MASH clears hurdle with OK to acquire land at shelter

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002 | 9:21 a.m.

The Rev. Joe Carroll emerged from Wednesday's Las Vegas Council meeting with a sigh of relief after overcoming one of MASH Villages's biggest challenges of the past year.

However, now that Carroll has convinced city officials to give the agency the land on which the homeless shelter sits, Carroll now must prove to the city that he can raise $5 million.

The original agreement with the city required MASH Village to raise $5 million before the city would turn over the land.

The agency has until 2007 to raise $5 million, or the land on Main Street will revert back to the city. MASH Village has tried for seven years to raise the money, but without the land, Carroll has said, attempts to raise the money would ultimately fall short.

"We believe we can raise the funds when the land is transferred to our name," Carroll said.

The council on Wednesday narrowly approved MASH's proposal for the transfer, despite the fact the city has raised only $1.5 million. By 2007 the agency will agree to raise the money and build a new transitional living center and a medical clinic, as well as other improvements, or the city will take back the land.

The final contract has to be finalized and approved by the City Council, but council members Lynette Boggs McDonald, Michael Mack, Larry Brown and Michael McDonald voted in favor of the proposal, saying the agency is critical to solving the homeless problem.

MASH Village asked the city for the land last March, but the request was denied.

"What's changed is MASH's relationship with the council has improved," Carroll said. "Last time around we never really got into the issue because of personalities."

Mayor Oscar Goodman and Councilmen Lawrence Weekly and Gary Reese voted against the proposal, saying although they supported MASH Village's efforts, they did not want additional shelters built.

Citing a situation at Main Street and Foremaster Lane, where dozens of homeless people have set up camps near businesses and cemeteries, Goodman said the city must solve that problem before building new shelters.

He said Metro Police should begin arresting homeless people who are committing crimes, such as trespassing or stealing.

"If it takes Metro having to do something about it, if they have to go to jail, then that's what we have to do," Goodman said.

Gary Peck, executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, said the city has the right to arrest homeless people who are committing crimes, but added that the city cannot arrest people simply for sleeping on the streets.

"As long as there is not adequate shelter space for people, you cannot arrest them for being on the street," he said.

Wednesday's hearing, though, didn't go off without a hitch. Moments before it began the council was given letters from Clark County and Shade Tree, a shelter for women and children. Both expressed concern over the proposal.

Carroll criticized Doug Bell, manager of Clark County's finance department, for submitting the letter on the eve of the hearing.

"I think Doug Bell is a real jerk," Carroll said.

Bell said he sent the letter to Sharon Segerblom, the city's director of neighborhood services, and did not intend for it to be viewed by the council.

Bell said he heard of the proposal a few days before the hearing and wanted to make sure the county's $2.5 million investment in the campus was protected.

Brenda Dizon, executive director of Shade Tree, wrote that MASH Village shouldn't be given special treatmentj because other agencies had to purchase their land.

"At what point will Mash officials be stopped from holding the city hostage to its perceived entitlements?" she wrote.