Thread by @ByBrianaE

I’m at a rally outside @CityOfLasVegas City Hall where protestors are rallying against a proposed ordinance that would ban camping downtown. Here’s a primer from @Shea_LVRJ reviewjournal.com/news/politics-…

Things are just getting started now. The room inside City Hall will be divided by those who are for or against the ordinance. Many people experiencing homeless themselves will also give public comment.

Rev. Leonard Jackson with the Faith Organizing Alliance starts up the press conference: “We’re not going to criminalize homeless people ... we’re going to lift them up not tear them down.”

A veteran shares her story, explaining that with her last $50 she was going to buy a tent and a sleeping bag. “We need them (Council) to have courage. If they don’t, we will take this issue because we’re Nevadans and Americans and we will make this rightS.”

Minister Stretch Sanders leads a chant “Hey, hey! Ho, ho! The war on the poor has got to go!” He then demanded that the @CityOfLasVegas “gets a heart.” “If we don’t get justice, we’re going to shut it down.”

A few of the writings on the sidewalk as the protestors made their way into @CityOfLasVegas many targeted toward @mayoroflasvegas who supported the ordinance

Former @USNavy E-5 Gabrielle D’Ayr faced homelessness & said we have the pieces but need more shelter and housing. “These are people, they have names, they have faces, they have stories, they have lives,” she said. “anybody here could be next.”

Ok now we’re inside @CityOfLasVegas City Hall. Protestors have their signs up, but The Council is still going through formalities of the ceremonial matters in the beginning of the agenda. CM Crear said “it’s nice to see the chambers full this morning.”

There’s still a long line of protestors going through security waiting to be let into chambers.

As the Council and the @mayoroflasvegas sat back down, the protestors began to chant.

The @mayoroflasvegas says she will explain everything as we go so everyone will he heard. She told one woman that one more outburst and she will be escorted out. “There is public comment time” and that it will be discussed with the “respect of humanity for each other”

Mayor Goodman asked people to “try to have some manners here.” “I’d like you to please sit down and let us conduct our business...one more outburst from you and you’re out of here.”

Public comment is beginning now.

Brian Harris, president of the LV Black Business council told the the council “We need to come up with solutions. We cannot continue to come up with reasons that are good fop people to keep them out of mind and out of sight.”

Minister Stretch Sanders told Goodman that "you are a lousy city Council, and you are a lousy mayor" and quoted the Bible, saying its told them to "lift up those who are poor, and not lock up."

His wife, Kendall, told @VoteFiore that she did not appreciate her rolling her eyes during her husband's speech. "there are women that are bleeding down their legs... you can smirk you can roll your eyes because you don't know what it's like to sleep on the streets."

@VoteFiore .@mayoroflasvegas said "thank you for trying to help us with the solution to this enormous challenge... I appreciate every single one of you. ... if there's a moment to thank for good ideas and good thoughts you take it away by your screaming."

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas Arnold Stalk of @VetsVillageLV said housing with supportive services is a must. "The can has been kicked down the road for years. We didn't get here overnight and were not going to solve this overnight. I'm all about a master plan with funding to end homelessness."

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV Arash Ghafoori of @NVHomelessYouth said that the ordinance was not well thought out and enforcing this will be “giving them a scarlet letter that could affect future employment, benefits, including education and even securing housing."

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth Service providers asked to meet with Council to provide other solutions and "feel they have been left out" Exec. Director local
@usvetsinc
Shalimar Cabrera demanded more housing and said the ordinance will "jail veterans sitting on the very streets that they fought to defend."

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc Goodman agreed with housing, but disagreed that it was focused on jailing, fining vets. There have been two people escorted out by Marshals for speaking out of turn already.

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc Fuilala Riley CEO of @helpsonv said "I urge you do not pass this ordinance please don’t do this if at the very least if you can delay it and actually bring together your community partners."

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv John Butner said he is part of the working homeless. “No matter how many hours you work, you’re treated like a lesser person, especially at the courtyard.” he said he cannot get benefits if he makes wages more than $0.
@mayoroflasvegas
replies “Keep trying.” Crowd boos

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv Tasha Heath (sp?) of Southern Nevada watchdogs told the Council that gentrification is to blame for the city's homeless issue. “You gentrified your city. And that's on you guys."

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv first part of public comment is over. the issue will be discussed later on. @mayoroflasvegas “Thank you to everyone who has spoken, who has cared to come down here & express what’s in your heart...this council has been involved with the homeless situation for the last 20 yrs"

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv Item no. 62, the ordinance we've all been waiting for, is about to start right now. we're starting with a staff presentation to City Council. After questions from council, there will be more public comment and there may be additional questions from Council.

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv Everyone will now get 2 minutes, instead of the one minute that was allotted for the morning public commenters, @mayoroflasvegas said.

