Have Southern Nevada taxpayers noticed that Clark County is sitting on so much tax revenue that it can cover an $80 million settlement with a local developer — call it Justin Jones’ jackassery — by simply rummaging around the couch cushions down at the Government Center? Oh sure, $45 million worth of parks may never be built. A few capital projects worth another $35 million may be delayed. But who cares about amenities for local residents when you’re trying to cover your rears over a land grab fiasco pushed by a commissioner willing to sacrifice the Fifth Amendment for his own political gain? But perhaps the clock is finally ticking on Mr.
Jones. The county last month announced it had reached a deal with Jim Rhodes in a 20-year dispute over his efforts to develop an old gypsum mine near Red Rock Canyon. County officials blocked the residential project for years.
Mr. Jones, now on the County Commission, was one of the most vocal opponents of the plan dating to his time in the Legislature. He also served as an attorney representing opponents of the development.
Mr. Jones was elected to the commission in 2018, and the land use controversy eventually ended up in court. Since then, two judges have concluded that Mr.
Jones offered misleading testimony and intentionally deleted text messages that might have been helpful to the Rhodes camp. In addition, the Nevada Supreme Court recently upheld a multimillion-dollar award against the city of Las Vegas for violating another dev.
