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Downturn in Las Vegas | Traffic Cameras Coming to Los Angeles

The Bill Handel Show·Mar 30, 2026·21:20

About this Episode

(March 30, 2026)

A downturn in Las Vegas could signal tough times for the nation. Speeders beware: 125 traffic cameras are coming to Los Angeles, along with hefty fines. SoCal native set to be the first black person to reach the moon.

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Bill Handel here on a Monday morning, March 30th,

some big stories that we are looking at the war in Iran.

The president is contemplating putting boots on the ground,

sending in bringing in troops to the mid-east.

And man, if he makes that choice,

and he is going to be the one that makes that choice.

I mean, it's really clear that he and certainly

Republican Congress says it's Trump's call

without any input from Congress.

If he makes that call, man, it's going to blow up.

And I think even his most ardent,

sycophantic supporters, advisors will say,

you know what, maybe we ought to think this one through.

So we'll see what happens on that one.

Now, let me tell you what's going on in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is a fascinating place.

And virtually all of us have been to Las Vegas at one time,

or another.

And what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?

But what happens in Vegas also is a harbinger of things to come

that economists look at Las Vegas and say,

okay, what's happening there may very well follow

by the rest of the country.

It has an outsize influence.

So high rollers, no issue.

They're still rolling into Las Vegas.

Actually, they're flying in Las Vegas on private jets.

But people who go to Vegas on a budget don't feel like winners at all.

So decline in overall visitors.

And there is a fairly big decline ascending ripples of worry,

not only through the city, but well through the country.

Because he knows of closed card rooms, restaurants have cut hours,

resorts are scrambling to lure customers.

They're no longer hotels.

They are resorts.

Have you noticed that?

Disneyland is no longer Disneyland.

It is the Disney resort, which it is.

I mean, it's a couple of parks and hotels, et cetera.

And then in other parts of the country,

it's half a dozen parks and hotels.

So Las Vegas financial well-being has long relied

on the millions of tourists spending their discretionary income,

not so much on the high rollers.

But what's going on, the rich are getting richer.

And the rich are having more money and they go to Las Vegas.

And man, they are whales.

When they lose, they lose by the millions of dollars.

These hotels love them.

And since the house always makes money,

the house does very well.

But there's an economy going on where the affluent are thriving,

as I said, but the rest of us are struggling.

And that formula, that's not so good for Las Vegas or even the country.

And what's happening?

Well, the tariffs, immigration raids are rattling the workers.

The number of international travelers has gone south,

particularly because of the political situation.

For example, Canadians have stopped going you wonder why.

And this is now an industry that has relentlessly raised rates.

I mean, people just don't like coming into pricey parking

and $34 daiquaries.

It wasn't very long ago where it was free parking at every hotel.

You'd go in and out and the only thing you would do is pay a tip.

And free cocktails, if you like it.

And free cocktails when you were gambling, not free cocktails otherwise.

But a stake could cost you $7.99 for a stake dinner just to get you in the hotel.

Remember $1 cocktails, I remember those.

I mean, anything to get you in today, they're looking at the high priced restaurants

and they're looking at the high price drinks simply as a revenue call.

It's not a question of literally hustling to go in.

They now do it with marketing, they do it with rewards cards

and they still, it's a cost you a fortune as a matter of fact.

If you look at Las Vegas and Neil correct me on this,

if you look at a small city, the size of Las Vegas and has a million people

and the strip specifically has more world-class restaurants by world-class chefs

than any other place in the planet.

I would not be surprised.

I mean, every major chef wants to have a place there.

And some do.

And I love going to those places, but do I want to spend $100 a head?

How often do you want to do that?

So would-be visitors are just fed up.

I mean, they're just fed up with it.

So what's going on, according to an expert who was looking at this and writes about it,

for Americans carefully considering how they spend their money now,

some feel a lot feel Las Vegas just isn't worth it anymore.

Now, for the casino owners, the number's still add up.

