NAACP offices reopen amid controversy

Cathy Scott

Thursday, Dec. 4, 1997 | 10:32 a.m.

The padlocked doors of the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's offices were reopened Wednesday once it was learned the eviction was not legal because it wasn't court-ordered, sources said.

A volunteer for the NAACP office said she worked most of the day in the rented office space at 600 W. Owens Ave. A board meeting to discuss where the NAACP would set up shop in the meantime was held Wednesday night. The NAACP was also considering fighting the eviction, a source said.

The office, where the NAACP rented space since 1995, was closed Tuesday by attorney David Phillips and padlocked by a locksmith.

The single-story building in West Las Vegas was deeded to Operation Life, founded in 1972, by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ruby Duncan, president of the nonprofit organization, which in 1985 changed its name to Operation Life Community Development, collected $500 each month in rent from the NAACP. A source said that Duncan had wanted the NAACP to purchase the property for $450,000 and also to pay $4,000 in back sewer fees. They were told they would be evicted if they didn't, the source said. Phillips, Duncan's attorney, is also her son.

The property isn't Duncan's to sell, said Rolland McHughes, a housing specialist for HUD's Las Vegas office.

"If a nonprofit (business) acquires a property through HUD, the business takes title of it," McHughes said. "When you go out of business, you have to dissolve your assets. She, as an individual, can't do anything."

That includes collecting rent and profiting from it, he said.

Meantime, a notice to evict the NAACP was never filed by Duncan with Justice Court, a court administrator said. Before a constable formally evicts a tenant, the tenant has a chance to state its case to the court, the administrator said.

That wasn't done in this case, she said.

According to the secretary of state, Duncan in June filed a list of officers for Operation Life Community Development listing herself as president and Sharon Glover as secretary with the Owens Avenue address listed. The purpose for nonprofit was still listed as "relief to underprivileged," according to the secretary of state's records.

Even though Operation Life's office was listed with the state at the Owens Avenue address, the building was vacant for about five years until Duncan rented 3,000 square feet to the NAACP 2 1/2 years ago. The rest of the 10,000-square-foot building was vacant, sources said.

The only changes filed with the state was a name change in 1976 and a change of officers in 1985, according to state records.

No financial reports had been filed, according to state records.

In 1993, Operation Life was listed as a charity receiving telemarketing funds from Fundraisers America, which was licensed by the city of Las Vegas as a charitable promoter. The business no longer operates under that name. The telemarketer solicited donations for charitable organizations, including to Operation Life, according to a Nov. 23, 1993, SUN article.

Federal and state officials addressed the problem in a hearing conducted by Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev. A Sonoma, Calif., woman described herself as a victim who said she was assured by Fundraisers America that she would receive valuable prizes, including a BMW car. But to be eligible she had to mail in "acquisition fees" to help a needy Las Vegas business called Operation Life.

Past president Duncan said at the time that the organization, though no longer active as in the past, still provided food, shelter and emergency services for women and children. Duncan confirmed that National Clearing House had donated money that Duncan used to pay for 100 Thanksgiving dinners for the needy, the article said.

State officials who monitor telefunders said such businesses often keep as much as 90 percent of the money they raise.

Local HUD officials were checking the status of the Owens Avenue property, how it should be disposed of and who should get the proceeds from rent or the sale of the building, McHughes said.