In a recent Nevada Appeal column congratulating Gov. Gibbons for painting over the name of philanthropist Larry Ruvo on a public building, Guy Farmer asks why the state named “a public building after a wealthy Las Vegas liquor distributor” in the first place. Fair question. So I did a little checking.
First, let’s talk about the building in question itself. We are NOT talking about the Governor’s Mansion; we’re talking about an old, dilapidated adjacent garage which was converted into an elegant conference room with state-of-the-art kitchen facilities for public events such as the annual Wolf Pack dinner and Tin Cup Tea.
But refurbishing the garage was only a small part of the major restoration project Mr. Ruvo undertook in 1999, which literally saved the mansion. At the time, the mansion was in worse shape than many low-income Section 8 housing units. So Mr. Ruvo, as a private citizen, took it upon himself to lead the effort of not only repairing and refurbishing this important state landmark, but raised millions of dollars in private funds, not taxpayer funds, to pay for it all. He also personally contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars out of his own pocket to make Nevada’s Governor’s Mansion the envy of governors across the United States.
And in recognition of his generosity, the new conference center was named the “Larry Ruvo Stateroom.” A very small gesture considering the enormity of his efforts.
But what about the question Mr. Farmer raises about naming public buildings after people? Well, fine. But that means we need to paint over a whole lot of other names from public buildings in and around Carson City – including the Richard H. Bryan Building and the Joe Dini Library and Student Center. At least Mr. Ruvo spent his own money and not taxpayer dollars.
Speaking of which, I find it troubling that Mr. Farmer finds it troubling that Mr. Ruvo is wealthy, as though that somehow should disqualify him from being honored. But since when is being financially successful a “bad” thing in America? Mr. Ruvo’s company employs more than 10,000 people. We should be thanking him, not bashing him.
Ditto the shot about Mr. Ruvo being from Las Vegas. Last time I checked Las Vegas was still part of Nevada - and the Governor’s Mansion and grounds are for all Nevadans, not just those who live in the capital city.
And then there was the slam at Mr. Ruvo for being a liquor distributor. Good grief. This state’s entire thriving economy is largely based on the adult beverage industry. How in the world is being a distributor of wine and spirits something to be demonized, especially in Nevada?
Mr. Farmer could have pointed out Mr. Ruvo’s philanthropy rather than needle him for his southern Nevada business success but chose not to. That’s a shame. Because Larry Ruvo has been recognized as Man of the Year by the Muscular Dystrophy Association and has raised millions of dollars for students of the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration at UNLV – coincidentally a public building named after another private citizen. He’s also a board member of the Nevada Ballet Dance Theater and founder of the Keep Memory Alive Foundation and the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute, both of which do pioneering work in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
In other words, the man has been a spirited (pardon the pun) citizen who has given back generously to our state and community.
And just for the record, I don’t know Mr. Ruvo. I don’t believe I’ve ever met him. I’ve never done work for him. Nor has he ever contributed to my organization. So I’m writing about this only because what’s right is right – and painting over the man’s name all these years after the fact is just plain wrong. Gov. Gibbons should correct this unfortunate mistake immediately.
Posted on October 15th, 2007 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: Carson City
Gotta agree, Chuck.
And you’re right, naming public buildings after executives and legislators while they are alive is a fairly disgusting use of our tax payer money. Same for “them” using taxpayer money and naming parks and the like after these people. Ruvo used and raised his own money for the public good which is much more worthy of praise than naming a public facility after an elected official who used public money for the creation of our own asset!
In Mr. Farmer’s defense, back in 2004 he proposed a compromise regarding the Larry Ruvo Stateroom. In the July 11, 2004 Nevada Appeal, he wrote, “In my opinion, Ruvo’s generous financial support for expanded meeting facilities at the Mansion could have been properly recognized with a discreet plaque inside or outside of the new building - something no larger than the plaque that identifies the Governor’s Mansion itself.”
I have no problem with naming buildings after benefactors who contribute to their construction or renovation. However, since the renovation or repair work will last for a finite period of time, the naming of the structure should also last for a finite period of time. If the renovations and repair work that Mr. Ruvo paid for are projected to last for X years before requiring re-work, then the naming rights should only last for X years. This is the way sports stadiums work. When Monster bought the naming rights to the former Candlestick Park, it didn’t get the naming rights in perpetuity. It only got them for the term of the contract.
Absolutely no problem with Mr. Ruvo’s philanthropy. No problem with his wealth. No problem with his Las Vegas heritage. No problem with his involvement in the liquor industry. However, there is a possible issue with his employer. Mr. Ruvo is the senior managing director of Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada. Southern Wine and Spirits has consistently supported legislation in Nevada to raise barriers to entry and reduce competition in the liquor industry in the state. Examples of this include AB437 in 2003 and AB221 in 2005. Nothing criminal or illegal, nothing unethical or immoral, just a pattern of trying to legislate a monopoly for itself in this state.
Just to clarify your statement that Southern Wine and Spirits “employs 10,000 people,” the figure you referred to is the number of employees nationwide. Only a fraction of that number are employed in Nevada.
John S.,
Nice post…I especially appreciate your disclosure on the ABs…I guess ‘free market capitalism’ is really code words for ‘protectionsim’!
I’m not normally a conspiracy theorist, but two things involving Mr. Ruvo happened in 1999. One event was the renovation of the governor’s mansion in Carson City, which Mr. Ruvo commendably raised funds for and personally contributed money to.
The second event was that during that year’s legislative session, Mr. Ruvo and Harvey Whittemore attempted to slip an amendment into an existing bill allowing Messrs. Ruvo and Whittemore to circumvent Tahoe Regional Planning Agency regulations by allowing the two to build a 300 foot pier adjacent to their lakefront properties. The bill passed thru the senate with the pier provision, but was removed in the assembly after the provision became public.
Coincidence? Probably, but I guess the moral of the story for Messrs. Ruvo and Whittemore is that they shouldn’t have neglected the legislature’s role in enacting laws. They should have raised money to renovate the state capital building while they were doing the same for the governor’s mansion.
“And just for the record, I don’t know Mr. Ruvo. I don’t believe I’ve ever met him. I’ve never done work for him. Nor has he ever contributed to my organization.”
Just out of curiosity, can you make the same claims about Southern Wine and Spirits and Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada?
Yes.