Store shelves cleared of drug paraphernalia

Diana Sahagun

Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2001 | 11:18 a.m.

Raphael Flores juggled his 2-year-old son and a handful of groceries outside the MLK Bonanza Mini Mart Monday afternoon.

Remarking to a stranger, Flores said the store at 1500 W. Bonanza Road near Martin Luther King Boulevard has become more inviting in recent weeks.

Perhaps it's because Metro Police officers have stepped up their presence in the area, he said, adding, "The druggies aren't standing on the corner anymore."

The city of Las Vegas, though, is betting that convenience stores are beginning to take on a new image, especially in the older part of Ward 5, because of a recent crackdown on sales of items that often attract drug users.

It was only a few months ago that members of the Las Vegas City Council first heard about common items such as cut-up scouring pads, novelty glass vials and single cigarettes being sold from behind the counter to people who were using them to smoke crack cocaine.

But in the last three weeks, after a warning by city officials that store owners would be charged with a misdemeanor crime for selling the items deemed to be drug paraphernalia, the items have vanished from area stores, said Jim DiFiore, the city's Business Services manager.

In the past three weeks, three code enforcement officers have made surprise visits to the 206 convenience stores in the city limits. More than half, 155 stores, had gotten rid of all the materials found in previous investigations.

Up to two items were found at 51 stores, but they were not being marketed for drug use, DiFiore said. Scouring pads were found, for instance, but they were located on an aisle with the rest of the cleaning supplies.

At the urging of City Councilman Lawrence Weekly -- who said the problem was most serious in his ward -- the city has taken a stern approach to the sale of the items. In March and April, the council revoked three liquor licenses from store owners found with the materials in their stores.

And after sending a letter to all convenience store owners, the council adopted a new ordinance Wednesday that makes it a misdemeanor crime, resulting in a fine up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail, for selling the items.

Weekly admits it's a small step toward curbing drug activity, but said it is significant to the residents in his ward, who have complained for more than two decades about having to cross paths with drug users at convenience stores. Weekly said those who would purchase the items would often smoke drugs near the store.

"To me, we're moving in the direction of respect," Weekly said. "Things that used to be tolerated are not going to be tolerated anymore. Convenience store owners are understanding that the bar has been raised."

Critics argue that instead of shutting down businesses, the city needs to encourage more commercial development in the area. And the council is still facing a District Court complaint by one store owner, Jamil Nessan, over its decision in June to deny a new liquor and gaming license after the city found the items were being sold. The items were found before the city had sent out a letter warning to all owners about selling the items.

But DiFiore said overall, store owners have had a positive response to the city's request. And his department will continue making surprise visits to the stores.

While the drug problem may move elsewhere, Weekly said he will continue to work with police and let the officers handle the drug dealers, while the city will continue cracking down on store owners.

After buckling his son in a car seat, Flores shot one last glance at the front of the convenience store.

"Any help we can get from the city really means a lot," he said. "I'll be back here as long as it stays safe."