Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Time for action:’ Organization appeals to government for changes

A recently formed, local branch of a national neighborhood activist organization decided Monday night that it can fight city hall.

Make that two city halls: those of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas.

The organization -- the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN -- opened a Las Vegas chapter shortly before the November election and has been assisting West Las Vegas and some North Las Vegas residents to organize and get their voices heard since then.

At the group's third meeting Monday night, at the West Las Vegas Library, nearly 30 of those residents decided it was time to take their concerns off the streets and into city council chambers come January.

Many of those present said they had lived in the area for 30 years or more.

"If we don't take nothing to them, they won't do nothing," reasoned Jessie Bush, as the group reviewed its first months of activity and next steps.

That activity has included two rallies in recent weeks, first to call for more speed bumps on residential streets, and second, to clean up a lot that has become an eyesore and hazard on Gregory Street and Elliot Avenue, near Lake Mead Boulevard and Losee Avenue.

Though the former request to get speed bumps is now winding its way through a bureaucratic process that includes traffic studies, Hassell Avenue resident Sandy Yacono, in her report on the issue, said that process may take longer than the group wants to wait.

"It's time for action," she said.

Tyrone Latham, who lives in North Las Vegas, echoed her concern.

"I wanna know how many kids gotta die before we can get things done," Latham said.

Latham's further comments on other issues made those present realize that the organization, which has about 150,000 members nationwide who pay $10 in monthly dues to local chapters such as the one meeting Monday, may soon expand beyond West Las Vegas to include more North Las Vegas members.

"We have the same issues in our neighborhood as you do in yours," Latham said.

As for the lot, Rhonda Burney had hoped that one member of the Las Vegas City Council -- Lawrence Weekly, who represents Ward 5, which includes the lot and the streets on which many of the new ACORN chapter members live -- would be at the meeting to answer questions.

According to Will Ward, a paid staff member of ACORN, Weekly did show up at the group's rally Dec. 7 concerning the empty lot and promised then to be at Monday's meeting.

Bush, another West Las Vegas resident, said it was important for Weekly to know of the group's concerns.

"We want him involved from the beginning," said Bush, who added that he voted for Weekly.

Ward said if Weekly "chooses to get behind members of the community, things will get done quicker."

"But if he doesn't, it won't shake people's will.'

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