Negatively affected Vegas businesses launch petition to stop F1 racing

Published on: May 7, 2024, 10:32 a.m.

Last updated: May 7, 2024, 10:32 a.m.

A new Change.org petition calls on the Clark County Commission to deny a special use permit to F1, which is scheduled to hold its second Las Vegas Grand Prix on the Las Vegas Strip Nov. 21-23.

Las Vegas small business owners claiming $30 million in lost revenue are trying to stop the Goliath F1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas, which claimed an economic impact of $1.5 billion last year, by using a petition. (Image: Creative Commons)

“Stop the Las Vegas Grand Prix (F1)” was filed May 3 by Lisa Mayo-DeRiso, a public relations consultant representing at least six business owners, claiming serious losses resulting from the race’s preparations. last year.

So far, the petition has 1,350 signatures and its next goal is set at 1,500. Petitions carry no legal weight, although they can wield political power.

“Contrary to the purported economic benefits, hosting the Las Vegas Grand Prix negatively affects small businesses, Strip workers and transportation companies, who face significant revenue losses, reduced foot traffic and to general business interruptions during the period of the event,” the petition states. .

Preparatory work for the first Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2023 has cost companies $30 million in lost revenue, they say. Construction work, which began in early April 2023, locked down Las Vegas Boulevard, denying access to more than a dozen businesses inside the circuit, for six months.

This Shell station was one of the businesses affected by the bridge built by F1 at its intersection with Flamingo Road. (Image: Change.org)

A temporary bridge on Flamingo Road near the Strip compounded the damage, owners of businesses under the bridge said, forcing their regular customers to bypass them.

The bridge was dismantled shortly before Super Bowl Sunday, but there are plans to rebuild it before each Las Vegas Grand Prix.

“We weren’t even doing 10 percent of what we were doing,” said Magdy Amer, who said the losses forced her to close her restaurant, Tex Mex Tquila. KLAS-TV/Las Vegas. “We were losing money every day.”

Requests

Even though Clark County agreed last year to grant F1 use of the public right-of-way for three years, it still has a special use permit to issue, which is necessary to close streets .

The Change.org petition attempts to prevent this approval “until a fair, non-disruption plan can be developed to host this event without closing the Las Vegas Strip.”

He is also demanding reimbursement of the $30 million.

Mayo-DeRiso said the company’s owners have considered taking legal action against F1, but first want to exhaust all administrative avenues.

A Clark County media representative on Monday declined to comment on the petition to all local television and news outlets.

F1 officials have promised that preparatory work will be less disruptive this year than last. And Clark County Commission Chairman Tick Segerblom supported reimbursement for damages caused by last year’s construction — although it’s unclear where that money will come from.