Thursday, February 23, 2006

Access denied

Access denied

Getting a rental-assistance voucher from the county is surprisingly easy. Finding a landlord who will take it is a whole different story




Advocate Gail Sacco, shown here feeding the homeless at Circle Park, wonders if the county's rental-assistance program is really working.


Photo Credit: Bill Hughes, Photo Editor

BY MATT O'BRIEN

Imagine -- if you can -- being homeless. You've been on the streets for weeks, months, maybe years. Shelter space is limited. The days are brutally hot. The nights are shockingly cold. You are scolded by politicians and pitiless citizens. You are pushed along by Metro, business owners and city marshals. You wonder if this kind of life is even worth living.

Finally, you catch a break.

http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/articles/2006/02/23/local_news/news01.txt

Homeless Advocate Booted from
Circle Park, Las Vegas CityLife

HOMELESS ADVOCATE BOOTED FROM CIRCLE PARK

BY EMMILY BRISTOL

Thursday, February 23, 2006


Why can't Gail Sacco, a citizen of Las Vegas, enter a public park she pays for with her taxes?

Must be all that do-gooding.

On Feb. 19 Gail Sacco became another grassroots homeless activist to find herself "86ed" from Huntridge Circle Park, and placed on the "no trespass list" park marshals and Metro Police officers are rumored to keep.

http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/articles/2006/02/23/local_news/shrapnel/shrapnel.txt

Daily Protests and Upcoming
Iraq Occupation Protest

Thursday, February 23, 2006

(Note written by FNBer)

Brewing a Revolution: Abuse from Authorities,
Daily Protests by the People


On Sunday, February 19, 2006, city park marshalls and metro police flooded Circle Park and gave citations to two of the womyn of FOOD NOT BOMBS.

The women were cited for "feeding the homeless (a gathering over 25 people) without a permit". And, according to the city- they will not grant permits for Circle Park- even if an individual applied for one... They were also verbally banned from the public park for 6 months!

People are protesting with signs and banners DAILY @ 2pm on the sidewalks around the park. There is also a big FNB rally and protest scheduled for March 20 (see protest info below).

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

PROTEST the 3rd Anniversary of the Occupation of Iraq and Support your local FOOD NOT BOMBS.

Monday, March 20, 2006 @ 8AM

Justice/Municiple Court on 200 Lewis Ave.

Free Food will be shared

Please bring signs, musical instruments, food, etc...

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

Eight Homeless Arrested

Details are sketchy at the moment. I will update this note when more info is available.

Eight homeless people were arrested last week in Huntridge Circle Park while supporting Mom and the cause. They flipped off the marshals and were arrested for:

Misuse of a hand signal.

One pleaded no contest and spent seven days in jail.

His court date is March 27, 2006 at 1:00 pm.

I've been told that the others are still in jail.

Had I known about this before today, I would have supported them as they have supported me. I am hoping that some of you could give me some suggestions on how we can build solidarity so that I can support them better in the future when they are unjustly arrested.

Suggestions?

Monday, February 20, 2006

Another Contradiction

Mom's Comment:

What the neighbors and politicians are doing now is calling on the government of Las Vegas to get rid of the homeless and needy people from Huntridge Circle Park. They want this city-owned park for themselves and do not want to share it with the needy.

In essence, they are asking the city to hide the homeless problem in this particular area.

One consequence of this action is it is teaching our children the concept of "every man for himself".

Hide the homeless up in northern Las Vegas. Out of sight, out of mind. The homeless are no longer our neighbors. So, we do not have to be neighborly to them.

This is in direct contrast to the City of Las Vegas's Strategic Plan 2005 "commitment to the following values we believe in:"

One of which is:

Respect for, and belief in, individual difference and the worth of every person.

This Strategic Plan (which includes this commitment) was signed by Mayor Oscar Goodman, Michael McDonald, Lynette Boggs, Gary Reese, Larry Brown, Lawrence Weekly, and Michael Mack.

http://www.gfoa.org/services/dfl/samples/StrategicPlans/Las-Vegas.pdf

What would be more fair and humane, is if we worked together- the homeless advocates, the homeless and needy, and the community. And then we could address the causes of homelessness and not just the symptoms of homelessness.

