Fabulous Las Vegas?
Not!
Today I was involved in a shocking and disturbing incident at the Golden Nugget Hotel here in Las Vegas, which has shaken me considerably!
After having a coffee and doughnut on Fremont Street, I stepped into the Golden Nugget to play a few of the slot machines. I selected a one-arm bandit, and began to place bets, as usual. A cocktail waitress sauntered by at one point, offered me a beverage, and wished me good luck with my game.
In a short while, I got up and picked another machine, to try my luck there. In fact, I probably bet on a handful of machines over the course of a half-an-hour.
Suddenly, as I was pondering whether to exit and go uptown - and perhaps take in a show - a woman in a dark suit who identified herself as "security" - blocked my path and demanded to see my identification!
I was in total shock! Had I done something wrong? Was there a case of mistaken identity or something? My thoughts started running wild, I suddenly felt dizzy, and nauseous, and out-of-breath.
When I gathered my emotions, and my head stopped reeling, I asked her, "Why?"
She claimed she observed me walking about the Hotel Casino without betting, scanning the machines, and accused me of looking suspicious!
Well, that was a total lie. In my hand, I was holding a voucher which verified I was betting for at least the last half hour (both time stamped & dated); in addition, the cocktail waitress could also verify the security guard's statements were a total falsehood.
When I noted this, she bristled, then retorted in a nasty, demeaning tone of voice, "Well, I have a right to ask for your ID."
But, the grounds on which she based her decision, had no merit whatsoever!
I felt insulted at this point.
Because there were no sufficient grounds for harassing me, and I was a patron of the Casino for the past few days, it was evident to me that the woman had not only acted out-of-line, but was discriminating against me for some inexplicable reason - and in the process - was seriously violating my rights, as well.
I asked to see her supervisor, who appeared behind me moments later.
When I started to complain, he smiled like a Cheshire cat, and tried to wave me off.
"We can ask to see anyone's ID," he replied smugly.
I pointed out, however, that she based her actions on the grounds that I was wandering about the lobby, that I was not patronizing the Hotel, and appeared to be some kind of bum or street person, with no right to be in their Casino!
Which was totally untrue.
When it was evident he was trying to protect her, and shoo me off, I asked to see the Manager.
He responded quite adamantly, "You're speaking to him."
"You're the Manager of the Hotel," I queried further.
He hesitated, stammered a bit, then blurted out, "No, I'm not".
In response, I said, "I demand to see the manager right away so I can lodge a formal complaint."
And, I proceeded to explain why.
"I am thoroughly insulted by the woman's inappropriate actions, which unnecessarily humiliated me, in front of all the patrons in this section of the Casino."
He trotted off to find the Casino Manager with me in tow. After a guard managed to secure his whereabouts by walkie-talkie, he appeared about fifteen minutes later.
At first, Mr. Realmuto tried to use the same excuse - that the woman was correct in her position - because the Hotel had the right to ask anyone on the premises for ID at any given time at their discretion.
However, when I pointed out that the grounds on which the woman stated her reasons for making the request were totally without merit - and that she had slandered me in front of other hotel guests in the vicinity of the incident in the process - he recanted.
At this juncture, he agreed to have a word with her supervisor, and try to resolve the issue. In addition, he assured me that she would apologize for her outrageous conduct which caused me undue mental and emotional distress in front of a roomful of strangers.
After about fifteen minutes, Mr. Realmuto returned and informed me that he had spoken with her supervisor, that she would apologize - and that if she did not - he'd put her on suspension.
As he walked off, he noted that matter was now in the hands of her supervisor.
Meanwhile, out of the corner of my eye, I spied the man in question with another security guard about fifteen feet away, laughing at me, and making jokes about the incident. After the Casino Manager was out of sight, the supervisor walked over and informed me the woman refused to apologize - but added - that he would do so on her behalf.
I pointed out that Mr. Realmuto assured me that if she did not make amends herself, that she would be suspended. In response, he stared at me coldly for a moment, then panicked.
Our talks went downhill after that.
When I informed the man (who would not provide his name) that I wanted to file a formal complaint, he arranged for the Director of Security to bring a standard form down to fill out; however, when the gentleman arrived, he argued with the supervisor most strenuously against providing it. In fact, he was downright reticent about handing over the paperwork.
In retrospect, it would appear that he did not want any record of the incident, in spite of the fact there was a roomful of witnesses standing on the sidelines, watching the drama unfold with great intensity.
I noted my intention to file a complaint with the Executive Management of the Hotel and the owners.
At this juncture, I also noted that Mr. Realmuto let it slip that the security woman who harassed me, may have acted the way she did because I was dressed in the manner I was - in a plaid shirt and black jeans.
So, I asked the supervisor - point-blank - to state for the record if the Golden Nugget discriminated against patrons based on casual attire.
He replied with a stunned look, "...it depends on the circumstance."
Well now, is that not discrimination in its truest form?
It should be noted that I was wearing Calvin Klein designer clothes, which were clean and pressed, and relatively new. Are Mr. Klein's clothes not acceptable at the Golden Nugget Hotel?
It should be noted that I was also carrying a flap jacket, so I have to wonder if the woman thought I was in the Military; in that event, does the Golden Nugget discriminate against individuals they suspect to be members of the Armed Forces?
Are the young men who fight for this country, and put themselves at risk and in harm's ways - to ensure our basic rights and freedoms are secure - not welcome at the Golden Nugget either?
Obviously, something is clearly amiss at the Golden Nugget!
The actions of the security staff were wild and reckless, discriminatory in nature, and amounted to harassment. Throughout the shocking, disturbing incident, my rights were violated in the process.
So, I intend to lodge a formal complaint with the Hotel Executive Management, and the owners of the Golden Nugget.
In addition, I shall seek appropriate legal counsel to bring litigation forward - if necessary - to deter such outrageous, heinous, wrongful conduct in the future.
In the interim, I urge all tourists, and visitors to the Las Vegas resort area, to boycott the Golden Nugget - or at least - steer clear of patronage.
After all, this could happen to any one of you.
According to employees I spoke to after the incident, this is the kind of typical, disturbing conduct, that is ongoing at the Golden Nugget Hotel in Las Vegas.
I say, steer clear of this establshment like the plague.
Amen!
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