Las Vegas business owner stages one-man protest against F1

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A Las Vegas local business owner stages a one-man protest outside Formula One’s American headquarters to speak out against the race’s impact on a group of small businesses and numerous hospitality workers, as the Las Vegas Grand Prix promises significantly less disruptions this year.

FOX5 has told you about Wade Bohn, the owner of Jay’s Market, and the effort by a group of small businesses to get compensation for layoffs, their workers and millions of dollars in profit losses they say are caused by traffic disruptions. The group is pursuing litigation against the race, Clark County and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

“To destroy all these businesses in an hour and a half race once a year. does not make sense,” Bohn said. “I thought, why not take it to their front doorstep?” he said. One of his signs listed the names of the group of impacted businesses at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Koval Lane as well as resort workers and rideshare drivers. “There’s so many out there that are affected: the Uber drivers, culinary workers. I hope people see this and go, You know what? He’s fighting. Why don’t we all fight?” he said.

Last Wednesday, Las Vegas Grand Prix Chief Executive Officer, Renee Wilm, acknowledged disruptions and promised a significantly different experience for locals in year two.

“We are not doing what we did last year. It was a 9-month long beatdown, and for that we will be eternally grateful to the resident of Las Vegas for tolerating us,” she said. “This year, significantly less construction. We will start installing barriers and lighting fixtures. It will be done on a rolling basis, but it won’t be until much late this year, really until sometime in September/October,” Wilm said.

“Year one was tough in so many ways, and we want to create an incredible race and incredible fan experience, but also be a better member of this community,” she said. “Good communication. Good community engagement. And we’re really excited about what we have coming forward this year,” Wilm said.

Wilm said she is proud of the economic impact on the Las Vegas Valley, which was estimated to be $1.2 billion. The LVCVA reported tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue generated, and other public officials reported significant gains in international tourism.

What would help Bohn make amends with F1? He said the Flamingo Bridge should not come back at all. F1 has told FOX5 that the bridge would return.

F1 did not respond to our requests for comment regarding Bohn’s protest.

Clark County set a deadline of May 1 to submit an expedited traffic plan.

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