
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Mayor Shelley Berkley is settling into her new role after decades of Goodman leadership in Las Vegas.
The former congresswoman now holds the title of mayor.
"I'm very cognizant of the fact that I've been mayor for only seven weeks," Berkley remarked during a discussion outside her new office.
One of Berkley's first major tasks as mayor, alongside the city council, was addressing the long-standing Badlands Golf Course litigation. In a meeting, the battle between the city and the developers over the land was for the most part settled, amounting to $286 million.
When asked how confident she felt about the settlement's stability, Berkley responded:
"I'm confident. This is a costly settlement. I wouldn't want to give the impression that this is wonderful. But it's necessary," Berkley said. "What the city did to the developer was against the law."
Berkley acknowledged that paying the settlement would require some 'belt tightening' at the city. Additionally, she said she is working on tackling homelessness and affordable housing issues.
"It's not only a humanitarian issue, it's an economic and business issue," Berkley said.
Addressing these challenges involves far more than simply providing housing she explained.
Her priorities also include resolving the future of the Animal Foundation and improving the city’s transportation system.
Although she’s only seven weeks into her term, Berkley has at least three years left.