Why is that? Well, because a number of people, as I said,

the wealthy people are getting richer, the super wealthy are getting richer,

the insanely wealthy are getting richer, and they spend a ton of money.

But, you know, Las Vegas is volume two.

And look at what's going on for Las Vegas.

You've got the political situation, Canadians and other folks from around the world

that are stopping to come here to this country for tourism.

I mean, you talked about tourism going down.

The cost of gas.

How is the cost of gas affect Las Vegas that much?

Well, because the majority of people that go to Las Vegas come from Southern California,

and they drive.

And all of a sudden, gas at $6.650 a gallon,

and it's a, what, 200 mile trip, 150 mile trip.

All of a sudden, that starts adding up.

And so, it's a tough place now.

And the economists are looking at this and saying,

we've got some problems here.

Tourism is way down.

It remains a volume business.

And as soon as the very wealthy people stop coming,

and they're very few of those, but they spend such massive money,

casinos are still doing okay.

But if that turns around, man, look at this.

And this is the state of where the economy is going.

In Las Vegas, it's going south, but for those people.

Wages are not keeping up.

Well, Nevada, you know, gasoline is cheap.

So it costs your fortune to get there, but you do.

It's not so bad coming back as you fill up.

But it's, it's a tough place.

Las Vegas.

What's the last time you went to Las Vegas, Neil?

A year and a half ago, two days ago, Amy.

Last time in Vegas.

Gosh, we used to go every year.

It was like our favorite place to go.

But it's been probably four years.

Okay.

And that says something.

And last time you went to Las Vegas.

Probably about a year ago.

Okay.

So you're a regular goer.

And will within the last year, but I was, I was there on a job.

So that was different.

I was.

Did you spend most of the time at the all you can eat buffet?

They don't have, do they even have those anymore?

I don't even know.

I don't know.

No.

Okay.

And finally, uh, Kono, uh, last time you went.

I'm going to me.

Okay.

So, uh, and, uh, and, uh, my, uh, my friend, Savile lives in Las Vegas.

And I lived there for a year.

Uh, and it was, um, no, drys lived there during the summer.

And it's a tough place to be in the summer.

You walk outside the front door.

And it's, uh, like someone has a, uh, hair dryer, uh, blowing full, uh, full blast, uh,

at the hottest, uh, uh, the hottest position right in your face.

Tough place.

Okay.

Uh, now, you know, when you, you're on the street or you're on the freeway, does anybody

pay attention to this speed limit at all, at all?

I mean, not even close.

Now, I go on the freeway and I'll do my normal speed limit is 75.

And I'm one of the slow ones that are on the freeway.

I mean, it is crazy.

Well, let me tell you what's going on.

Well, first of all, uh, speeding is a real killer.

I mean, it does.

Uh, reducing speed has, uh, saved fatal crashes by 71% in, uh, Los Angeles.

And, uh, why is that?

Well, uh, these speed cameras, uh, will save 71% according to, uh, LA Department of Transportation.

And, uh, that's why, uh, speeding is about a third of the fatalities out there.

Drunk driving and speeding basically are virtually all the fatalities and car accidents.

So, uh, drunk driving, we're doing as much as we can, you know, pretty sophisticated in terms of drunk driving.

The police are there, uh, and, uh, you know, they catch you enough police officers out there.

So, you got a good chance of being snagged.

Now, speeding, uh, you know, the cops don't even pay attention.

Unless you're going 100 miles an hour down the freeway or 80 miles an hour on the streets.

So, LA is installing 125 speed cameras.

And you'll be fine.

And, uh, this is easy.

You go on that stretch.

You don't wait for a cop.

The city doesn't have to wait for a police officer.

There goes, uh, the camera.

And that's what happens with, uh, red light cameras.

You can't say no to those.

So, by the end of the summer, 125 will be installed, which isn't a lot, but specifically on roads, uh, in school zones, street racing roads.

Um, speeding is resulted in a high rate of traffic accident, uh, certainly in the speed racing areas.

And so we're the latest city, or you are the latest city if you live in Los Angeles.

