Voices of valley’s slump

By Timothy Pratt

Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008 | 2 a.m.

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.