Municipal codes which criminalize homelessness should be challenged and removed.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anonymous wrote:

Contradiction Exposed

Being cited and then subsequently 86'd from Circle Park is a grand contradiction that I heard the ACLU say they would definitely fight against. Especially the 86'd part of it.

If one were to go to the city's website:

http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Find/parks_facilities.asp#

their hopes would immediately be squashed. The website states that the 3-acre park with a shaded outdoor stage and grass amphitheater is non-reservable.

And yet, you were cited for not reserving the park in order to hold a "food feeding event?" On its face, it's contradictory. It's a poorly written law, one that needs to be updated and clarified by a legislative, not judicial, body. Or at least the website needs to be changed in order to be more clear on what reserving versus getting a permit means. The courts in Las Vegas are as corrupt as they can be. The legislature is not much better, but it's better than the courts. Plus, with the legislature, there's more of a chance that 'we the people' can have an influence.

http://lasvegas.staughton.indypgh.org/news/2006/02/4289_comment.php#4296

Sunday, February 19, 2006

URGENT UPDATE:
Citations at Circle Park

This is the beginning of the 'official' police intimidation surrounding the issue of serving and eating of food at Circle Park. For months now, many people have gone to Circle Park (including city officials and homeless advocates) in order to serve, eat food and provide other needed resources to those who need it most. The free food has not only helped countless numbers of people but has also brought with it a great deal of public and media attention.

For full article written by @ki_b@
Sunday February 19, 2006 at 06:38 PM

http://lasvegas.staughton.indypgh.org/news/2006/02/4289.php

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Mom's Comments:

We arrived at Circle Park at approximately 2:15 pm. Word was out that the marshals and metro were there as early as 8:30 this morning looking for me.

Three marshals and one metro officer with video camera were there when I arrived.

Mom and another peace activist/homeless advocate were cited for:

"Did willfully and unlawfully conduct (a food feeding event) at Huntridge Circle Park where 25 people or more did participate or witness such event without obtaining a permit from the director..."

Court Date and Place:

March 20, 2006 8:00 am

Las Vegas Municipal Court
200 Lewis Ave
Las Vegas, NV

MY responsibility, as well as others, is to help with the homeless and the needy's daily needs without restriction until the government agencies and non-profit organizations get them off the streets and into SAFE affordable, permanent housing, and/or into government programs which they are entitled to.

It is unacceptable for the City of Las Vegas to try to hide our homeless in the north part of Las Vegas known as The Corridor. It is unreasonable to expect all homeless people to travel miles for breakfast, then miles to their day jobs, then miles for supper, and then miles to find some back alley to sleep in.

Our main goal should be to END homelessness with safe, permanent, affordable housing; quality, affordable medical care; and, jobs that pay a living wage. Shelters and Day Centers should only be used as an intermediary stage between homelessness and safe, permanent, affordable housing.

Constant police sweeps, arrests, and citations only perpetuate homelessness. And there is no way that any of these government tactics will send the homeless packing out of town. Without money, a decent job, family or friends they are not going anywhere except through that revolving door of incarceration. And by the way, that revolving door of incarceration makes big bucks for the city.

There have been lots of city ideas and promises with very little or no results.

It would be in the city's best interest and the neighborhoods' best interest to let us individuals contribute to ending homelessness.

We are not out there JUST feeding them. We are there giving them a helping hand to GET OFF THE STREETS.

We are dedicated to nonviolence

We are against all war, oppression, and aggression

We recover food that would otherwise be thrown out and make fresh hot vegetarian meals that are
served to anyone without restriction.

We only prepare food which is strictly from vegetable sources so people will always know and trust our food.


Addendum:

Citation for Food Feeding Event
by Mom Monday February 20, 2006 at 12:14 AM

The citation was for having a "food feeding event" where 25 or more is/was expected at said event.

Mom and another advocate were cited and verbally 86'd from Huntridge Circle Park for 6 months.