Uh, and this is going to happen between April and July.

And drivers who are photographed going 11 miles an hour or more than the posted seam limit speed limit.

We'll have a 60 day grace period before they're fine.

Who goes 35 and a 35 mile mile an hour road?

Unless it's jammed.

Oh, come on, Amy.

I mostly do on city streets.

I've, I really stick to the, to the speed limit on the streets.

Not so much on the freeway.

Really?

Okay.

You actually, I, you're one of the very few people I know that follow the speed limit.

I'll bet you you don't even pee in the shower.

You're correct, sir.

See, there you go.

Or pee in a swimming pool.

I mean, there are people that don't do that.

Remind me to never have you come over.

It's a fun line.

You don't pee in my swimming pool.

I don't pee in.

I don't swim in your toilet.

It's a great line, by the way.

Uh, so, uh, after the 68 grace period, uh, people get fined.

And it's the five year pilot program.

And it was authorized by a bill that was signed in 2023.

And traffic fatalities in LA drop from 2024 to 2025.

But still are very high.

Why speed accounts for about a third of the traffic accidents.

And roadway speed cameras.

I gave you, uh, that stat have been proved in other cities to reduce speeding.

Anywhere from 31 to 82% fatal crashes.

Uh, reduced by 53% up to 71%.

So we're putting in 125 speed cameras.

San Francisco has 26,000.

Uh, and next year they'll have 122,000.

Uh, then you have other cities that are really going balls to the wall.

Uh, Oakland is installing 18.

Uh, Long Beach is installing 18.

Glendale is going to add nine.

Uh, San Jose will add 33.

Oh, that's going to help, isn't it?

So the trick is, uh, you don't want to speed anywhere near San Francisco.

So how much is the fine depends how fast you're going.

If you're driving 11 to 15 miles per hour over the speed limit, it's 50 bucks.

If you're driving, uh, 16 to 25 miles per hour over the speed limit, it's $100.

And if you're driving 26 miles per hour over the speed limit, it's $200.

And I'm trying to think it was for 35 mile an hour, 11 miles an hour.

Yeah, I drive 46 miles an hour constantly.

If there's room, uh, I'll drive that fast.

I mean, uh, what's, uh, 26 plus 35?

What is that number?

Uh, it's 50 something.

I'm very bad at math.

In any case, that one, uh, I don't drive that quickly.

And then, uh, there's, um, uh, if you drive 100 miles an hour over the speed limit, it's $500.

Uh, that's a tough one.

100 miles an hour over the speed limit.

Yeah, that, not too many people are going to get tagged on this one unless you have a formula one racing car.

All right.

Now, here is, uh, this tries me crazy.

There's a story.

Uh, well, it's a good story about what's happening on Wednesday, uh, Artemis II,

which is going around the moon.

Oh, and Rod Piles going to be there.

He'll be with us tomorrow or space guy.

And this is the first crude mission to go around the moon since 1972.

That's a big deal.

Uh, it's going to be piloted, uh, by a Southern California native native Victor Glover.

Uh, and he's the first black man to go around or to the moon.

Big deal that he is black.

Have we not reached the point where it doesn't really matter.

It's like the first woman, uh, to be run for president.

Uh, you know, the reason that, uh, Hillary Clinton, uh, she was terrible not because she was a woman.

I hate that.

Now, the first, I mean, that makes sense.

Uh, there are certain things that you celebrate the first, uh, for the first dwarf, uh, who wins a gold medal in the Olympic high jump.

Okay, that is something that I would do a story on.

Kono is standing right there, bro.

Okay.

Uh, and, you know, it's, it's, it's no accomplishment to be black.

The accomplishment here is his accomplishment.

What it takes to be an astronaut.

That is a real accomplishment.

Uh, not the fact that you happen to be Hispanic, uh, or black or whatever.

I mean, that's, I hope we've reached the point where it doesn't matter, but we haven't.

It's the first, the first woman to do this, the first woman to do that, the first Hispanic to do this.

Stop it already.

