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By Aida Ahmed 
Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 | 4:32 p.m.
North Las Vegas is the ninth worst-run city in the country, according to financial news and opinion website 247Wallst.com.
The website posted its first list of the top 10 best - and worst - run cities in America on Thursday based on U.S. census data measuring unemployment, Moody’s credit ratings and FBI crime statistics.
North Las Vegas came in at No. 9 in the country for the worst-run cities with a poverty rate of 18 percent and a population of 217,304 with less than 77 percent of adults who graduated from high school. With the 28th highest violent crime rate and a credit rating of A2 with a negative outlook, the city placed in between No. 8 Fresno, Calif., and No. 10 Hialeah, Fla.
The report found that in 2010, 1 in every 5 homes in North Las Vegas was foreclosed upon and attributes its Moody’s A2 credit rating to "continued economic weakness and persistent financial challenges." Also noted were the 800 positions the city froze in order to reduce spending and its reliance on financial reserves.
City spokeswoman Juliet Casey said she agrees with the information in the report but said it represents the past.
"I don’t think it reflects the most current situation right now,” Casey said. “Yes, we struggled financially and were at the center of the foreclosure crisis, but we have maintained growth in population numbers. We’re still growing, still vibrant and have made greater strides in diversifying economic development.”
Miami, Fla., came in as the No. 1 worst-run city, mainly for its income inequality rate, (the second-highest in the nation). Detroit, Mich., and Newark, N.J., come in at No. 2 and No. 3.
Virginia Beach, Va., came in as the best-run city in the U.S. for its perfect AAA credit rating and some of the lowest violent crime, unemployment and poverty rates. Irvine, Calif., and Madison, Wis., come in as the No. 2 and No. 3 best-run cities in the country.
The website said the company reviewed resources from census data, crime statistics and credit ratings to compile the final metrics and ranked each city based on its performance in all categories. Cities that did not have crime or credit information were not rewarded or penalized for the missing data.
Shari Buck must be insulted that NLV wasn't #1. She's nothing but a Union stooge. Keep it up, NLV. We've got to get ahead of Detroit somehow. Thanks, Shari.
Who is Juliet Casey trying to kid? What is she doing, comparing this week to last week? Reading and watching the news stories about NLV, I sure haven't seen anything for me not to think that their placement in the top ten worst cities is well deserved. NLV has had a bad reputation for the entire 22 years that I have lived here. They are a blemish on all of Southern Nevada and nothing a city spokeswoman says would make me think otherwise.
"City spokeswoman Juliet Casey said she agrees with the information in the report but said it represents the past."
I like that response from the city. It represents an acknowledgment of the problem yet looks ahead. Although it's easy to place blame (my knee-jerk reaction upon seeing this topic again) what's more important is what we do from here on out. The city not only needs to continue to implement austerity measures, but needs to have a long-term plan to maintain fiscal health.
Isn't it time to stop stupid rankings such as this and get on with helping all to do well?
Well, congratulations! Based on the way they've been running North Las Vegas all the years I've been here, seems to me, they've been aiming to make this list. Do you know the difference between North Las Vegas & Henderson?...Conservatives make a Henderson, Liberals make a North Las Vegas.
Lists like this remind me of an Olympic 100 meter dash. Someone comes in last, but do folks then refer to them as a 'slow' runner? Hardly.
NLV has some issues. The concern should be on identifying those issues, and working to make them temporary instead of long term. That is what defines a well run thriving city.
I live in North Town, and this town is a JOKE. Take for example the squatters that have taken up residence in a small motor home right on our street. Calls to Code Enforcement results in no action as they are on the street and not on a piece of real property, and Code Enforcement has said they have contacted the Police. But nothing has been done. Though we live in an area designated by the CIP, the house we live in has been in the family since 1938, and we can do nothing to it since the city has a plan to eminent domain us out for 50K when their coffers grow a bit, but in the interim, we are unable to fix the place the proper way.
