Meeting of the Minds

To my fellow social activists, homeless advocates, Christian and non-Christian friends, non-violent anarchist friends, food not bombers, and all who are interested in fighting the good fight:

I would like to call for a gathering of minds to address the multiple issues of homelessness. I realize that homeless advocates have been doing this for years. But due to the recent attacks on the homeless and homeless advocates in Las Vegas by the City of Las Vegas, I feel it is important to address the recent aggressive, unjust exercise of power.

I am disappointed that this is needed as it is a distraction from my work with the homeless. However, Mayor Goodman's recent comments and directives to Las Vegas police to forcibly take homeless persons to treatment centers affects us all.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jun-22-Thu-2006/news/8102842.html


The two best days for a meeting for me would be Wednesday and Saturday. But I am willing to change my schedule to a different day if it is best for the majority of others.

I am open to all suggestions: time, date, place, and agenda.

Please e-mail me with your thoughts.

mom_in_las_vegas.yahoo.com


City officials' comments and proposals:

He [Goodman] said his proposal to force homeless to get services is meant to help them. "I want to take them by the hand and lead them to salvation."

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jun-13-Tue-2006/news/7928453.html

Earlier, Goodman refused to back down from his idea of forcing the homeless to get help.

"We have to help people who don't want to help themselves," he said. "If they don't (accept help), I'll take them and put them into the state house."

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jun-03-Sat-2006/news/7758533.html

Meanwhile, City Attorney Brad Jerbic said he plans to propose a new ordinance to the City Council on June 21 that would "prohibit mobile soup kitchens in our parks."

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2006/jun/11/566678359.html


...force a homeless person to get services.

...banning "mobile soup kitchens" in parks.

...throw the book at those violating the law at Huntridge Circle Park.

...take the next person they find who is mentally ill and refuses services to WestCare.

Details of the city's proposals were not clear Wednesday night.

The council unanimously passed the resolution.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jun-22-Thu-2006/news/8102842.html

City Watering Circle Park

Time of day watering restrictions

http://www.snwa.com/html/news_watering.html

Summer watering restrictions prohibit sprinkler irrigation between the hours of 11am and 7pm from May 1 through Sept. 30. Drip irrigation may occur at any time.


Circle Park, June 12, 2006 12:15 pm



During the hottest hours of the day, water is often lost to evaporation from the heat and high winds. Watering during restricted hours is considered water waste and may result in a water waste citation.






Circle Park, June 12, 2006 12:15 pm

















Water Waste

http://www.snwa.com/html/drought_waste.html

City and county ordinances as well as your water provider's Service Rules prohibit water waste.

How the SNWA handles water waste reports

http://www.snwa.com/html/drought_waste.html

When someone reports water waste to SNWA, we forward the complaint to the member agency that serves as the water provider for the property that is reported.

A representative from the appropriate water agency contacts the property owner to inform the customer of the water waste problem. The customer is given time to correct the problem. If the water waste continues, the water provider may issue a citation that requires a mandatory court appearance, or the provider may charge a water waste fee on the customer's water bill.

Member Agencies

http://www.snwa.com/html/about_index.html

SNWA is governed by a seven-member agency comprised of representatives from each of its member organizations. These member agencies are:

Big Bend Water District
Boulder City
Clark County Water Reclamation District
Henderson
Las Vegas ( http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/index.htm )
Las Vegas Valley Water District North Las Vegas

Southern Nevada Water Authority

http://www.snwa.com/html/drought_watering_summer.html

Letter: Government should be ashamed of itself, Las Vegas Sun

Letter: Government should be ashamed of itself

The Las Vegas City Council, Mayor Oscar Goodman and the city attorney have completed their heartless actions against the homeless by denying them the basics of life, food and shelter.

If only they had kept their word in September 2001 when at the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition / U.S. Housing and Urban Development summit, they announced a regional effort to address chronic homelessness.

It didn't take too long before regional cooperation gave way to punitive action, by Mayor Goodman and the Las Vegas City Council. Police sweeps, selective enforcement of laws against the homeless, attacks against service providers and now the ultimate denial of food by those the mayor calls enablers.

Where is the outcry from those in the religious community, who are not fulfilling the basic tenet of all religions: care for the weakest among us. Where is the outrage from the veterans organizations in behalf of homeless veterans? Where is the outrage from the average citizen for all of the homeless? Do Americans only respond with generosity, compassion and charity when foreigners are in need?

If only instead of punitive actions five years ago, services had been given money, lives would have been saved.

All regional governments share in the shame and disgrace of homelessness in the richest valley in the country.

Frank Perna, Las Vegas

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/debate/2006/jun/18/566691417.html

Gary Reese says Crime Rate is UP

Last Monday we had a press conference announcing the federal lawsuit against the City of Las Vegas. The media showed up and a couple of news stations aired the event. I only watched the early news and didn't really pay too much attention to it.

