Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Homeless issue preys on Vegas

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, April 4, 2002 | 8:29 a.m.

Being poor is no disgrace. It's just darned inconvenient.

The same can be said for being homeless, which is a direct result of poverty.

Many of us, at some time in our lives, have faced financial problems. Some of us lived through the Great Depression in the '30s and experienced times when it was questionable where the next meal would come from -- or if there would even be a next meal.

One of the most traumatic experiences of my teen years was when our family was evicted from our home.

My folks couldn't pay the rent of $25 per month. There wasn't any work to be had, so my father literally took to the hills.

The family owned some old mining claims. He was able to scrounge enough gold to sustain the family until better times.

Recalling those meager days, I can relate to the chagrin of the homeless. They push their loaded shopping carts from one destination to another as public officials ponder solutions to their problems.

Last fall, I recall officials saying, "We have to do something about the homeless before the cold weather sets in."

Now, they are saying, "We have to do something before the heat of summer is upon us."

Fact is, they've been saying the same thing for years.

Could the homeless problem become Mayor Oscar Goodman's Achilles' heel?

Jeff German, the Sun's ace investigative reporter, has done a superb job in his book "Murder in Sin City," in which he records the life and death of casino boss Ted Binion.

The book's cover offers a titillating view of what's inside:

"The gripping true story of the fall of a powerful man that culminated in the most publicized murder in Las Vegas history -- an almost perfect crime undone by the unbelievable greed of its perpetrators."

"Murder in Sin City" is exciting reading for anyone. For many of us, who knew many of the major players in the gruesome mystery, the book is truly fascinating.

Now that the NCAA Tournament is history and Maryland has won the championship, some of the talented young college players are considering leaving school and entering the NBA draft.

My advice to them would be to complete their college education before trying to mix it up with the big fellows.

Take a look at the fate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Anderson Hunt.

Hunt led UNLV to the national championship and was named Most Valuable Player of the championship game. He opted to quit school and enter the draft.

We know the story. He didn't make it. Another year in college might have made the difference.

For those who have never seen the Nevada desert in bloom, I would advise checking with local authorities for information on the best viewing areas. It's worth the effort.

A disgruntled gambler left a local establishment with the parting words: "The only one who cleans up in this casino is the janitor."