If caught in Circle Park within 6 months we will be arrested for trespassing.

Court Date and Place:
March 20, 2006 8:00 am
Municipal Court 200 Lewis Ave Las Vegas, NV

By the way, the many homeless and needy that I know live in the vicinity of Circle Park. This location is most convenient for them to eat, get suggestions on housing, medical, rehab, etc. And, even if I wanted to get a permit, this park is unpermitable.

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Better days ahead
CityLife's suggestions
to improve life in the desert

Mom's Comment: Great article! Thanks CityLife!
All suggestions are great but I thought I would copy
and paste the most important suggestions regarding
the homeless issue.

To read the complete article:

http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/articles/2006/02/09/cover_story/cover.txt


Better days ahead
CityLife's suggestions to improve life in the desert

BY CITYLIFE STAFF


...This is by no means a comprehensive list, and it's in no particular order.

10. Help the homeless, for real

It is frighteningly easy to end up on the streets of Las Vegas. A gambling habit can do the trick. The free alcohol can lead to addiction and financial ruin. And the well- paying, entry-level jobs the city is known for aren't always available.

Yet local government and the gambling industry take little responsibility for the problem.

Currently, there are about 12,000 people on the streets of Las Vegas. They lack shelter space. They are not allowed to sleep in public parks. They are arrested for minor offenses, in an attempt to run them out of town. Many of them are gambling-addicted, drug-addicted and mentally ill. They are dying in the heat and cold. Sometimes, authorities crack down on people who try to help them.

The city, county, and gambling industry need to stop talking about the problem. We've heard enough promises, seen enough pie charts, and wasted enough time and money. We need to help the homeless. Now.

-- MO

11. Build more affordable housing (aka, homes for the workers)

A funny thing happened in 2004 -- property values skyrocketed all around the valley. Well, it's only funny if you're not one of the thousands of working-class residents trying to get a piece of the American dream by owning a home. Affordable housing, that moderately priced home first-time homebuyers and young families can manage to buy, is a swiftly vanishing thing in the Las Vegas Valley.

Government agencies have been caught with their pants down as they continue to bow to pressure from large-scale home developers. When the Clark County Community Growth Task Force Report was released last spring, one of the top recommendations was to provide more "attainable housing" in the community. Just how to do that, nobody on the appointed board was exactly sure. Some suggested requiring new neighborhoods to be built with a certain percentage of moderately priced homes.

But just a year before, when the city of Henderson tried to push for an affordable housing element in the land auction of 1,940 acres south of St. Rose Parkway, land developers balked at the caveat and wouldn't bite until the provision was removed.
And as apartments are converted to condos faster than you can say "refundable deposit," and mobile home parks are being closed by the handful, the situation is putting the squeeze on the have-nots more than ever before.

We should learn from the problems of our neighbor to the north, Reno, which has had trouble attracting teachers and nurses thanks to high home prices. Fancy pads in the suburban fringes are all fine and good, but those who keep the valley flowing, who educate our kids and who maintain public safety, need a place to sleep, too.

-- EB

14. Support mom-and-pop businesses

The Enigma Garden Cafe. Coas Books. Balcony Lights. Jazzed Cafe & Vinoteca. Cafe Espresso Roma. They're all gone -- and chain stores are partly to blame.

During the past 10 years, on the wings of the population boom, chain stores have inundated the valley. And while they may be convenient and familiar, they often offer little else. Generally, the service is impersonal, the product is mass produced and bland, and profits are shipped to some out-of-state corporate office. Independent businesses -- when run properly -- offer personal service, a unique product and some sense of community.

So support mom-and-pops businesses! Otherwise, we'll soon be drowning in a sea of Starbucks, Barnes & Nobles, Gaps and Panda Expresses.

-- MO

3. Volunteer

On My Name is Earl last week, Earl and his brother got a funny (but kinda cool) feeling in their stomachs when they saved Philo from killing himself. If you haven't had that feeling in a while or don't know what we're talking about, remembering or finding out may be easier than you imagine.

