June 1 - Crazy Horse Too owner Rick Rizzolo pleads guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States. His corporation, The Power Company, pleads guilty to conspiracy to participate in an enterprise engaged in racketeering activity.

Sept. 6 - Las Vegas City Council permanently revokes the liquor license of the CH2, and fines Rizzolo $2.2 million dollars.

Sept. 6 - Citizen activist Peter "Chris" Christoff begins scouting for a location to open the Little Church of Las Vegas.

Sept. 8 - District Judge Mark Denton denies request for temporary restraining order against the City.

Sept. 12 - District Court denies request for temporary injunction and upholds license revocation, but lowers fine to $1 million.

Sept. 12 - Crazy Horse attorney Tony Sgro files petition with City Attorney requesting reconsideration of license revocation.

Sept. 14 - Mayor and Council refuse to reconsider license revocation action.

Sept. 27 - Little Church of Las Vegas files as non-profit religious organization with Secretary of State.

Sept. 27 - Little Church of Las Vegas publicly announces its' formation.

Sept. 28, 2006 - 4 PM - City posts council agenda. First official notice given of Michael Signorelli having applied for temporary liquor license to re-open Crazy Horse Too.

 "Give me that good old time religion!" That's what Deacon Peter "Chris" Christoff told KTNV TV Channel 13 News when they covered the announcement of his new 1,200 sq. ft. church.

Christoff, a well known community activist since 1987, has steadfastly represented the most downtrodden neighborhood in Las Vegas commonly known as the "Naked City." In his years, he's been instrumental in helping to establish a park and community center, but his ultimate dream was delayed until the City Council's recent action. Then, after what Christoff called "a magnet for crime" was finally shut down, he claims that Divine Inspiration caused him to finalize his dream by helping his friend and Ordained Minister, Rev. William Ahern, open the first church in the area.

Since I first met Mr. Christoff during my years at City Hall, he's been like a broken record repeatedly saying he wants to upgrade quality of life in the mostly Hispanic low income enclave that sits in the shadow of the Stratosphere Tower; a neighborhood that until recently was cursed with the most trouble plagued business ever allowed to operate in Sin City - the infamous Crazy Horse Too topless bar.

"Mysteriously, this old thorn in Rick Rizzolo's side, this crony of Steve Miller, decided to open up the church?" "They're using the law meant to protect the citizens of Las Vegas to their own advantage with bad intent. I don't think it's allowed. This is clearly a pretense, a sham." - Attorney Steve Caruso, LV Review-Journal, 9/30/06

(I'm always amazed when I'm blamed without basis for something I didn't do.)

"I'm worried about this. If you could close down an establishment like this, this would be a gross misuse of the law. It would hurt trade -- it would hurt everything that capitalism stands for." - Attorney Steve Caruso, KTNV TV News, 9/29/09

Like beating up customers if they refuse to sign inflated credit card tabs? That's not capitalism, Mr. Caruso.

But Caruso wasn't finished complaining.

"People need to be able to open up a business and make money." "The Crazy Horse Too is a landmark. It's a Las Vegas tradition. People come here and that's part of the Las Vegas -- um -- experience. " - Attorney Steve Caruso, KTNV TV News, 9/29/09

What "um -- experience?"

The experience of coming here to be robbed, or have their neck broken?

Wake up Mr. Caruso. What about Scott David Fau who was beaten to death in 1995 by Crazy Horse bouncers? And of course, the beating of Kirk Henry whose attorneys Don Campbell and Stan Hunterton made the following statement in court documents:

"For years, the management and 'security' staff of the Crazy Horse has been infested by a rogues' gallery of thugs, thieves, drug pushers, and corrupt ex-cops." "Most, if not all, have well documented ties to organized crime figures who frequent the premises. All of this has nurtured a culture of violence marked by robberies, beatings and even death."

(Both Campbell and Hunterton now hypocritically argue that the CH2 should reopen to make it saleable to other questionable interests so they can collect their legal fees for representing Henry. Neither attorney has mentioned going after Rizzolo's personal assets.)

"People want to come here and they want to sit and they want to have a drink in the Crazy Horse." - Attorney Steve Caruso, KTNV TV News, 9/29/09

Yeah, Mr. Caruso, but while they sit to have a drink, they certainly don't want some steroid-pumped bouncer threatening their life if they let the bartender swipe their credit card -- load it to its' max -- then protest the bogus charges!

That's exactly what 16 Crazy Horse Too employees pleaded guilty to doing. They pleaded guilty to beating up 35 to 40 customers in a five year period -- and that's only the tip of the iceberg. How many others were too embarrassed to file police reports after being robbed or beaten? Many married men go to such places, and don't want their wives to know. Maybe that's why the CH2 used the d.b.a. "The Power Company" on its' credit card receipts?

And your client wants to re-open this public nuisance?

Yes, it was recently referred to as a "public nuisance" by the City Attorney, and "threat to the community" by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Anyway, the joint is padlocked, the violence ended, and nobody around here expects the City Council on Wednesday Oct. 4 to grant Mr. Caruso's client(s) a temporary liquor license to re-open the place.

In the meantime, Deacon Christoff and Reverend Ahern are preparing for their first Sunday services on Oct. 15, followed by Sunday School, and nightly Bible studies -- something the residents of Naked City have never had within walking distance.

I first met Christoff in the late 80's when he demanded that school buses safely transport Meadows Village children to an elementary school that was across Main Street and the Strip. He was terrified that children could get killed crossing the wide boulevards twice a day, or be molested walking the dangerous streets in the neighborhood where he owned a small apartment house.

Even though the school was within the two mile radius that exempted school bus service, he would not take no for an answer. I joined his cause, and the Clark County School District made an exception and yellow school busses began chris crossing Meadows Village providing safe transport to the children Christoff loves.

He has no family of his own, and with only a sixth grade education, Christoff after two tours in the Marines made a fortune in the restaurant and real estate business. Though he speaks no Spanish, he's become a hero of sorts to his Meadows Village flock.

Now, one of his biggest dreams is about to become a reality. The Little Church of Las Vegas will open next week.

Mr. Caruso called the church a "sham" in Saturday's Review-Journal, but Christoff was unfazed. That same day, I found him shopping for chairs and tables for his church, and tearing up and replacing the old carpet. When I ask him about Caruso's remark, Christoff said he understands the lawyer is just doing his job.

In the meantime, two local Latino ministers were circulating Spanish language fliers telling of the new church, and letting parents know of their soon-to-be Sunday School and Bible classes.

Though the Little Church legally guarantees the end of the Crazy Horse Too blood bath, that was not Christoff's initial intention. Since its closure, he's never anticipated it could re-open!

I was with him on Sept. 6 when the City Council permanently revoked the CH2's liquor license, and celebrated with him and Buffalo Jim Barrier by having our photo taken giving high five's and victory signs in front of the closed down building.

It's understandable why Mr. Caruso and his client(s) would be enraged. They didn't see Christoff and his ministers coming. Nor did Christoff expect to be the center of one of the biggest controversies of the year.

"I just want to be left alone so I can work with the families and kids who, up until now, have had no church to call their own. " "Now they can safely walk to the church without fear of being run over by a drunk or drugged Crazy Horse patron, or having to walk by passed out people."