Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: A new homeless policy

Sunday, Oct. 17, 1999 | 10:22 a.m.

Mike O'Callaghan is the Las Vegas Sun executive editor.

MORE THAN 10 YEARS have passed since I first joined Julia Occhiogrosso and her volunteer Catholic Worker crew feeding the homeless down by the railroad tracks. Less than a year later the city asked us to move from that area because of the growing number of cardboard shelters and the desire of a business to build warehouses there. So the breakfast feeding program, with city approval, was moved to Ethel Pearson Park where it remained until last month.

It was Friday, Sept. 17, at 6:45 a.m., that city marshals told the volunteers they could no longer feed the poor there. No prior warning, and no offer of another reasonable place to feed the homeless, it was move on and don't come back. It was a real shock for the UNLV students serving food that day. This is a radical change from the days Metro officers would stop and visit during those cold early mornings in December and January.

The marshals told Gary Cavalier that he "was undoing their good work." Of course, the 600,000 meals that Gary and his volunteers have served the homeless over the past several years isn't good work. So instead of feeding poor people at 6:30 a.m. the park is empty and is decorated with signs telling people about the new rules.

The past three days I've gone past the park at least twice a day and it has been empty and the basketball courts aren't echoing from the bounce of balls or squeak of shoes. Even teenagers aren't allowed there to play basketball on the outdoor courts.

In the Catholic Worker October newsletter Cavalier writes:

"The new law was passed on July 12 of this year due to complaints from neighbors about 'considerable drug activity and the amount of homeless individuals living in the parks.' We have talked to the few neighbors bordering the park and none of them have concerns, in fact a few come to our morning meal. Ten minutes after we finish serving our morning meal, most of the 100 or so guests are gone ...

"The marshals admitted to me there are few children living near these parks. The law is just an attempt to kick the homeless out of the one fairly beautiful and safe area left when you have nothing; the public parks."

In the meantime, the Southern Nevada Homeless Coalition has been attempting to reach a compromise with the city. According to Cavalier, "The Homeless Coalition proposes making the areas of the park where the swings and slides are located an area for adults with children under 12, and opening the rest of the park to the public." Until another site is found, Fr. Michael Blackburn of St. James Catholic Church is allowing the feeding program to continue in the church's parking lot.

How everything has changed since Cavalier's wife, Julia Occhiogrosso, was given a certificate by then-Mayor Jan Jones for her work and the volunteers' efforts in helping the homeless.

In December 1989 I wrote:

"During the daylight hours Julia and friends can be found giving out warm clothes they have gathered and back in their stone house in West Las Vegas preparing food and drink for those who have so few material goods or human comforts. The food, hot drinks and clean clothes are dispensed sans sermons or preaching to the needy, no matter what their sex, race, religion or personal background. They are fellow human beings in need and the workers are there to help them."

The Catholic Worker volunteers haven't changed and the need of the homeless is still great. The only thing that has changed is a new law passed and enforced by people who have forgotten the needs of less fortunate human beings.