumer electronics show in the world showcases amazing new products and cutting-edge emerging technologies in the consumer electronics industry.

Today’s annual trade show began in 1967 in New York City with 100 exhibitors featuring the latest innovations for home and entertainment.

The 1960s was a fascinating era for consumers first being introduced to satellites, space travel and industrial robots… along with an array of exciting new products for home and entertainment, like personal computers, push button phones, stereo sound systems, video cameras and the introduction of video games, to name but a few… and the brand-new consumer electronics show was the place to see the latest and greatest.

Over the next 57 years, the show grew and gravitated west – first to a twice-a-year big

summer show in Chicago with a smaller winter show in Las Vegas – and then finally relocating to Las Vegas in 1998 as a January show with the original once-a-year format.

2024 CES Las Vegas

Today’s consumer electrics show is the largest in the world with over 133,000 attendees interacting with over 4,400 exhibitors and continuing the original intent of bringing together the latest and most amazing new products and cuttingedge emerging technologies in the consumer electronics industry.

Truly global in nature, one-third of this year’s attendees were from foreign countries and exhibitors from more than 150 countries presented lavish displays of futuristic products that spanned 41 different technology categories, all spread over 12 venues and 2.5 million feet of exhibit space.

From January 9 to12, miles of aisles in four halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, Venetian Expo and nearby major hotels connected the world’s biggest brands to innovators, decision makers, media, influencers, visionaries and potential customers at the world’s biggest and most influential technology event.

Back to the Future

The early years of CES were also the time of two popular 1960s cartoon series that captured both the spirit and momentum of the decade. One was The Flintstones, with a family that lived in a comical version of the Stone Age, with machines and daily life powered by birds and dinosaurs. On the other end of the spectrum,

were The Jetsons, with a family enjoying life a century into the future filled with fanciful inventions, a robot maid named Rosie and, of course, flying cars.

With this in mind, those attending this year’s CES, entered feeling quite tech-savvy – most with the latest iPhones, laptops and hi-tech gear in hand – but within minutes, they quickly went from personally identifying with The Jetsons (circa 2068) to a humbled status more like The Flintstones as they realized their prized technology was – by comparison – a bit more Stone Age than Space Age.

What they encountered ranged from amazing home entertainment and appliance innovations, enhanced electronics for health and vision, ever smarter homes and entire smart cities to self-driving autonomous electric vehicles of all types, unmanned aerial transportation, high-performance drones and far-reaching unlimited robotics for home and industry… all with jaw-dropping embedded technologies and often controlled and/or guided by Artificial Intelligence.

Here’s a sampling of what had this year’s CES attendees adopting Fred Flintstone’s animated catchphrase “yabba dabba doo!”

Home Entertainment

Television has always been a main feature at CES and this year was no exception, with introductions from smart and smarter to intelligent, brilliant and even genius.

The first big introduction was LG’s revolutionary transparent Signature OLED T – a wireless 77inch see-through television screen – that looks like a free-standing glass panel until, with the push of a button, a black film rises and it becomes a traditional TV. LG’s transparent TV offers unlimited interior placement options when not in use (like in front of a fish tank, decorative setting or window) rather than just being a big black unattractive square on the wall.

LG’s Transparent OLED TV

Photo Courtesy Don Logay

In addition to screens getting bigger, brighter, foldable, rollable and glare-free, new “Art Frame” TV’s also double as works of art –anything you choose, whether a famous masterpiece or uploaded photo of your choice – until it’s time for your favorite show or movie.

Along with gigantic wall-size screens, there is also new “point-and-click” technology that allows you to pause a show, highlight an object (couch, lamp or appliance), and you’ll be told its name and where to buy it. Another new twist by start-up Telly LLC joins Siri and Alexa. Just say “Hey Telly” and its 55-inch 4K HDR TV opens a smaller AI-driven smart-screen below for any number of voice-controlled options… home automation, video calls, news updates, etc… and, over time, it further recognizes the user and offers even more personalized answers, recommendations and customized commands.

Cooking with AI

Billed as the world’s first AI powered grill, the Seergrills Perfecta quickly cooks foods standing upright. Dual-sided vertical infrared burners achieve perfect rare, medium or well-done steaks, burgers and fish every time… at 1625°F and in under three minutes.

The NeoSear Innogrill by Brisk It, makes the art of barbecuing foolproof. Ask the grill questions to create the perfect recipe – “What seasoning should I use to make my chicken skewers spicy?” or “How do I sear a medium-rare steak?” –and it creates a recipe. You prep the food and InnoGrill’s AI technology does the rest, telling the grill how to cook it up just right.

Start-up Chef AI unveiled a one-touch air fryer that uses (you guessed it) AI to detect and analyze what type of food you put in the air fryer. Just press start and AI does the rest. No additional commands or settings.

Gadgets – “Gotta Have” and ?

One of the hottest products introduced at this year’s CES was a small, three-inch square

Seargrills Perfecta

Photo Courtesy Moe Lastfogel

Rabit R1

Photo Courtesy CES Rabbit Presentation

personal assistant called the Rabbit R1. With a 2.8 inch screen, camera, scrolling wheel and side button for voice commands, the AIcontrolled device knows how apps work and communicates directly with yours via WiFi to complete entire tasks. Tell it what you want, like ordering an Uber, delivering groceries or booking a vacation… and it launches all the various apps required and seamlessly completes a complex task start-to-finish.

