Voices of valley’s slump

Portraits of economic angst emerge from local job seekers’ calls and e-mails

Sam Morris

Denise Laboy worked 30 years in escrow and got laid off in July last year when her company closed down.

By Timothy Pratt

Tue, Aug 5, 2008 (2 a.m.)

Sam Morris

Martin Hausler lost his job with Bags To Go at McCarran International Airport three weeks ago.

Sam Morris

Richard Berg got laid off by Vegas.com in November 2006. His unemployment ran out in May 2007

Jobless claims stress state: Good news? (7-30-2008)
Nevada unemployment rate reaches 14-year high (7-18-2008)
Signs are dim, but is Vegas’ future? (8-3-2008)

After reading Wednesday’s story about the state’s apply-by-phone-for-unemployment-benefits system, dozens called and e-mailed the Sun hoping the newspaper could connect them to jobs.

The story detailed how thousands of jobless people had a hard time getting past the state’s busy signal, and some got through only to be put on hold for up to two hours.

But it also noted a bright side: The state was hiring more people to answer the hotline.

So readers wanted to know where they could apply for the $15-an-hour jobs. Suddenly, on the other end of the line were the voices of the Las Vegas Valley’s current doldrums.

Here are the stories of some of those people, in their own words. In a cruel, final irony, it’s unlikely that any found work with the hotline because there were only 25 positions available — and some called back afterward to point out that the online system to apply wasn’t working.

Not all of those interviewed were willing to be photographed for this story.

Denise Laboy

I worked 30 years in escrow and got laid off in July last year when my company closed down. I lived in Tarzana, Calif., and have family here, so I decided to come live with them. I tried to stay in real estate, but it’s really hard right now. I’ve looked everywhere. I’m a 54-year-old woman who’s successful in my career and has management experience. But here it’s almost like you have to know someone just to get an interview. I’m living with my sister and niece in Summerlin. Everybody’s doing that today. I figure at my age, maybe I could still change fields.

Richard Berg

I got laid off at Vegas.com in November ’06. My unemployment ran out in May ’07. It’s hard to get work when you’re 70. I hooked up with Ryan’s Express and got some work from them driving beginning in February, but there’s been nothing since June. I called about extending my unemployment benefits and was on hold for 2 1/2 hours. What a joke. They must’ve been inundated. My wife and I get about $2,500 in Social Security together. We own our house, but have to pay $375 a month for the car, and last month’s electric bill was $234. We buy things at the 99 cents store. We look out for coupons and don’t go out much.

Martin Hausler

I was employed by Bags To Go at McCarran and got terminated three weeks ago. I had three months on the job. I was a cabdriver before that for three, four months — but it was hard to make any money. I’ve lived here since 2002. I’m 57 and from New Jersey, where I worked 25 years in public utilities. I don’t get benefits from New Jersey until I’m 65, so I need to work. I moved here to take care of my mother, but she died. I’m trying to establish myself here ... but 80 percent of all the places I go to tell me I’m overqualified. I’ve got an electrical contractor’s license, an electrical inspector’s license. I’m at my wits’ end; I have to do something and do it quick. This is my last effort, or I’m moving back to New Jersey.

Barbara Horenstein

I retired from Pacific Bell 10 years ago and went to work at Bank of America, but they decided to retire me. My husband and I live off of our Social Security checks. Together they add up to about $2,400. Our rent in Summerlin is $1,100 a month. If anybody is hiring, we don’t need insurance since, thank the Lord, Pacific Bell still gives us insurance. I’m 65. But I don’t look 65. I don’t act 65!

Kimberly Brown

I got laid off in April at Mobile Dentistry. We went to schools and most of the kids we helped were Medicaid patients. They lost the contract. I’d just gotten hired in January. I’m 39 and have been a dental assistant for 20 years. I’m trying to get into another field because a lot of dentists are not hiring full time and I need the benefits. I have a 14-year-old daughter and an 18-year-old son who plays football — without health insurance! I’ve tried the School District, UPS. This is the longest I’ve been out of work since I was 14. I’m getting desperate. My unemployment benefits are $343 a week, but if my boyfriend didn’t help I don’t know what I’d do.

May Tatsutani

I’m from Hawaii and moved here, where I got a job with the Clark County School District, where I worked seven years in personnel. My husband’s a slot technician. We came not realizing the economy would be so bad or we wouldn’t have come. I would like to earn some extra money because gas is so high, food is so high. You don’t need a secretary, do you?

Ishmael Guerra

I’m a veteran. I spent a couple of days trying to get unemployment benefits since I’ve been out of work for a year. I was a casino host for a long time and then I sold time shares at the Marriott. I’m 75. We get $1,800 a month in Social Security benefits between my wife and I. Our mortgage is nearly $1,000. It’s tough out there, I know — I sit next to a lot of young people at the JobConnect office, where I go to look for work. It’s like running against the wind.

Discussion: 10 comments so far…

By true_rebel_fan

8/5/08 at 7:57 a.m.

Suggest removal

hi to all of you, i know these times are rough, but it will turn-around. unfortunately, companies don't want to take advantage of your experiences and knowledge -- it's their loss.

i am a very drivin guy in my 30's, and, i'm having the same issues all of you are having. i, finally, questioned the human resources rep at my last interview about why i wasn't getting hired. she told me that i would not be hired because whoever hires me knows that i will be their boss in a short period of time. ? who cares? i'm trying to support my family.

good luck! you have to stay positive.
By jfnance32

8/5/08 at 8:49 a.m.

