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Las Vegas, Nevada
The overnight security detail was always busy, especially the small crew staffing the video control room. Foot traffic in and around the world-renowned casino peaked after midnight and didn’t drop off until the dance clubs closed after 3 a.m. Between then and the end of the shift, there wasn’t much to watch inside the vast complex. So their attention shifted to the cameras covering the property’s expansive perimeter—including the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road.
The security staffer monitoring the video cameras was slow to warm up to the idea of Christmas before the Thanksgiving holiday. This year was different, however. He fell head over heels for the Santa figures mounted at each of the four corners of the intersection. There was something about the way each of the three Santas were frozen with their heads thrown back in raucous laughter. Those Santa dudes knew how to have a good time. The effect was infectious.
The staffer reported the missing fourth Santa following the shift the theft took place. He completed the end-of-shift report noting the date, time, and cameras capturing the video footage. Unfortunately, his supervisor made the point the holiday decorations were the property and sole concern of the Clark County Public Works department—thank you, very much.
For the last two weeks, the staffer pointed, tilted, and zoomed the video cameras toward each of the four light posts. The missing figure on the southwest corner was like sand in his shoe. Over time, the irritation grew to the point he could no longer accept it.
He reported the theft to the public works department. He didn’t involve the Metro PD. If he had, they would send someone over and his supervisor would not be pleased.
The complaint was filed with the Department of Public Works web site. Since there wasn’t a link to report problems, issues, or concerns with holiday decorations, the complaint was emailed to the department manager’s email address listed on the “Contact Us” web page.
Later that same day, the security staffer received a reply email. The text was clear. The department neither owned nor was responsible for the street decorations along the Las Vegas Strip. The casinos and hotels bore the expense and the responsibility.
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Once the problem fell into the lap of the Bellagio, the matter was escalated to the casino’s facilities group. That’s why a small contingent of casino management stood on the southwest corner of the intersection holding court.
“Let me get this straight. We own the Santa sleighs, garlands, signage, and special lighting on our corner of the intersection. There’s no Santa?” The General Manager was unhappily confused. Plus, he had more pressing issues to address that morning and didn’t relish spending time on the street arguing over decorations.
“That’s correct,” the Facility Manager responded.
“But this is our corner. Everything on the corner, and both sides leading to and from the intersection, is our responsibility.” The GM was pointing to all three areas just to be certain. “We coordinate with the three other property owners to ensure we all have the same decorations installed in the same way. Right?”
“Correct, again.”
“Well, why are we the only corner without a Santa? Doesn’t the Bellagio rate its own Santa?”
“I’ll get right on it.”
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The missing Santa took up the Facility Manager’s entire day. He called his counterparts at the three other properties. “What Santa are you talking about?” and “We don’t have any Santas!” greeted each of his telephone calls. The group of four met on the intersection. They all left scratching their heads.
Someone, somehow purchased and installed four Santa figures without the knowledge or approval of the four property owners. Now one was missing.
While there were originally four Santas, there were only two problems. First, the Facility Manager from the Bellagio had to tell his General Manager no one knew anything about the Santas. Further, there was no way to order a replacement for the one missing. Second, the three remaining properties had Santa mounted on their respective corners that no one recalled ordering, and no one could find an order for their Santa. A conundrum.
Nevertheless, the collective agreed. The problem belonged to the Bellagio. Having a Santa on the other three corners was a problem they could live with. If the Bellagio “lost” its Santa, well, that was the Bellagio’s problem.
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“What do you mean? The Bellagio is going to be the only property on the intersection without a Santa? That’s simply unacceptable.” The General Manager could not believe the problem remained unresolved. Worse yet, the Bellagio—which set the standard for entertainment on the Strip—looked miserly without a Santa of its own.
“Boss, I reviewed the video. The Santas were installed in the middle of the night almost three weeks ago. I contacted the electrical services firm who did the installation. Even they don’t have a record of doing the work.”
“And they don’t belong to the County?”
“Nope. I checked and double checked.”
“City?”
“We’re outside of the City, but I called and checked anyway.”
“None of the other properties claim ownership?”
“Nope. Again, we just finished meeting at the intersection. After the meeting, they each checked with their staff and records. No one knows anything.”
The General Manager leaned forward. “I’ll bet it’s that bastard at Caesars. This is his work. He’ll do anything to put the Bellagio in a poor light.”
The Facility manager did not know how to respond. His General Manager had a “thing” about Caesars.
“Tell you what. Call the company that did the installation. No one owns the damn things, fine. Have all three of them removed. If we can’t have one, then no one gets one.”
“Boss, the company insists they didn’t do the work.”
“I heard you.”
“Steal the other three Santas? They’re Santas for crying out loud. No one steals a Santa.”
“I heard you. Any questions?”
“None.”
The Facility Manager had the electrical services company out within the hour. No one ignored the Bellagio. When the Bellagio called, you hustled. Even though the electrical company disclaimed any involvement with the Santa decorations, they couldn’t argue with the fact that it was their bucket truck on the video.
The three remaining Santas were removed before lunch.
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Two years earlier, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department consolidated its administrative offices to a new massive building on the corner of Martin Luther King Blvd and Alta Drive—several miles north and west of the Strip. The Bellagio General Manager resisted the urge to have the three Santa figures installed somewhere on the Caesar’s property, like their outdoor pool complex. Instead, he took the high road and had them installed in the large parking lot serving Metro’s administrative offices.
Looking out of his top floor office, the Sheriff, recently elected to the position, took favorable notice of the new holiday decorations. He directed his Executive Assistant to extend his personal gratitude for the holiday cheer to the City of Las Vegas Public Works Department.