North Las Vegas has been called a “bedroom community” of Las Vegas, but that's not something the mayor would go around saying.
North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee wants to solidify the city with its own identity—that is, as one of the fastest growing cities in the valley, and one with the potential to draw international business.
In his State of the City speech, Lee said he wants to move past the failure of Faraday Future, which was to be located in the city’s Apex Industrial Park, and focus on the industrial park’s future.
"I’m still bullish about something happening at Apex and it is happening now," Lee told KNPR's State of Nevada.
Lee said that he wishes the company well but the city is moving on. The mayor also said the deal with the electric car company was not a total loss.
“Yes, in a way, it was sad," he said, "In another way, what a great blessing it was to North Las Vegas to have that opportunity to sell itself”
He said the company spent millions improving the infrastructure at Apex, which puts the area ahead of where it was a year ago without any cost to the city.
Even though Faraday Future is not coming to Apex, Lee says there is a lot going on at the industrial park that will help boost the city of North Las Vegas and the whole region.
“There is nothing about Apex that I’m not excited about," he said.
He believes a plan to bring water to the area along with a plan by Nevada's Department of Transportation to improve the interchange of Highway 93 and I-15 will bring even more development to Apex.
“We’re never going to be the Strip that will always be in Clark County," he said, "We’re never going to be Fremont Street that’s in the city of Las Vegas, but North Las Vegas is going to be the bread basket of this region.”
Another road project, much closer to the heart of North Las Vegas, will also bring much-needed businesses and development, Lee said. A plan by NDOT to improve the interchange of the Northern Beltway and I-15 near the Las Vegas Motor Speedway will bring development to that section of the city.
Lee has focused on improving access to Apex, and improving the city's bond rating, which hit junk ratings at the peak of the Recession.
Lee said the city's bond rating has improved steadily, which doesn't just benefit North Las Vegas.
“Every time we move up, it’s a benefit to this whole region,” he said.
He said when he first started as mayor the bond rating for the city was listed as non-investment grade. It is now listed as investment grade.
The city is also reinvesting in its police and fire departments. It is hiring new officers and looking to fill positions left open by retiring officers.
At one time, North Las Vegas had a reputation for having a high crime rate. Lee said that reputation is changing. He said people who just moved to North Las Vegas don't know that old history.
“I beg to differ on the crime that people think is there," he said, "We’re a pretty safe community.”
As far as the future of North Las Vegas, Mayor Lee said he had three goals.
“My goal in North Las Vegas is probably threefold: I don’t want you leaving North Las Vegas to go anywhere else to spend money. So, if I could get enough restaurants, and shopping centers and all the things you enjoy you don’t ever have to leave North Las Vegas again.”
He wants infill properties in the city to be filled with businesses.
“In North Las Vegas, we took a big hit on the value of homes. Now we’re driving up property values again,” he said.
The mayor is concerned about making sure there is enough affordable housing that young families can buy a home in his city.
His final goal is his legacy.
“I want to make sure I leave behind a team and a vision of where we should be in the future,” he said.
He wants to make sure that North Las Vegas has the financial independence it needs and that families have a diversified income they can count on.
John Lee, mayor, North Las Vegas