Activist urges neighbors to carry arms

Monday, July 29, 2002 | 10:57 a.m.

Chris Christoff is so upset about rising crime in his neighborhood he is distributing thousands of leaflets in the next two weeks urging residents of the troubled area west of the Stratosphere to arm themselves.

But arming residents isn't the only solution for the area also known as Naked City, Christoff said.

As both a property owner and a resident since 1987 of the Meadows Village near the Stratosphere, the former Marine sergeant said he believes that video surveillance cameras would also lower crime rates.

"We've got to clean this crime up," the 67-year-old Christoff said Sunday. "It's been proven in other countries with surveillance cameras that there is a lower crime rate."

Christoff, a community activist who in the past has targeted the clutter of political signs, said he is installing floodlights on two condominiums he owns in the neighborhood bounded by Sahara Avenue, Cincinnati Avenue and Tam Drive.

Although city officials resurrected a task force earlier this month, it hasn't done much more than clean up run-down apartments, Christoff said.

The city's task force was created in 1995 to address concerns of Meadows Village residents about quality of life issues. The area got increased Metro Police patrols that quashed crack houses and punished landlords. Over time the task force was dissolved.

Rather than wait for complaints about code violations, city officials promised to spend this summer working on the area.

Crime at Meadows Village has been a continuing challenge.

In the mid '90s a Metro bike squad had been assigned to the area. A Metro officer was assigned daily to the area. Metro recorded 12 percent fewer calls this May, down from 201 a year ago to 175 calls this year.

Metro Police Lt. Richard Collins said the Meadows Village area has been an ongoing problem for law enforcement for the last 10 years.

As downtown Las Vegas has developed, city officials and Metro have refocused their efforts on Fremont Street, as entertainment, bars and restaurants have opened.

Former Mayor Ron Lurie said Councilman Michael McDonald is aware of the problem for Meadows Village and has improved Metro patrols of the neighborhood.

"There's a lot being done," Lurie said. "We've noticed a lot more Metro and bike patrol activities."

Lurie, an executive with Arizona Charlie's casino, said city officials and Metro understand how important safety is to residents and guests of the Stratosphere.

"There can always be more done," Lurie said.

However, having residents carry concealed weapons isn't a good idea, Lurie said. "That sounds like vigilante groups," he said.