Letter: Homelessness often by choice

Thursday, March 14, 2002 | 8:43 a.m.

I vigorously disagree with your editorial advocating more services for the homeless.

You need to get out of your cozy office and visit the areas of our cities that are being adversely impacted by the homeless. I own an industrial building at the corner of Owens and A Street. The problems caused by the homeless in that area are such that it is becoming increasingly difficult to operate a business.

If you take time to visit the areas inhabited by the homeless you will find that for the majority of these people this is their chosen lifestyle. They are very content to sponge off the local agencies and anyone who has been misled into being sorry for them. There are already plenty of service agencies to assist those who are temporarily down on their luck and have ambition to work and better themselves.

By offering additional services you only guarantee more homeless.

WILLIAM SMITH

Editor's Note: William Smith is one of several property owners in the vicinity of Owens Avenue and A Street, on the border of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, whose complaints recently led authorities to dismantle a "tent city" in that area where about 50 homeless people were living.