Yes the town is poorly run, but at least it is being run from a new 25M dollar building. The city has done away with all of its research staff for permits and records, but have enough money to continue constructing artsy construction in the center divider of LVB and Main Streets, but have nearly 100 homeless people living in the field immediately adjacent. This town is run poorly and HAS NOT turned any corner but the one that slips further down.
NLV ranks 28th in violent crime and has a police force that is at under 50% staffing based on national average and the city council is still asking for more concessions and with threats of more layoffs. I'm sure buisnesses looking to grow are eyeing this crime ridden city with it's new 150 million dollar city hall. I've got a idea, how about a 10 million dollar sign to attract buisness.
I don't think the city council will ever succeed in NLV until they require IQ testing before being able to run for office.
City "planners" + property developers + shaky insider deals at federal land auctions + insider politics + public intimidation by policemen and firemen (public servants)+ illegal immigration issues = 9th worst ranking. With a population in excess of 200,000, how many people voted in the last mayoral and city council election? A "perfect storm" indeed. And the city spokesman says that's all in the past. Right!!!!!
The Last Mayoral Race was very nearly a secret - none of the voting pamphlets were printed with a font larger then 14 point.
North Las Vegas should be absorbed into Las Vegas.
The Money saved by the elimination of duplicated Bureaucratic Leadership Positions should be enough to implement some Real Planning and Enforcement. The Vast Uneducated population of the entire Las Vegas area is the Legacy of easy money in Casino Service Jobs via Tips. That time will never return to prior levels. If Educational Standards are not increased, the entire region is looking at its future in North Las Vegas. The reality is that an uneducated population is of little value in the rest of the world, nor will anyone take a chance on a city where its highly trained workforce needs to be imported.
Another bit of good news to encourage companies to move to Nevada with our "low taxes and favorable business climate".
Growth in population numbers is NOT a good thing UNLESS our poverty & unemployment rates are going down & education rate is going up. Becoming a mecca for the unemployed &/or uneducated is not going to lead to better times for those of us who live here. We need state, county & municipal leaders who aren't part of the developer-construction special interests that continue to try and over-build our economy that they & their cronies can profit from -- we need people who will focus on bringing better jobs here & improving our schools.
The city also has one shoddy hospital, North Vista which experiences massive turnover in its staff. The employees and its leaders have no talent and are very unprofessional. The hospital is ghetto and and its location is in the ghetto. But don't take my word for it, you can visit this fine establishment on 1409 East Lake Mead. Say hello to the good for nothing CEO, Rick Kilburn and his puppet BOY Brian Smith.
I have live in North Las Vegas since 1997 moving her from Pasadena CA, where I worked for that City for 37 years. So why would I retired in NLV?
Because it's a City that is growing with the time and not with pass. You can talk about NLV all you want but Pasadena the jewel of the Orange Groves is so gang infested you can't walk the streets at night without a dog and a gun. You can walk at night in NLV, "When was the last time someone was car jacked in NLV?".."When was the last time a drive by shooting went down?" NLV, is a City that I chose over Summerlin, or Seven Hills. This is a friendly City, the people bend over backwards to help their neighboors. The kids are not afraid to play in the sreets. Neighoors watch each other's property when you not at home. They come and check on you if they haven't seen you for a while. I am 74 and love this area. It's close to 'Old Town" it close to the "Strip" The Parks are excellent and I should know as I was a Park Supervisor for 36 years with the City of Pasadena. Don't knock this town just remember why you came here and where you came from my friends.
Big surprise.
Read the list, all dem. strong holds. Where hard work, saving, investing are not virtue, where its more important to and rewarding to be a victim, and think someone else owes you a living, wait for the fools in government to take care of you, and you will always be "on a roof in a storm waiting to be rescued. Get the corrupt, incompetent government out of the way, and earn your own living, save our dollar, we will be fine with no f-ing failed government.