It’s one council to another

Sito Negron

Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004 | 8:40 a.m.

People sometimes say political meetings are boring, but Tashina Campbell's third grade class didn't think so Wednesday.

The students spent a portion of their afternoon at Doolittle Community Center watching the Las Vegas City Council tweak its priorities list, a public document developed as a way to provide guiding principles to the city government's activities.

While some may debate the value of the time spent creating the list, or the way it's applied in the city, the Andre Agassi Academy students, who walked to Doolittle from their campus across the street, said they learned a little something from watching their civic leaders in action.

To them, government is simple.

"We all make up rules together to make our classroom a better place," said Tyler Howard, 8, who is the elected mayor of the third grade class, which also has a lieutenant mayor and two council members.

The elected officials are part of the "town" created by the children, who have jobs such as zookeepers, librarians, and Citizens in Action -- the CIA.

As the children looked on, the Las Vegas city officials did not change their priorities much, although the council voted to add one: to "provide a safe environment for our residents, businesses and visitors using a community-oriented approach."

The rest of the list addresses such issues as business development, neighborhood sustainability and revitalization, fiscal responsibility and planning.

The addition was prompted by comments from Councilman Gary Reese, who said his constituents frequently discuss public safety -- from graffiti to streets to crime -- in neighborhood meetings. Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald said that her idea of government was altered by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"Public safety needs to be separate and apart as its own goal, not a (subordinate) under another goal," she said.

She also said that the city's goal of maintaining and revitalizing its "mature areas" should not be exclusive to Wards 1, 3, and 5, which largely represent the inner core of Las Vegas. She noted that her Ward 2, and Wards 4 and 6, while generally identified with the new and growing areas in town, also contain established neighborhoods, like those along Jones Boulevard, she said.

Councilman Lawrence Weekly, who represents West Las Vegas, in which Doolittle is located, said that while the council may have used the term "mature" to describe areas it felt were in need of help, it was being politically correct.

The areas that need to be protected and supported, he said, have for years suffered "blight and neglect." He urged the council to remember that the success of the city is not complete unless all of its components are successful.

The Ward 5 representative wasn't the only Weekly serving on a city council present Wednesday. His son, Malik Weekly, 8, is lieutenant mayor for Campbell's third grade class.

As Malik and his classmates were being interviewed, Lawrence Weekly strolled over with some words of advice.

"Son, when you see these people (reporters) coming, go the other way," he said with a smile.