It is, uh, you know, it's like, I don't understand celebrating birthdays, for example.

Uh, boy, there's an accomplishment.

You were born.

Thank you.

Good for you.

Now, uh, you know, if you're, you know, graduating, uh, with a PhD top of your class.

Okay.

That's an accomplishment, no matter what color you are.

I mean, there are things to celebrate.

I don't mind celebrating, for example, uh, anniversaries wedding anniversaries.

Uh, because we should always recognize that was the most, uh, that was the biggest mistake you've ever made in your life.

I get that.

I celebrate that every year.

Oh, God, what a day.

Not so much.

So who is this guy, Victor Glover?

Well, he went to Ontario high and was a Navy test pilot.

Man, let me tell you what it takes to be a Navy test pilot.

That's no small deal.

And he's going to be on the mission, uh, a lunar fly by.

It's not going to land on the moon.

It's going to go around the moon.

By the way, the last time that American went anywhere near the moon was 1972.

And the moon program, the Apollo program was disbanded.

And we haven't been on the moon since then.

And there's been no other country that has put anybody on the moon.

Except Japanese are out.

I mean, the Chinese are probably going to get there for sure.

Okay.

So Glover, this achievement being the first.

And he says it's complicated feelings because media interviews are crazy when life have an astronaut.

I mean, they're, that's part and parcel of what you're about.

And they always talk about being the first.

The first black person, the first black man to in this case, uh, go to the moon.

He was also the first, uh, black astronaut to be on the ISS, you know, the International Space Station.

Great story about, um, Barack Obama, uh, who was our first black president.

And even that I wasn't impressed with was I impressed with Barack Obama.

Hell, yes.

I mean, this was one of the brightest people I've ever seen in politics, an unbelievable communicator.

Uh, and, uh, I, you know, clearly this guy had the credentials to be president.

The fact that he was black, uh, that matters.

And they made a big deal about it.

And when he was asked, uh, three, uh, about a month, two months, uh, into his presidency.

I remember the reporter, uh, asking, uh, did you feel, did you understand that you were the first black man to be president of the United States?

Did you feel the import of that?

Did you feel the history of that?

And he said, yes, for about 10 minutes.

And then I had to go to work.

And it didn't matter anymore.

So here you go with, uh, Glover, uh, and his accomplishments.

Uh, he was born in Pomona.

So he is a Southern California boy.

He was in a drought, adrenaline junkie dreamed of being everything from a stunt man to a race car driver.

His parents, a cop and a bookkeeper encouraged him.

He still looked up to his grandfather who was in the Air Force during the Korean War and was told he couldn't fly because he was black.

See, that's historically important.

That because someone is black, could not do what white people do.

That is a story.

And changing it all is a story.

So he went to Ontario High.

Uh, he went to Cal Poly, uh, San Luis Obispo.

Uh, he was a football player, uh, became known as a, uh, nationally known wrestler.

He got a bachelor's degree in engineering.

He enlisted in the Navy in 1998, 15 years in the military, 3,500 flying hours and more than 40 aircraft.

A few masters degrees along the way, 24 combat missions.

That's an accomplishment.

Those are accomplishments.

You know, if you look at the early astronauts, you know, all of them had like PhDs.

Uh, in celestial navigation.

I mean, these guys were all brilliant and Glover is right in there.

I mean, he's got the creds.

What is wasn't Buzz Aldrin the only one with a PhD in the pillow?

No, I think, uh, I think a couple of them.

I think Neil Armstrong had a PhD too.

But if nothing else, they had masters degrees at least they had graduate degrees and engineering degrees.

I mean, they were very, very accomplished people as is Glover.

That's his accomplishment, making it as an astronaut, which is astronomical odds, so to speak.

Astronomical odds that you're not going to make it.

Any dwarf stories coming up, Amy, because I'm really interested in, uh, high jumps and, you know, the Olympics.

No, she's shaking her head.

All right, well, go figure.

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Downturn in Las Vegas | Traffic Cameras Coming to Los Angeles

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