You don't have to go and search rooftops for a man about to jump, although you could go through counselor training and donate some time to a suicide hotline. If that's too heavy, you can turn your hobbies into volunteer opportunities, too. Hikers can join Friends of Red Rock Canyon to participate in conservation projects. Most museums offer volunteer opportunities for art lovers. Craigslist Las Vegas has a bulletin board dedicated solely to volunteer opportunities and volunteermatch.org lists a number of Las Vegas organizations. If you can't find one that fits, start something yourself. Maybe you're a single mother - post an add in CityLife to find other single mothers interested in forming a support group. Maybe you're a dirtbag - get the underage skate punks who you buy beer for to pick up litter before they get their booze.

Things like this can open a person of any age to new interests and even careers. Also, volunteer work is a well known but undersold way to meet that sweet, emotionally healthy person in Vegas who actually have some love to give.

Here's a few phone numbers and e-mail addresses to get you started:

Aid for AIDS Nevada (AFAN): 382-2326 or go to Afanlv.org

Nathan Adelson Hospice: 733-0320 or go to Nah.org

Lied Animal Shelter: 384-3333 or go to Animalfoundation.com

Friends of Red Rock Canyon: 255-8743 or go to Friendsofredrockcanyon.org

Las Vegas Art Museum: 360-8000 or go to Lasvegasartmuseum.org

-- Beverly Bryan

4. Get informed and vote

Say what you will about Nevada voters, but they do tend to participate in their democracy, especially when the White House is up for grabs. Voter turnout in 2004's general election was 77.45 percent, a record, although 2000's 70.15 percent wasn't too shabby. The 58.9 percent turnout in 2002 and 49.01 percent turnout in 1998 weren't all that great, but off-year elections are never as popular as presidential years. And you also can't say that they don't pay attention. Erin Kenny, Lance Malone, Dario Herrera, Mary Kincaid-Chauncey, Janet Moncrief, Michael McDonald all have one thing in common: They were removed by voters who thought they were unethical or ineffective. Ex-Las Vegas Councilman Michael Mack didn't run for re-election, knowing he'd face the same fate, and it's likely Controller Kathy Augustine will get the message fairly soon.

Obviously, an informed and active electorate doesn't stop unethical people from doing unethical things. But it does make it a lot harder. While politicians often cry out for public involvement, more often than not, they'd prefer the public stayed home rather than turned out to supervise certain things they do in office, say handing out sweetheart deals to big casino companies or letting a certain golf course mogul raid the public treasury at his whim. While those things may have been the order of the day in the old Vegas, the new Vegas is changing that dynamic, and an active, informed electorate is a big part of that change. So keep up the good work.

-- Steve Sebelius

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Meeting with the City of Las Vegas

My ultimate goal is to help the homeless and the needy obtain safe, affordable permanent housing- so that they can eventually help themselves obtain their own personal goals.

In the meantime, I am trying to keep them alive with food, appropriate clothing, personal hygiene supplies, and hope.


We were invited yesterday to a meeting with the city. They were to help me with some contacts to maximize my efforts. Unfortunately at the same meeting, a third party gave me a message from the City Attorney that the city is going to start citing me.

For your information:

City Attorney


City Hall, Ninth Floor
400 Stewart Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: (702) 229-6201
Fax: (702) 386-1749

Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

City Attorney: Bradford Jerbic


The City Attorney's Office:

Supervises the drafting of all ordinances and the preparation of legal documents

Works directly with and provides legal advice to the

mayor

http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Government/mayor_oscar_b_goodman.htm

City Council


http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Government/city_council.htm

city manager

http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Government/city_manager.htm

and staff, as well as

boards and commissions

http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Government/boards.asp

Reviews and consults on city services contracts and provides legal opinions and counseling

Supervises and manages all matters over special counsel, which may be hired with City Council consent for their specific knowledge and expertise

Responsible for the day-to-day prosecution of municipal ordinance violations and state law misdemeanor violations, including DUIs, drug offenses, domestic violence and traffic offenses that occur within the city limits

http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Government/departments.asp#