Where I Stand—Mike O’Callaghan: Eviction not a solution

Thursday, May 17, 2001 | 9:01 a.m.

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

LAS VEGAS CITY Councilman Lawrence Weekly is concerned about the homeless gathered along the Union Pacific railroad tracks. This encampment is certainly an unhealthy situation but does offer some protection from beatings and death when sleeping alone in this city. Yes, this is exactly what wandering single homeless people have too often faced in Las Vegas.

Weekly told Sun writer Diana Sahagun he wants these people evicted but admits he has no solution for the problem. It seems that Weekly needs some help and must do some additional thinking before acting. The city doesn't want the homeless to congregate downtown, in parks or along the railroad tracks, but it doesn't worry if they are some other place. That's OK until they again have somebody else complaining about their new gathering place.

More than a dozen years ago, along with the Catholic Workers, I had the opportunity to feed the homeless along the tracks. That opportunity vanished when the city told us to stop feeding them there and move to the street beside Ethel Pearson Park. We did and then in late 1999 the Las Vegas city marshals showed up and booted the homeless and Catholic Workers out into the street. Since then they have set up a "temporary" feeding place in the parking lot of St. James Catholic church. It's temporary because it won't be long before that parish moves into its new church.

Pushing the homeless from one gathering place to another encampment isn't a solution to a national and local social problem. Before herding these people to another outdoor place, Weekly should, along with other city officials, find a reasonable solution. We elect public officials to solve problems and not push them from their district to another district or city. There should be enough elected and appointed brainpower to offer a better solution than what has been practiced, and is again being advocated, by Weekly and his colleagues.

Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, is one of the most dynamic and productive legislators in Nevada's history. She is scheduled to give her report about the 2001 Legislature to the Nevada Seniors Coalition on Thursday, June 14, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be open and will be held on the 2nd floor of the Castaways Hotel.

The U.S. Marines are a family and the way to experience this is by attending the Family Readiness/Community Support Day this weekend. It all starts at 11 a.m. this Saturday at the Armed Forces Reserve Center, 5095 Range Road. Drive east past the Nellis AFB main gate and O'Callaghan Federal Hospital and turn north on Range Road near the fuel tanks.

A letter from Capt. B.J. Wroten tells me that, "This event will bring together families, friends, and employers of Marine Reservists as well as civic leaders and supporters who share a critical role in preparing our men and women in uniform for possible mobilization and deployment. Presentations will include topics like Family Readiness Support, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, the mobilization process, and others. We are also pleased to announce that BGen Wilson, CG 4th FSSG, will be in attendance to share some of his thoughts with the Marines, their family, and members of the Community. Following the briefs, you are welcome to join us for a complimentary barbeque lunch, a tour of our facility, and static displays of all of our equipment. If you desire further information after the presentations and wish to speak directly with a representative o r our Marines, they will be available to answer all of your questions."

If you love the Marines or want to know more about them, then this is your day. It's also our national Armed Forces Day celebrated across this great nation.