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Oakland mayor causes stir after calling Las Vegas a 'gross desert'

Astros Athletics Baseball
AP Photo/Tony Avelar

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Chris Bassitt, center, works against Houston Astros' Jose Altuve during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 1, 2021, Oakland, Calif.

The mayor of Oakland, California has incited a Twitter feud, calling Las Vegas a “gross desert.”

In an interview with ABC 7 News, in San Francisco, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf was responding to questions about the rigorous environmental process for building stadiums in California.  

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman replied on Twitter that the city is “a world leader in sustainability & top destination.”

In another tweet, Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft called Schaaf’s remarks “ignorant and elitist.” 

Yvette Fernandez is the regional reporter for the Mountain West News Bureau. She joined Nevada Public Radio in September 2021.
Kristen DeSilva (she/her) was the audience engagement specialist for Nevada Public Radio until May 2025. She curated and created content for knpr.org, our weekly newsletter and social media for Nevada Public Radio and Desert Companion.
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