However, IF I caught the news right, Mayor Pro Tem Gary Reese stated that crime was UP in the neighborhood near Huntridge Circle Park. He also stated something to the effect that after the homeless ate they "went" into the neighborhood. I can't remember the exact word that he used. Drifted? And unfortunately, the video of the news is no longer available on the internet. But I'm curious. How does one get from Circle Park to Circle K without walking through the neighborhood of Circle Park?

Edited: June 25, 2006 The exact word that Reese used was = "dwindled". This is the word I thought he used. But I just didn't think that he would actually use it!

KLAS TV article and video can be seen here:

http://www.klastv.com/Global/story.asp?s=5021064


But, to the point. Coincidently (?) I have been printing out the statistics of the crime in the Circle Park area since November 2005. The statistics come from the Las Vegas Metro Police Department Crime View Community website. The website DOES have a disclaimer which states that this information that they are making available to the public could be inaccurate. Hmmmm. And, you can only do a search for a period of one to 60 days.

What Reese stated and the statistics that I have printed out do not coincide. According to the printouts, crime has NOT gone up in the area of Circle Park. And even if it did go up, filling someone's belly with food does not psych them up to go out and commit crimes. When YOU are finished eating dinner, are you stimulated to go out and steal a car or break into someone's home? In reality, most homeless take a nap after they have satisfied their hunger. Why? Because it's safer to sleep during the day than it is to sleep during the night.

Continuing... after hearing Reese's comments about the crime rate going up, my son called Metro to ask if he could receive the statistics for crime in that area for the past year. (We live in Ward 3 and near Circle Park.) The woman said, yes, she would get that information for him. When my son spoke with her again, she qualified that the charge for the search would be $52.00 per hour.

My son asked, if this is public information could he come and do the research himself. No, you cannot.

So, we have public information that is only available to the public if you pay $52.00 per hour for a city employee to do the search. We have printouts from the Las Vegas Metro Police Department website that may be inaccurate. And we have a politician telling us something that cannot be verified without paying an outrageous fee.

Interesting. Interesting indeed.

One last point. The highest incidents in the area of Circle Park are "Other" Disturbances, Traffic Accidents and Family Disturbances.

Assault and Battery, Burglary, Fight, Narcotics, and Stolen Motor Vehicle incidents are extremely low compared to other areas of town. And, they are NOT up according to the printouts.

Recap of lawsuit:

On Monday, June 12, 2006 homeless advocates and the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada held a press conference at Huntridge Circle Park. The press conference was held to announce the federal lawsuit against the City of Las Vegas.

The lawsuit is an attempt to protect EVERYONE'S constitutional rights. This IS what the ACLU does.

The lawsuit will challenge:

1. the requirement for a permit of 25 or more people

2. the practice of marshals "86ing" people from parks without due process of law

3. the city's practice of designating public spaces as "children's parks," where only those with children can enter

"...City ordinances deprive homeless of several rights, ACLU lawsuit alleges

[The lawsuit will challenge] the constitutionality of ordinances they said target people living on the street.

...The federal lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, alleges that city ordinances and practices violate rights including freedom of speech and free exercise of religion.

The homeless are also denied equal protection and due process, the lawsuit said."

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jun-13-Tue-2006/news/7928453.html

Editorial and Letter of Support

Mom's Comment: I want to thank everyone who has supported us in our efforts to do the right thing.

I have received many phone calls and e-mails of encouragement. I deeply appreciate your support.

Las Vegas Sun

Editorial: How mean can we get?

Citing someone for feeding the homeless in parks would be an act of pure discrimination

...The city should be spending its time providing services to the homeless, rather than trying to make criminals out of those trying to fill the void.


http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/editorials/2006/jun/13/566657300.html

Letter: Let's help, not hinder, homeless advocate

...Why not embrace a citizen's willingness to help...

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/debate/2006/jun/14/566618664.html

Parks and plight of the homeless plight, Las Vegas Sun

Parks and plight of the homeless plight
By Dan Kulin, Las Vegas Sun

Las Vegas is looking to add legal ammunition to its efforts to shoo the homeless from local parks with a new law that would make it illegal to feed the homeless in any city park.

But representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, who have opposed the city's past efforts on this front, said they also will battle the proposed law, expected to go to the council later this month.

"They are seeking to exclude people who don't fit their definition of community members," Lee Rowland, a local ACLU public advocate, said. "It's a sad day when good Samaritans' efforts like feeding the homeless become the target of criminal charges."

Dan Kulin can be reached at 259-8826 or at dan@lasvegassun.com

To read the full article:

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2006/jun/11/566678359.html?homeless

Activists take Las Vegas to court

Mom's Comments: We have 600-700 beds for the homeless in Las Vegas with an estimated 13,000 homeless which includes approximately 3500 children.

No matter what Goodman and Reese have to say about there being resources out there for the homeless, they are kidding NO one!

Las Vegas does NOT have adequate social services.