Suggest removal

High gas prices are killing Las Vegas.

"Southern California gamblers who regularly drive to Las Vegas have cut back their visits by a third because of record gas prices, and those who still come say they’ve cut their gambling back by 29 percent, a new poll has found."

"Airline cuts, high gas prices making Las Vegas tougher to get to and more expensive"

"US Airways Group Inc. announced last week that it was cutting nearly half its Las Vegas flights as part of companywide belt-tightening"

http://www.lasvegasun.com/news/2008/jul/......

There are trillions of oil and gas that has been locked up by the Democrats.

The sooner that we can get more supply into the system the sooner we can get the marginal capacity of supply above demand. Once we get good safety margin then the price of oil will drop significantly.

10 years ago the Democrats said, “Why drill in ANWR. It will take years for that oil to get to the market.” Too bad, it is 10 years later and that oil could have saved some jobs.
By ksand99

8/5/08 at 10:43 a.m.

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This is one of the reasons I support Barack Obama. He wants to invest so heavily in job training, the development of green energy jobs, and why he wants to provide tax relief for small businesses and create public-private business incubators.

The downfall of our economy can't be traced to a single factor. We need to look at new and innovative ways of training the workforce and providing people with the tools they need to switch industries.

More small businesses, a cleaner energy economy, a renewed entreprenurial spirit and job training.

John McCain agrees with President Bush's economic and job policies.

The millions of us losing our jobs every year couldn't disagree with Bush and McCain more!
By William

8/5/08 at 10:52 a.m.

Suggest removal

jfnance32, you pretend to have an opinion.

The Republicans have been in majority control for most of the last eight years.

Most of the ills facing our country have happened directly because of Republican policies.

Two wars, disastrous energy policies, steal from the poor and give to the rich, have all come from oilman Bush and oilman Cheney.

I know you don't want to believe it but 9/11 happened almost a year into Bush's term.
Condoleeza had an Exxon oil tanker named after her.

If lying were a crime, you would be in San Quentin.
By jfnance32

8/5/08 at 12:25 p.m.

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"The downfall of our economy can't be traced to a single factor. We need to look at new and innovative ways of training the workforce and providing people with the tools they need to switch industries."

I think Obama agrees with. Gas prices are not that big of a deal. But you and him will probably say that the high gas prices have not hurt tourism market in Las Vegas that much.

He probably will agree with that Las Vegas needs to bite the bullet and change all those casinos into basket weaving plants.
By thebs

8/5/08 at 1:44 p.m.

Suggest removal

That's not even worth replying to. Try again.
By ksand99

8/5/08 at 2:32 p.m.

Suggest removal

Jfnance32, I am sorry, but I don't believe you are serious!

Barack Obama has been talking about gas prices and energy for years!

He has proposed real reform of gas prices and the levers that drive the economy.

Just reducing gas prices won't solve everything!

We need to look at expanding public transportation, tax breaks for the middle class, housing market solutions, and most importantly for Nevada ,job creation!

I have looked at both Barack Obama and John McCain's job creation plans, and I think Barack Obama's plan will be better for Nevada!

The economy is in a slump, and John McCain just promises more of the same!
By gqbossing

8/5/08 at 4:41 p.m.

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The real reason you are out of jobs is you haven't kept up to date with the world and your old jobs became obsolete. I am sure your employers held onto you longer than they really should have but with the change in the encomy had to let you go. You can always find a job in a service industry making less money to make ends meet. I know most of you have too much pride to work in a restaruant or do manual labor, which is why I really don't have much sympathy for you.

I put myself through college working at McDonalds full time; and also doing part time jobs in roofing, delivering pizza, bartending and working other odd jobs. I slept about 3 hours a night on average for 6 years to make a living.

You simply have to lower your standards and do what it takes to make ends meet, not complain about not being able to find jobs in your field. What is happening is cylical and people have been forced to re-train for other professions many times....

This isn't a McCain vs. Obama thing either, it's a sudden impact of energy taking liquidity out of the market which is forcing employers to shed un-needed jobs from the workforce which should have been shed long ago. This will be corrected with American innovation and free enterprise no matter what subsidies the government gives.
By odeman

8/5/08 at 9:07 p.m.

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Congrats gqbossing, you have a job. Many employers wouldn't know a good employee if he came up and slapped him in the face. I have known many people whose only redeeming qualities were the right look and the gift of gab, get job after job after being fired for incompetence. I've seen many hard working people with the right skills and attitude struggle to find work. If employers are so great in the hiring process and it's all about skills, why is it so important to dress a certain way and behave a certain way during the interview. If your 55 plus, it's a fact that the phone isn't going to ring even if you have all the right skills. In so many companies how comfortable your boss is with you is more important than the quality of your work. Someday gqbossing you will get old and, through no fault of your own, you will be escorted out the door and out of a job. When new jobs fail to materialize you can write back and apologize for your ignorance.
By brownln4

8/6/08 at 8:36 a.m.

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I've been traveling to Vegas twice a year as a tourist and vacationer. I work for one of Detroit's auto companies and theres a saying around these parts " Lost your job yet, keep buying foreign" When will folks realize that even though their foreign vehicle was assembled in the good ol USA, the profit and engineering work goes back to the home country. So you just keep buying all foreign mechandise with your unemployment checks and this entire country will be owned by the foreign gov'ts - just give them enough time. I'm sure you have noticed the increase in foreign visitors to your city - why do you think this is???