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Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 | 12:20 a.m.
Sun Topics
Steve Sisolak
Debra March
Kathleen Boutin
Deanna Wright
A town hall forum put on Monday by local elected officials was a humble beginning for something they hope will become much bigger.
Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak, Clark County School Board Trustee Deanna Wright and Henderson City Councilwomen Kathleen Boutin and Debra March met at Coronado High School for the open forum, which drew about 25 residents.
Some concerns were relatively localized: budgets, redevelopment projects and a low water pressure problem that has plagued a Henderson neighborhood in several years.
Other concerns raised – high foreclosure rates and illegal immigration among them – require action at levels beyond the control of local government bodies. While the four said they could do little in those areas, they said they hope their town hall events will eventually swell to include representatives from all levels of government.
Boutin said she plans to hold the event every six months and that she intends to invite the rest of the Henderson City Council and Clark County Board of Commissioners, as well as city department heads, representatives of regional government entities and Nevada’s congressional delegation.
“Political collaboration should be a new term that we start here and continue to build on throughout our terms,” Boutin said.
Though she acknowledged that there was little she or the other officials could do regarding some of the concerns raised, she said she hopes future town halls, with more levels of government represented, would begin to stir change.
Boutin said she was particularly touched by residents who said they were hundreds of thousands of dollars upside down in their home’s value or in danger of losing their home and looking for help.
“To hear the depth of the concern and some of the problems that were raised was saddening,” she said. “You feel helpless, because you know that there’s nothing you can do to help, and that hurts.”
March said the best advice she could give for now would be for residents to hang on.
“If you’ve got a job and can continue to pay your mortgage, do it,” she said. “The value may take several years to come back, but it will. … We’ve kind of gotten into this culture of flipping and moving, flipping and moving, and I think we need to get back to a culture of creating stable communities.”
Henderson resident Michael Ware said he attended the town hall because he wanted to meet Sisolak and ask him for advice on how to deal with an upside-down mortgage.
Sisolak suggested that Ware work with his lender and keep at it until he finds someone who can make a decision, then ask that person to work with him on restructuring the loan.
Finding that person who can make the decision and speaking directly to them is the key, Sisolak said.
“I think I’m about as satisfied as I could get, because (Sisolak) said what I was thinking,” Ware said. “It gives me a little leverage, a little traction to say, ‘Let’s work something out.’”
Sisolak said he hoped residents would go away believing they could contact their elected officials and expect something to come of it.
“If you hear of something in your neighborhood that gets your attention, please call us,” he said. “You are our eyes and ears. … We’ll deal with every single problem; we’re really good about calling back.”
The people doing the majority of flipping were not working people of Southern Nevada, who were (are) too focused on their jobs and families. The majority of flippers were gaming customers and other opportunistic investors from abroad. But, they surely had their snarly agents in town doing the local work for them on deals.
Word travels far when homes are appreciating 10-25 percent a year in a place that's fun to visit and leave.
When Nevada labor was serving drinks, cards and VIP line passes to some of these guests, the profits were going upstairs and to shareholders. Some of those shareholders were also home flippers.
In short, some of your hospitality customers were playing in Vegas against the value of your home, the value of your community, and the value of your tax money given to keep your lender from free falling later on.
They made you the fools, because the Bush 43 Administration wasn't smart enough to put a stop to abuses, abuses which began on Wall Street and ended in local mortgage companies in Clark County.
There's a lot of ways to point blame, starting with Bush 43 because it happened on his watch, but the best direction is towards those who made out like bandits in the private sector. They know who they are, they are home quietly smiling today.
The Bush 43 Administration approach to wide open space in financial dealing was not unlike being driven in a truck by a West Texas rancher 150 miles at high speed on a weekend to high stakes cockfighting. You're either all in, or not welcome. A few people win, and everybody else goes home a loser.
Obama is getting it right. The necessary changes are going to be slow, because change is going to be structural. The idea is when the economy does come back a lot of people don't get cheated, for the benefit of a few.
Bush SEC scorecard:
Martha Stewart
$45,000. insider trading scandal
Outcome: Jail
Bernie Madoff
billions in fraud
Outcome: NOTHING under Bush 43
Somebody correct me if I misinterpreted the article. As far as I can tell these leaders can't do anything to help home values rise in the future, but they do feel really bad about it and suggest that everyone just hang in there until the situation improves.
Is that the take home message?
"Sisolak suggested that Ware work with his lender and keep at it until he finds someone who can make a decision, then ask that person to work with him on restructuring the loan.
"Finding that person who can make the decision and speaking directly to them is the key, Sisolak said."
Sisolak's advice is both typical and wrong. FIRST be sure the "lender" demanding payment is actually who is owed. Make them prove it. See the Sun's past articles on this point --
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/sep...
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jun...
Wow, 25 people showed up! azbycx0918 you are right. These people can't do anything about the situation, so what was the purpose of this publicity stunt. Hmmm... The "power couple" was powerless! Nothing they said is any different than what has been out there for months. Don't hold these "forums" if there is no real agenda. I think you all thought you were going to play to a packed house. Maybe Ms. Boutin can serve hotdogs at the next "forum" in six months. What a waste of time!
