Mohave Daily News: Top Story

LAUGHLIN - Saying they lacked a quorum for a formal meeting, members of the Laughlin Community Development Advisory Committee nevertheless heard a new form of opposition Wednesday to another bridge over the Colorado River.

Jordan Ross of Laughlin told those present, including Ed Cooper of the Laughlin Town Advisory Board who co-chairs the committee, that he wants to be reassured the traffic to and from Bullhead City won't raise Laughlin's phenomenally low “crime index.”

In addition, he called for projects to have separate crime impact studies done, similar to environmental impact studies which the government-financed proposed bridge is now required to meet.

Town Manager Jackie Brady explained that such comments can be submitted as part of the sociological-economic chapter of the environmental statements. She said public scoping meetings on the bridge project should be announced soon. They are a pre-EIS step to give an idea of what public concerns must be answered in the draft and final statements.

Ross also claimed people in Arizona are the ones who want the bridge. He presented a brand new concept of the crime index, using the 2000 U.S. Census and 2006 FBI Uniform Crime Reports by U.S. Postal Service ZIP codes.

Entitling his comments, “Who Needs This Bridge? Fox News Got It Wrong, But Not All Wrong,” Ross said a score of 100 is the average U.S. crime index rate.

Nevada's average is 106. Bullhead City ranges from 174 down to 132. Laughlin's is 2.

“Anyone who wants to make access to the town easier needs to at least admit that crime could be affected,” Ross said.

Without its quorum of four members the panel had to postpone until its 1:30 p.m. March 14 meeting in Town Hall an update on the veterans museum the Pioneer Hotel and Gambling Hall wants to host as well as making a recommendation to the advisory board about establishing a cemetery district and what to do about the Sean Hannity “hit piece” against a government-financed second bridge across the Colorado River.