NLV residents: Don’t overlook older parts of town

Diana Sahagun

Friday, Sept. 29, 2000 | 10:53 a.m.

Long-time North Las Vegas resident Christine Fields is pleased with the development of the newer part of town, but she told Councilman John Rhodes Wednesday not to forget the poorer areas of the city.

Fields, a 26-year resident, spoke during Rhodes' Town Hall meeting for Ward 1, one of the mature areas of the city. While Rhodes and city staff spoke of redevelopment already occurring in the ward, Fields said she would like to see even more.

Rhodes' first Town Hall meeting was the result of a state mandate in December for the city to split into four wards. Ward 1 includes parts of Owens Avenue, Belmont Street and Civic Center Drive.

Rhodes, a two-term councilman, said the city has recorded a number of accomplishments, including identifying the borders of the downtown area, creating more parks and bringing in more high-quality businesses.

"We want to bring in new housing products and we're trying to revitalize this part of the city by bringing businesses back into the area," Rhodes said.

Several residents had issues with some of the older roadways that have become "mini-expressways," including Pecos Road and Carey Avenue. They asked for more street improvements, including sidewalks.

Mary Muller, a 22-year resident, commended the city's code enforcement division for cleaning up her neighborhood, but said something needs to be done about the street vendors who frequent her area.

"How do we stop that?" she said. "I'm embarrassed to have people come to my home and hear the honk-honk-honk from a street vendor."

Former North Las Vegas City Councilman Theron Goynes asked about rumors that the city's lone library will be closed if the city decides to consolidate with the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District.

But those rumors were squelched by City Councilwoman Stephanie Smith, who was also in the audience.

"There are no plans to close the library, but there is a fiscal reality that even with the growth we will never be able to have enough money to build a second library," she said.