LAS VEGAS - Nevada has a reputation as an adult playground with gambling, booze and sex. If you are willing to travel, prostitution is perfectly legal in seven counties outside of the Las Vegas valley.
U.S. Sen. Harry Reid's unexpected call this week to ban brothels in Nevada now has everyone talking.
"The time has come for us to outlaw prostitution," Reid told the Nevada Legislature.
Local leaders are now talking about red light districts and cathouses. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman was very frank about what goes on behind closed doors in Clark County, where prostitution is a crime.
"Go any place in Las Vegas, any hotel or any major arterial, at 3 o'clock, 4 o'clock in the morning, and you tell me there's not prostitution here," he said. "I'll call you a monkey's uncle."
Reid says he fears legalized bordellos can hurt economic growth. He cited an example of a business that expressed misgivings about prostitution in Storey County.
Goodman, however, does not believe Nevada's legal sex trade turns off businesses.
"I don't believe that anybody ever said to their husband or wife, ‘You know, we're not moving our business to Nevada, because they have legal prostitution in Lincoln County.' I can't imagine that conversation ever took place."
Mayoral candidate and Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Ross said Goodman is "just plain wrong on prostitution." Ross says Las Vegas must fight to land new employers.
"This is absolutely ridiculous. Las Vegas is open for business and not for prostitution," he said. "I can't emphasize enough that we have to fight for these jobs. We have to fight to bring businesses to this city, and we can't do it with one armed tied before our back."
In the past, there has been talk of turning East Fremont Street into a red light district or "a little Amsterdam". Las Vegas Mayoral candidate and businessman Victor Chaltiel said that won't happen if voters elect him.
"I think it's unbelievable that we are debating whether we should have legal prostitution in Las Vegas or not. This is not the type of job that you want for our kids," he said.
Mayoral candidate and Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown said he's been against a red light district from day one. Mayoral candidate and Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani didn't go as far, but points out brothels have been banned in Clark County since 1973.
Mayoral candidate Carolyn Goodman – the wife of current Mayor Oscar Goodman - said her management style is "to look at all sides of every issue, bring the stakeholders together, and make an informed decision."
Either way, that adult conversation about an adult subject has started.