Activists take Las Vegas to court

City ordinances deprive homeless of several rights,
ACLU lawsuit alleges

By DAVID McGRATH SCHWARTZ, REVIEW-JOURNAL

..."This is not a proper location for a soup kitchen," said Mayor Pro Tem Gary Reese, who represents the area. "There are more than one group of people's rights here."

He said that shelters and other services are available around the city.

"I've worked hard to make money available for homeless issues," he said. "I feel the lawsuit is a slap in the face of the city after all we've tried to do. Services are available; people need to take advantage of that."

...Mayor Oscar Goodman, who has come under fire recently for wanting to force mentally ill homeless to get treatment, said, "There are adequate services."

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jun-13-Tue-2006/news/7928453.html

Mastectomy Bill in Congress, PLEASE!! Sign the petition

Mastectomy Bill in Congress

PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below.

You need not give more than your name and zip code number.

Mastectomy Hospital Bill in Congress

If you know anyone who has had a mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.

It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important...please take the time and do it really quick!

Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill - Important legislation for all women.

Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times. If you're receiving this, it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to go to vote on this issue and send it on to others you know who will do the same.

There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the "drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.

Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on.

PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below.

You need not give more than your name and zip code number.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/health/breast_mastectomy_pledge.html

This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends and family, and on behalf of all women, THANKS.

Official Press Release: ACLU to take Homeless Advocacy case to Federal Court

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2006

CONTACT: Gail Sacco
702-355-2764

Official Press Release: ACLU to take Homeless Advocacy
case to Federal Court


LAS VEGAS, NV - The American Civil Liberties Union [and several plaintiff groups have] scheduled a press conference for Monday, June 12, 2006 at 11 AM to be held at Huntridge Circle Park, 1251 S. Maryland Parkway between E. Charleston and
E. Saint Louis.

On February 19, 2006 local homeless rights advocates Gail Sacco and Lyla Bartholomae were given citations for feeding the homeless (a gathering over 25 people) without a permit. The women were sharing food at Huntridge Circle Park where there have been daily picnics since August 2005. They were also told by park marshals they were "86'd" from the park for 6 months- and they would be arrested on sight if they returned.

Representatives from the ACLU will announce and explain the upcoming lawsuit challenging the Las Vegas ordinance in federal court.

The plaintiffs include Gail Sacco, Lyla Bartholomae, Food Not Bombs, Joe Sacco, John Brown, Southern NV Advocates for Homeless People (SNAHP) and the Catholic Worker. Several plaintiffs will speak which will be followed by questions from reporters.

No interviews will be held before the press conference.

For more information, please call Gary Peck at 702-262-5613
or Gail Sacco at 702-355-2764.



###

Close Torture School, SOA

Subject: Call Congress TODAY:
Debate Iraq Policy, Close Torture School

============================================
ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE

http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545

To subscribe, visit

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/email
============================================

Please forward widely!

United for Peace and Justice urges you to call your Congressional
Representative TODAY about two pressing items:

1) As we explained in a message on Monday, momentum is growing to force a full, open debate in the House of Representatives about U.S. policy toward Iraq through a measure called a "discharge petition." Click here for background:

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3287.

We only need 96 more members of Congress to sign this petition. We hope you will join today's National Call-In day to urge your representative to sign on if he/she has not already done so.

2) Sometime in the next two days, Congress will vote on an amendment to close the notorious School of the Americas/ WHINSEC. The School of the Americas (SOA), in 2001 renamed the “Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation,” is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers, located at Fort Benning, Georgia, and funded by our tax dollars.

*******************************************************************************

Call the Capitol Hill Switchboard TODAY at 202-224-3121 or toll-free at 888-355-3588.

Ask to speak with your Representative's foreign affairs legislative assistant and urge your Representative to:

* Sign on to the "discharge" petition calling for an open Congressional debate on Iraq, if he/she hasn't already done so

http://www.openiraqdebate.com/inner/roll-call.html;

* Cast a YES vote on the amendment to close the School of the Americas/WHINSEC.

You can also send an email and free fax about the School of the Americas by clicking here.

*******************************************************************************

Over the last 60 years, the SOA has trained over 60,000 soldiers from many Latin American nations in torture, psychological warfare and war against civilian populations. This school has graduated the worst human rights abusers in Latin American history, and many of the shocking tactics used at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay were pioneered at the SOA to be used on civilians and those working for justice in Latin America.

Any day now, Rep. McGovern (MA) will introduce an amendment to the Foreign Operations appropriations bill to cut funding for the SOA/WHINSEC and stand up against the legacy of torture as a part of U.S. foreign policy.

UFPJ member group SOA Watch has been working for years to close the School of the Americas and says this moment is critical. They expect a close vote and need as many people as possible flooding the offices of the House of Representatives with calls,
e-mails and faxes in support of a YES vote on the amendment everyday through June 8th.

For background on the issue and a suggested message, visit SOA Watch's website:

http://www.soaw.org/legislative.

============================================

Help us continue to do this critical work: Make a donation to UFPJ today -- http://www.unitedforpeace.org/donate

ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545

To subscribe, visit http://www.unitedforpeace.org/email