City hall Notes: LV spends $8,043 of $1 million on hurricane victims

Dan Kulin

Thursday, Dec. 8, 2005 | 8:30 a.m.

Las Vegas has so far spent only $8,043 of the $1 million the City Council set aside to help Hurricane Katrina victims who relocated here, Deputy City Manager Steve Houchens told the council Wednesday.

The money helped 10 families pay rent in November, and also paid some of the families' December housing costs. Another 51 families which were approved to receive the housing assistance are in the process of finding apartments or getting their new homes inspected by housing officials.

The federal government is expected to reimburse the city for up to three months' worth of housing assistance, Houchens said.

In September, the council set aside $1 million earmarked for local affordable housing projects and made the money available to help pay for temporary housing for hurricane victims who had moved to Las Vegas. The $1 million was part of a federal grant awarded to the city.

Psychic reading

All the mayor wanted to know was whether the University of Southern California will beat the University of Texas by more than seven points in the Rose Bowl.

Instead, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman got his psychic energy read -- and it was all good news.

Jeanette Glover, who specializes in interpreting energy fields, went before the City Council on Wednesday for a psychic art license, which the council approved.

The mayor used the occasion to try to get a little inside betting knowledge -- this time for the Jan. 4 college football championship game.

Although Glover said she has predicted games in the past, she said that her specialty was related more to reading people's energy.

So, at the suggestion of Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian, and after the council voted 5-0 to give Glover her license, Glover read the mayor's energy.

After waving her hands over and under, and in front and behind Goodman's hands, head and chest, Glover said he was "very strong, very healthy," and told him to go ahead with a financial deal involving a partner.

Yes or no?

At times, Goodman has grown weary and agitated with reporters who repeat questions hoping to get a yes or no answer when the mayor's answers are not yes or no.

On Wednesday, Goodman was the one asking the yes or no question with no success.

During a presentation by Southern Nevada Water Authority Deputy General Manager Kay Brothers, Goodman asked whether he was correct when he tells people that Las Vegas does not have a water problem.

"If everything that is planned happens," Brothers said, referring to future plans to expand the water sources feeding Southern Nevada.

Goodman asked again, "Do we have a water problem?" And he again received the same answer from Brothers.

"You're a tough witness," the mayor said. Then he turned to Councilman Steve Woflson, a member of the Water Authority board, and said: "Tell me when we have a water problem."

Parking plans

Plans to develop a downtown park that is a popular hangout for the homeless have been given more time to come to fruition.

The City Council voted 5-0 Wednesday to give the owners of the Lady Luck another six months to negotiate a deal with the city for the 5.5-acre Frank Wright Plaza.

The plaza, a small park next to the old Post Office building, is on the corner of Stewart Avenue and Fourth Street, across the street from both the Lady Luck and City Hall.

Scott Adams, director of Office of Business Development, said officials have not decided whether the park land would be leased or sold under a future proposed agreement.

Dan Kulin can be reached at 229-6436 or at dan@lasvegassun.com.