by CARRIE KAHN
The site of the demolished Frontier casino sits vacant on the Las Vegas Strip in December. Construction of a new hotel and casino, the Las Vegas Plaza, has been delayed until economic conditions improve.
It's noon on the Las Vegas Strip, and the barker outside O'Shea's Casino is hard at work.
"Twenty-four-hour happy hour, 24-hour $5 blackjack and 24-hour beer pong action going on right here today," he says. Dressed in a lime green tuxedo, he's doing his best to get tourists to come in.
Despite the recession, nearly 39 million visitors came to the city last year, the second-highest number in Las Vegas history. The problem is those tourists don't have as much money as they once did.
One tourist, Genina Jackson, says that after a decade since her last visit, she notices the difference. "Ten years ago, people dressed up a little more," she says. "I see a lot of jeans and flip-flops."
Jackson had stopped along the Strip in front of the huge fountains at Caesars Palace to take a picture with her friend Melissa. They are in from Atlanta celebrating Melissa's birthday.
"The casino is not as crowded. You can get to any table. Before, 10 years ago, you couldn't get to a table," Jackson says.
New casinos being built in Ohio to save our economy. There is also a rumor that the state is trying to buy the Titanic, and is investing heavily in the manufacture and sale of propeller driven airplanes. Rumor has it also that the governor has been in negotiations with the city of New York in regards to purchasing the Brooklyn Bridge.
