Group praises Rhodes’ travel for RTC

Diana Sahagun

Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2000 | 11:02 a.m.

Members of the Charleston Neighborhood Preservation Group are throwing their support behind North Las Vegas City Councilman John Rhodes, saying he should be commended for taking the initiative to travel around the world to research transportation systems.

In a two-page letter to the Sun, on behalf of all board members of the neighborhood group, member Juanita Clark tagged Rhodes as the "sole representative who has focused energies on a people-moving system."

The letter followed a Sun report on travel by Regional Transportation Commission board members, which showed that Rhodes was the leading traveler.

Highly critical of the RTC, the neighborhood association group is best known for its tooth-and-nail fight against the widening of U.S. 95.

Rhodes spent $30,905 in two years on trips in and out of the country to research existing monorail and light-rail systems.

Coming in second to Rhodes in RTC board travel since July 1998 was Mesquite Councilman Cresent Hardy, who spent $19,722. Boulder City Councilman Bryan Nix followed with $16,609 and Las Vegas Councilman Larry Brown spent $4,077.

The RTC is the lead agency planning for the Las Vegas Valley's own monorail system. It has eight board members representing Clark County and the incorporated cities within the commission's jurisdiction.

In the letter, Clark wrote, "We salute John Rhodes. While most other RTC commission board members sit like bumps on a log, even with their eyes open, at these meetings, John Rhodes is informed and shares that wisdom when board members, staff or other citizens want to be informed."

Clark said Rhodes listens to citizens and is committed to bringing a transportation system to the Las Vegas Valley.

"No other RTC board member has offered real, pertinent in-depth information regarding people-moving systems and their applicability to the Las Vegas Valley because they have not sacrificed the time, the energy or concentrated effort to find out!" she wrote.

Member June Ingram said she's sorry that Rhodes is facing four felony counts of insurance fraud by the state attorney general's office -- and at least one more count currently being considered by the Clark County district attorney's office. But she added that Rhodes is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to transportation systems.

"We have people on these boards that have voted on things they haven't even heard about -- they didn't even watch the presentation," she said. "(Rhodes) goes and checks this stuff out. He knows what he's talking about."

Preservation member Sue Brna declined comment, saying she has not had any direct contact with Rhodes. Other Preservation members could not be reached for comment.

Clark said she has witnessed Rhodes make a formal report on his travels during meetings, where he discussed the cost, amount of ridership, and comparisons with the Las Vegas economy.

Of Rhodes' indictments, Clark said, "This insurance thing is a problem. He's not perfect, but on this issue as far as knowing about what's happening in the people-mover field, he is the most knowledgeable person on the (RTC) staff."