Letter: City loses sight of goals to help the homeless

Friday, Jan. 10, 2003 | 4:19 a.m.

Since September 2001, when the HUD/Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition summit was held, the city of Las Vegas policy toward homelessness has been punitive. This policy is opposite to the goals expressed at the summit, which was to address the core problems of homelessness and to help the homeless help themselves.

Instead there have been three police sweeps using, in the last sweep, selective enforcement of jaywalking laws to bypass probable cause, mainly against the homeless. This approach criminalizes homelessness and is far costlier than having effective programs to address mental illness and addictions.

The city's assault on the homeless continues with the proposed drinking law changes that would target the homeless only. Why spend $500,000 on a Westcare pilot program if the city is going to continue using law enforcement to selectively enforce laws against the homeless?

If the city truly wants to help the homeless, and save millions of dollars, it will abandon its plans to raze Mash Village and stop its assault, by law enforcement, against the homeless.

FRANK PERNA