Tonight, in a gesture of defiance toward Coronavirus, a parade of vehicles will be held up the otherwise-deserted Las Vegas Strip. Led by mobile billboard Balanceville Art Car, “Light Up Las Vegas” will begin from McCarran Sunset Business Park, immediately south of the airport, and proceed single-file to Fremont Street. Organizers are offering copious media coverage, understandable since the event will be held (in a surreal touch) in the complete absence of spectators.
* Boyd Gaming has informed players that members of loyalty programs will “receive adjustments during our closure to assist you in keeping your Tier Levels, and your spendable points will not expire during our closures.” Promotional offers that *did* expire during that time will be replaced “in advance of our properties’ reopening.” That’s good news for customers. “In the meantime,” writes CEO Keith Smith, “please stay focused on the most important thing you can do—keeping yourself and your family safe and healthy.”
* Do you miss Vegas nightclubbing? Park MGM is stepping into the void with Instagram-streamed “The Wednesday Spin.” It will feature sets by a 
trio of DJs, “featuring three hours of nonstop beats by a rotation of The Strip’s best turntable talents, all representing Park MGM venues” and starting tonight at 7 p.m. Use the hashtag #VegasFromHome. “We are excited by this new take on Vegas nightlife and the opportunity to bring it into people’s homes,” said MGM Resorts International nightlife exec Bryan Bass. You will have to provide the bottle service yourself. But think of all the money you’ll save!
* Las Vegas is improvising a homeless encampment in an empty parking lot (which it happens to own), marking off six-foot spaces per indigent person. Why a parking lot? The local homeless shelter was closed after a positive Covid-19 test and venues like convention centers, theaters and sports arenas are being held in reserve for overflow hospital patients. (The shelter is scheduled to reopen Friday.) The city and Clark County are collaborating on a 350-unit tent city for homeless (of whom there are 5,500) who are either being quarantined or have contracted Coronavirus. Reports The Associated Press, “The facility will offer those who don’t need to be hospitalized a place be quarantined or isolated, with access to drinking water, restrooms, meals and other services.”
Not everyone is on board with the idea, especially after California hotels were ordered to open their doors to the homeless. Activist Alyssa Milano wrote, “In Las Vegas, homeless people are sleeping on concrete floor of a parking lot—six feet apart—while all the hotel rooms are empty.” Former presidential candidate Julian Castro has echoed the complaint. Responds Las Vegas Public Information Officer Jace Radke, “The marked squares are to help meet social distancing requirements. We’ll continue to provide this temporary respite, while practicing necessary social distancing, for anyone who is suffering from homelessness.” Is it the right approach? We open the floor to debate.
Jottings: Cheer up, Las Vegas. The NFL is making noises about bringing the 2022 draft to Sin City, a make-good for this year’s canceled event … 
Resorts World Las Vegas has reduced construction crews by a third after another worker has tested positive for Covid-19. Better start thinking about postponing the opening … again … Meanwhile, work on the MSG Sphere has been put on ice for a fortnight … Kudos to Penn National Gaming: It has set aside 40 rooms at Greektown Casino-Hotel for ailing first responders (or so we understand), free of charge … Osaka city officials have officially thrown in the towel on getting a casino megaresort open in time for the 2025 World Expo.
