Though originally reported to cost only $2 million, airport officials are now saying renaming McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas after former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid will cost between $5 million to $7 million.
McCarran spokesman Chris Jones says the estimate is still preliminary as costs are still being calculated. Jones said the $2 million estimate was based off a smaller scale name change.
The Clark County Commission approved the measure to change the name Feb. 16, but the vote specified that the name change be paid for entirely with private donations.
Commissioner Michael Naft says the actual process of changing the name won't start until it is fully funded with donations.
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ORIGINAL STORY: A county board voted unanimously to rename busy McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas after former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada.
The all-Democratic Clark County Commission approved a measure Tuesday directing the county’s airport staff to file a change with the Federal Aviation Administration renaming the facility Harry Reid International Airport.
The airport's current namesake is former Nevada Sen. Patrick McCarran, who was known for his contributions to aviation along with his anti-immigrant and anti-Semitic views.
Reid, a Democrat and former Senate majority leader, retired from the Senate in 2016 after serving 30 years.
Reid released a statement on the vote, saying he is humbled and appreciative. "It is with humility that I express my appreciation for the recognition today. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Commissioner Segerblom, the entire Clark County Commission, and the many others who have played a part in this renaming."
The county commission oversees the airport and is the final authority on a name change.
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The Las Vegas Sun reports the name change is estimated to cost about $2 million in rebranding.
University of Nevada, Las Vegas President Keith Whitfield and University of Nevada, Reno President Brian Sandoval previously issued a joint letter in support of changing the name to Harry Reid International Airport, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The airport’s code would remain LAS.
“We are committed to equity and inclusion, and we stand together against the late Pat McCarran’s legacy of racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia,” the letter read.
The university presidents’ support follows similar letters made public last week from Democratic U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen and the Nevada State Democratic Party.
Commissioner Tick Segerblom expects the name change process to take some time to complete, “probably years.”
“It’s all going to be paid for by donated funds, so we’re going to have to raise the money,” he said, adding that some organizations and citizens are already ready to donate.
He added: “From my perspective if you put Harry Reid’s name on there it shows the world that we are a different Nevada.”
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak issued the following statement in support of renaming the airport in Las Vegas in honor of Senator Harry Reid.
“Senator Harry Reid has never forgotten who he is or where he came from. He has spent his life and his career lifting up Nevada to what it has become today. He has helped to shape Las Vegas into a world class tourism destination, in a state that celebrates its diversity. From taking on the mob to taking on the federal government to stop Yucca Mountain, Harry Reid has been a fearless champion for Nevada.
“His story of being born into a family with nothing in Searchlight, working his way through high school and college, to rising to one of the most powerful positions in Washington is the story of the American Dream. His is a story of a man worth honoring by renaming the airport in the city and state to which he has given so much.”
Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford issued the following statement:
“America’s reckoning with racial justice has brought more urgency to remove Pat McCarran’s racist, anti-immigrant and anti-Semitic legacy from Nevada’s famous landmarks. I fully support the renaming of McCarran Airport and Commissioner Segerblom’s proposal to name it after former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Throughout his entire career, Senator Reid has been a champion for Nevada’s Black community and fought to bring equal opportunity through policy. Senator Reid knew our education system, healthcare system and financial systems disproportionately worked against communities of color. He became our advocate to right the wrongs of the past through his legislative work.
Senator Reid supported civil rights legislation to end racial profiling and worked to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act. He championed the passage of the Small Business Jobs Act and the Nevada Minority Business Enterprise Center to help Nevada’s Black-owned businesses. One of his proudest accomplishments, the passage of the Affordable Care Act, made health care possible for Black Americans who have some of the highest uninsured rates in the nation.
I’m proud to support the renaming of our airport to honor Senator Reid. It’s time for Nevada to do our part in confronting our racist history, and to honor a man who has been a true champion for communities that McCarran himself resented.”
Representative Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District released the following statement:
“Las Vegas is a diverse community and our visitors should not be welcomed by someone with a legacy of racism, xenophobia, and anti-Semitism,” said Congresswoman Titus (NV-1). “I support the Clark County Commission’s proposal to rename McCarran International Airport in honor of former Senator Harry Reid. From blocking Yucca Mountain to protecting public lands, Senator Reid helped make Nevadans' voices heard loudly in Washington. Now let’s take McCarran’s statue out of the U.S. Capitol.”
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
