Law used to thwart homeless helpers targeted

[NVMojo]

March 21, 2006

The case against two women cited while feeding the homeless was delayed after an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union said he would challenge the Las Vegas ordinance in federal court.

City marshals cited Gail Sacco and Lyla Bartholomae on Feb. 19 for having a gathering of 25 people or more at Huntridge Circle Park without a permit. Sacco was told by a marshal that she could not return to the park for six months. If she did, he warned, she would be charged with trespassing.

The two were cited while serving hot food, as they usually do, to the homeless at the park on Maryland Parkway, just south of Charleston Boulevard.

Allen Lichtenstein, general counsel of the ACLU of Nevada, said that he would file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the ordinance within a few weeks.

The city's ordinance, he said, was unconstitutionally broad and vague. Under the ordinance, Lichtenstein said, a single protester at a park who attracted a crowd of hecklers could be cited if 25 or more people showed up.

more...

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Mar-21-Tue-2006/news/6472254.html

[hobbit709]

1. Charged with trespassing

for being in a public park. PLEASE put me on that jury.

[NVMojo]

2. I know, it's ridiculous. A war against the homeless in Vegas ...

they number about 30,000.

[superconnected]

6. I bet the repugs call it a war on decent working people

The homeless of course would be the bad guys.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

3. Redonculous

I hate people such as those "Well, it says it in the law books"

[NaturalHigh]

4. What is to be gained by this law?

Is feeding the homeless a bad thing?

[enlightenment]

5. Nothing gained except making LV look

ridiculous -- again.

Huntridge Circle Park is VERY visible -- it's literally in the middle of the street, like a very large grassy center median. Maryland Parkway curves around it in either direction.
The location is not the 'best' in town -- middle to low-end commercial, mostly, but there's a lot of traffic since Maryland is one of the major north/south thoroughfares.

A couple of years ago they decided to upgrade the park. The work progressed at a snail's pace, and while they were working they kept it completely fenced off -- many, many homeless folks used (and again use) it for sleeping and sitting, so this was a way to keep them away.
Once they got it 'fixed up' I guess they figured the homeless would stay away -- they posted signs and crap everywhere, warning people about loitering and sleeping in the park. They were wrong, of course.

The city tries very hard to make it as tough as possible for the homeless -- they shut down a church run shelter (since reopened) and perform regular sweeps of tent cities and other conclaves. Late last year I was appalled to see two city dump trucks collecting boxes full of possessions near the Salvation Army shelter -- apparently they waited until the people were inside eating or seeking other aid, and then gathered up their stuff. I'm sure it's a regular event; it was just the first time I'd seen it.

This horrible attitude is, to me, the very worst thing about this city (and I don't particularly like this town so that's saying something).

[salin]

8. The old mentality - if we don't see it, then the "problem" is solved

of course for those with the mentality the "problem" is having to see/witness homelessness, not the phenom of homelessness.

[enlightenment]

12. That is precisely the problem --

and since Las Vegas builds its 'official' image on fulfilling the fantasies of tourists, the reality of homelessness is particularly offensive to the city officials.

This park isn't that close to the Strip, but the plans seems to be make things as difficult and uncomfortable as possible for the disenfranchised -- I guess they figure they'll just leave.

[Voltaire99]

7. Appalling.

Heartless fuckers.

[sarcasmo]

9. I have one homeless guy I feed will the city of fine me too.

[0007]

10. If the homeless feed themselves they're in big trouble.

[sarcasmo]

11. I would help them all if I had Bill Gates money. I figure if I can help

one person eat on my pitiful earnings then I am doing more than a Billionaire who does nothing.