Irate NLV leaders: Leave our poor to us

By Mike Trask (contact)

Wednesday, April 4, 2007 | 7:17 a.m.

Frustrated by North Las Vegas' lack of progress in aiding some of its poorer neighborhoods, state Sen. Steven Horsford has proposed a bill that would force the City Council to answer to a state commission in an effort to speed improvements.

Council leaders are irate about the measure, which they say would effectively make the state their boss.

"That is not even a slippery slope," Mayor Mike Montandon said. "That is a quick dive off a steep slope."

The bill would require the city to develop a detailed infrastructure improvement program for its older and poorer neighborhoods by the end of 2008. The program, which would require commission approval, would include plans for improvements to roads, public safety services, business development and community facilities.

"This would set a horrible precedent of the City Council having to report to this commission," said Kimberly McDonald, North Las Vegas' state legislative affairs officer.

The nine-member North Las Vegas Infrastructure Improvement Commission would be appointed by the governor, Assembly speaker and Senate majority leader.

Beyond being upset about the content of Horsford's bill, North Las Vegas officials are angered by Horsford's perceived lack of communication.

"We had no notification of this bill," City Manager Gregory Rose said.

Councilman William Robinson said: "The senator needs to get in touch with us."

Rose and Montandon said Horsford never mentioned the bill to the city before it was introduced last month. A hearing on the bill will be held today in Carson City.

The legislation focuses on the so-called Southern Nevada Enterprise Community, an area that includes sections of Las Vegas, unincorporated Clark County and North Las Vegas. The area was set as part of a federal program in 1994, but has been largely ignored by Washington since the start of the Bush administration.

Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, did not address Las Vegas in his bill. He said Las Vegas has tried to improve its poorer sections, pointing to ongoing efforts to draw a grocery store to West Las Vegas.

Montandon notes that Las Vegas' efforts have been futile, leaving the neighborhood without a market for more than two years.

Horsford says, though, that Las Vegas at least has made an effort to enhance one of its needy areas, which is more than he has seen from North Las Vegas.

"It's never enough, but there's progress," Horsford said. "From Cheyenne to Carey (in North Las Vegas) there hasn't been any progress. There are several acres that could be developed for some purpose."

Within City Hall, there also are whispers that Horsford's bill has political overtones. Montandon's political action committee, NLVPAC, donated more than $80,000 to Republican candidates for state Assembly last year, drawing the ire of Democratic incumbents.

Horsford dismisses the suggestion that his bill is payback, saying he is working to improve constituents' lives.

"I just want to make sure the other parts of the city are developing and have the basic services and things they deserve," Horsford said.