In a convincing exhibit demonstration, the Rabbit R1 planned a vacation – booking flights, ordering ground transportation and making hotel reservations – all with one command. It also answered philosophical questions, checked stock prices, looked up movies, played music on Spotify, scheduled a ride share and ordered a pizza for delivery. On the first day alone, over 10,000 Rabbit R1s were sold. The second day, another 10,000 were sold and/or ordered.

Other interesting AI-infused products included the Anura MagicMirror that analyzes your facial image for blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol and more… along with the Oclean X Ultra AIpowered toothbrush that maps your teeth using bone conductivity technology to provide optimum brushing patterns (telling you which side and area needs more attention).

And for those who think Artificial Intelligence is for the birds? You’re right. There are now AI solar-powered bird houses and feeders, by Bird Buddy and Birdfy, that tell you which feathered friends are visiting with video images on your cellphone – and AI-powered Swarovski Optik Visio binoculars that, with a click, fully identify and record over 9,000 types of the birds and wildlife you’re watching.

Up, Up and Away

As for flying cars, the XPENG AeroHT eVTOL is a sleek electric vertical takeoff and landing Lamborghini-style “flying supercar” that

converts from highway to skyway with the push of a button. As interior controls and instruments changeover, eight rotors emerge from its roof to lift and fly passengers to their destination traffic-free.

The Supernal SA-2 electric Air Taxi, by Hyundai – also an eVTOL vehicle – lifts straight up from small local “Vertiports” and whisks four passengers and a pilot to nearby locations up to 40-miles away at 120 mph and a 1,500-foot low altitude while operating as quietly as a dishwasher.

And to better park both today’s Flintstoneesque automobiles and tomorrow’s flying cars, there’s the “Parkie” by HL Mando… a sleek AI-operated commercial robotic valet parking system. When you pull in, a flat plate rolls under your car, lifts it up and heads off to a compact parking spot. Along with tighter computerized spaces and no dings from opening car doors, garages can handle up to 30% more vehicles with faster in-and-outs which is better for drivers and owners alike.

For Those Who Can’t Wait

Tech-savvy junkies may find themselves a bit frustrated by all of the “oohs and ahhs” of the 2024 CES – and feeling a bit like Fred Flintstone – in not being able to obtain and employ all these wonderful gadgets and innovations today.

But take heart, as the George Jetson lifestyle of 2068 will be here before you know it… with robot maids, AI-cooked meals-in-minutes and flying cars… it’s all just around the corner.

Good news indeed… “yabba dabba doo!”

Don Logay is an award-winning journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of three national magazines. Today he writes luxury lifestyle articles for numerous publications. He can be reached at (949) 240-4444 or press@donlogay. com.

XPENG AeroHT eVTOL Flying Car

Photo Courtesy Moe Lastfogel

Hyundai Supernal SA-2 Electric Air Taxi

Photo Courtesy Hyundai

From

Desk to

Zen: A Career-Focused Approach to Spine Care

Written by Dr. Cash

In the relentless pursuit of career success, it’s all too easy to put our health on the back burner, and sadly, our spine often bears the brunt of this neglect. It’s a cruel irony that as we strive to scale new professional heights, the very backbone of our physical existence is left to suffer. This guide is a wake-up call for all the hardworking souls out there, offering hands-on advice for weaving spine care seamlessly into your busy life. From desk-bound exercises to stress-busting strategies and knowing when to call in the experts, we’ve got you covered.

Why Your Spine Deserves a Little Love

Think of your spine as the central pillar of your body, not just holding you up but enabling you to move, twist, and bend. Ignore its wellbeing, and you’re looking at a future filled with pain, stiffness, and mobility issues. For those of us glued to our desks and screens, making time for spinal health isn’t just good practice—it’s essential.

Desk-Friendly Moves to Keep You Flexible

Transforming your desk into a mini-gym might sound far-fetched, but with these simple exercises, it’s entirely possible:

Twist and Shout (Quietly): Sitting straight, gently twist your torso with one hand on the back of your chair for support, holding for a few seconds on each side. It’s a mini-massage for your spine.

Stretch It Out: Reach for the sky, lace your fingers together, and lean from side to side. It’s a quick fix for those nagging neck and shoulder aches.

Stand Up for Your Spine: If you can, mix up sitting with standing. A stand-up desk can work wonders for your posture and take the pressure off your back.

Stress Less, Smile More

Stress is a spine’s worst enemy, tensing up muscles and making every ache feel ten times worse. Here’s how to keep calm and carry on:

Breathe Deep: Master the art of deep breathing to melt away stress. Try inhaling for four seconds, holding for seven, and exhaling for eight. It’s like hitting the reset button on your stress levels.

Break Time is Sacred: Make a point of stepping away from your desk regularly. A little wander, a stretch, or a moment of zen can work wonders.

Mindfulness Matters: Carve out time for meditation or mindfulness. Even a few minutes a day can dial down the stress and help your spine relax.

Ergonomics: Your Spine’s Best Friend

Creating a spine-friendly workspace is nonnegotiable. That means a supportive chair, a

desk that keeps your feet flat and your screen at eye level, and a setup that encourages good posture. Get this right, and your spine will thank you.

When to Seek Professional Wisdom

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, our spines need a helping hand from a pro. Persistent pain, tingling, or discomfort shouldn’t be ignored. Catching issues early with a healthcare professional can save you a world of hurt down the line.

Juggling a demanding career and spinal health might seem daunting, but it’s entirely doable with a little planning and perseverance. Quick desk exercises, stress management, ergonomic tweaks, and knowing when to seek help are your tools for keeping your spine in top shape.

After all, a healthy spine is your silent partner in every professional endeavor—treat it well, and it’ll support you through thick and thin.

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