Growing up in the Las Vegas Valley, I attended public school and had an amazing experience. I hate to see how badly our system has deteriorated.
I am reading the biography of John Ledyard, an American adventurer and traveler who sailed with Captain Cook, traveled the breadth of Russia on assignment from Thomas Jefferson, and faced many hardships and challenges in the early years of our country.
As development continues to increase throughout the valley; land, infrastructure and regulations are becoming more restricted. This creates a challenge and an opportunity in how Southern Nevada markets itself over surrounding states. We need to make sure these items are addressed and overcome in order to maintain our competitive advantage and stay focused on remaining a top tier destination for entertainment and industry.
I think one of Southern Nevada’s biggest challenges is its image. There is a tremendous opportunity in the area for talented people, startups and growing companies that I feel gets lost in the shadow of Las Vegas’ tourism and entertainment industry.
Education is very important to me and I’m a fan of public education where we are facing challenges. Every child in Southern Nevada deserve to have a quality education.
Nevada is currently enjoying a growing economy that is subsided by tax abatements of tax payer dollars. We need to diversify and attract businesses who see the value of doing business in Nevada, without being subsidied.
Our city was never designed as a dense, urban center. It was rural ranch land into which a transient industry (gaming/hospitality) was dropped. As we grow and evolve into a true metropolitan area with all the facets of a “real” city, educating people on the use of publicly programmed space and ensuring a more smooth transition as we go from horizontal living to a more vertical/dense experience will be crucial.
We need to work collectively, as a city, to improve education. They are our future yet we are ranked 49th in the nation.
I grew up here and there is so much more opportunity than meets the eye. Its reputation has gotten better in the past years but still has a ways to go. I think that Las Vegas will drastically change in the coming years due to the rapid growth in sports, new businesses and cannabis.
Dr. Mark Penn is the founding dean of College of Medicine for Roseman University of Health Sciences.