A couple of you folks are so NEGATIVE. You can criticize these folks if it makes you feel better. At least they took the time on a Monday evening to meet people that wanted to show up and try to give them some answers. They tried to help some constituents and that is a good thing.
I am one of the first to criticize public officials for being aloof and unavailable. It is obvious that these three showed up, answered questions and tried to help. That is a good thing and they should be commended.
THANK YOU!!!
President Obama and his minions could end the housing crisis today if they were to chose to do so.
The only logical answer to their lack of motovation to do so must lie in the probability that connected forces are making a lot of money off of the situation.
UNLVGrad, what did they think they were going to be able to do for these people? If they had some answers that would of been commendable. They all know what the issues are, it has been in the papers for months. To hold a "forum" with NO agenda other than to meet "the power couple" has no value. Come on, Ms. Boutin is a Councilwoman for Henderson, she KNOWS what her town needs. Mr. Sisolak a County Commissoner he sees the needs the county has. And Ms. Wright knows that our graduation rate is horrible and what needs to be done to help that increase. These are smart people and they brought NOTHING to that "forum"! Most of these issues come up time and time again in the council meeting and school board meetings with no resolution. It is the same old rhetoric!
LOOKEYLOU, it sounds like you have a personal issue with these folks. I don't know if you attended the forum, but a friend of mine did. She had a question regarding the providing of healthcare services at UMC and Mr. Sisolak did answer it. Ms. Boutin and Ms. March did answer a question about development on Water Street.
If people had a question, they got a chance to get an answer to it. That is a good thing. It was billed as a Meet and Greet, not a planned agenda on some specific item. That being the case, it served its purpose.
Whatever happened to the promised Federal Government help?
I have no personal issue with either of them. Just tired of some people in politics put on a pedestal. The other people involved on the city council or school board or county commission also do good works. Why do these two just always seem to get the press? I am glad some questions were answered and your friend feels better. I didn't attend, I was working.
Gregory,
Put down the crack pipe. You've had enough for one day.
once again, it's a bunch of politicians jumping on an issue and say "we care about the community", but putting out no real solutions or steps to solve it.
blah, blah, blah...
the politicians in this town are addicted to gaming / tourism industry and they can't get that needle out of their arm.
you can not create stable communities with service sector jobs. the proof?
las vegas.
"Whatever happened to the promised Federal Government help?"
Excellent point. About a year ago this month what was it Obama was saying when he wanted our votes -- something about the federal government should be bailing out "main street, not Wall Street"?
I wonder why they didn't post the photo of the School Board Trustee? I agree UNLVGrad...if you read LookeyLous posts (click on read all posts) you can clearly see that he or she has some bizzzzaro obsession with both Steve Sisolak and Kathleen Boutin. What gives LookeyLou? Do you hate yourself so much that you can't stand to see others successful or happy?
I applaud the four elected officials who took the time to talk out issues (and let the audience dictate the drive of the topics choice) with not strings attached. Hey Harry Reid, will you be next? I have an unformatted question or two that I'd like to ask you!
Why were Boutin and March over in that part of town? Neither one represent that area.
Chris don't hate myself or my life. Are these two the ONLY people in Las Vegas who do good for the community? Where are the articles about all the other people who contribute to make life better in Las Vegas? Spread around the accolades!!
Who do you talk to about restructuring your loan? Our lender told us we need to be behind in the payments first. That seems kind of a stupid way of trying to save our credit rating. I've never had this problem before so I know nothing about what to do. Any help?
Execellent point las vegas2009
If you bought the house with the intentions of staying for a while,then yes you will borrow on it.But if you went upside down because you tried to keep up with the jones,then thats your problem,not the governments!
Dogsworld; henderson votes at large so they don't have districts. You have to live in a certain place to run but everyone votes for a candidate no matter what.
Did someone mention Bernie Madoff? Sorry but I don't have anything against the guy. All he did was scam some stupid rich people and their stupid charities. I have more resentment towards the banks that oversold us sub-prime loans and charge us $30 for a $1.00 overdraft. Bank officials indifferently tell us we should keep enough cash in our accounts to keep that from happening. I indifferently say to the Madoff suckers--you should never put more than 10% of your money in any one investment. See this video about overdraft fees:http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/09/your-money/credit-and-debit-cards/09debit.html?scp=1&sq=the%20card%20game,%20debit%20cards&st=cse
do you realize that san diego county is built out?And LA is almost built out to..Las vegas,how close to build out are you?...where is your water supposed to come from?Pee maybe?...so please,your home values are only going to go south....
people are stil going to have problem when they get layoff it either eat or paid mortgage. just wait when they start laying off at city center that will your next foreclosure
DO ANY1 HAVE INDYMACBANK PLEASE TALK TO CALLISTER AND REYNOLD THEY WON A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THEY CAN NOT TAKE OR FORECLOSE YOUR HOME PLEASE TALK TO THEM
An excellent link everyone concerned about this foreclosure plague should see, CNN's report on a Congresswoman -- not one of Nevada's -- telling everyone to refuse to be removed from their foreclosed homes. She's got some excellent points.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSOr16BFH...