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv City attorney Brad Jerbic is presenting first: "Imagine this, you're not on the street, you're actually in Catholic Charities, you're working in a program.... And when you get a job, that job is not enough to put a roof over your had. That is crushing"

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv Jerbic: you have to look at mental health, those who are on the streets vs shelters, and the quality of the shelters. He identified the different kinds of subpopulations of the homeless.

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv Jerbic said the wage disparity is a "Real problem" and that there are enormous amount of encampments that are budding up in downtown. For DT businesses, where there are parking lots available for camping. "If that becomes an area that you can camp, that business dies."

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv Jerbic referenced a @Reviewjournal article that talks about the drop in the homeless count and federal methodology for counting changing. There is a formula the county uses to take that into account. Though ~5,500 were counted this year, est. is ~14,000 reviewjournal.com/news/politics-…

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv @reviewjournal Jerry Walker, the city's director of ops & maintenance, said that fire hazards, pedestrian-vehicle conflicts and odors and health concerns raised by camping-related activities. He is showing diagrams of recent abatement efforts downtown.

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv @reviewjournal .@ClarkCountyNV recently had a Hep A outbreak. Of the reported cases, more than 80 percent were people experiencing homelessness. Walker said in other cities that don't take precautions, you see much worse health concerns. The city wants to prevent that
reviewjournal.com/life/health/re…

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv @reviewjournal @ClarkCountyNV Many storm drain systems are obstructed by trash and encampments, leading to water contamination and sedimentation issues, Walker said. Encampment cleanups have cost the city $2.7M per year.

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv @reviewjournal @ClarkCountyNV The city says that @LVMPD or city marshals will notify people that they are in violation of the ordinance, tell them about available resources. As long as the person moves along in a reasonable time , they won't be subject to citation or arrest.

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv @reviewjournal @ClarkCountyNV @LVMPD Those with disabilities or medical emergencies will be assessed and will be exempt.

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv @reviewjournal @ClarkCountyNV @LVMPD Jerbic: "This ordinance is merely a tool, not about locking people up. That's ridiculous. that's absolutely absurd. And it's not what this ordinance says and it's been misrepresented from day one that that is what it says."

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv @reviewjournal @ClarkCountyNV @LVMPD Jerbic said that its not simply about installing port-a-potties and bathrooms, unattended "they turned into a more dangerous thing than what they're intended to do." CM Crear agreed, saying when he took a tour in LA, officers said bathroom facilities are riddled with drugs

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv @reviewjournal @ClarkCountyNV @LVMPD Jerbic: if there are no shelter beds available, we don't enforce period. "You can sleep on the street, even when its law ... you just can't pick your street."

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv @reviewjournal @ClarkCountyNV @LVMPD Jerbic: "Only after we offer to move you, only after we offer you assistance ... we'll put you in contact with service providers ... then, if I refuse to move, what do you do then?"

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv @reviewjournal @ClarkCountyNV @LVMPD .@lmorris1908 said that while the courtyard isn't perfect, the city decided they need to start helping people now instead of waiting the 3 years to build out the courtyard. "staff has leveraged resources so we can provide a full range."

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv @reviewjournal @ClarkCountyNV @LVMPD @lmorris1908 the Courtyard provides options for people that other shelters don't: you can have as many possessions as you want and a place to store them, no curfews, no breathalyzing, no checkout times, and pets can stay there and men and women (families) don’t have to separate.

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv @reviewjournal @ClarkCountyNV @LVMPD @lmorris1908 Hibbler said that the Courtyard dumps 5,000 gallons of human waste a week, which "saves it from being on the streets and costs us $250,000 a year"

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv @reviewjournal @ClarkCountyNV @LVMPD @lmorris1908 Morris Hibbler: The Courtyard, "It’s a model that could and should be replicated throughout Southern Nevada so that it can provide greater access to immediate services”

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv @reviewjournal @ClarkCountyNV @LVMPD @lmorris1908 The highest number of people at the Courtyard is 412 in October, which is about double of what was expected this fiscal year for occupancy, Morris Hibbler said

@VoteFiore @mayoroflasvegas @VetsVillageLV @NVHomelessYouth @usvetsinc @helpsonv @reviewjournal @ClarkCountyNV @LVMPD @lmorris1908 Morris Hibbler said AB73 was the city's bill, identifying funds for affordable housing while increasing sewer taxes and real property transfer taxes incrementally and raise $20 million "We complement the programs & services provided with a goal to serve more people expeditiously

Jerbic is showing what would happen if City Council would vote today. Enforcement would not happen until Jan. 31:

Jerbic: “everything is in the @CityOfLasVegas , we get people from outside our jurisdiction, and we’re continuing to serve and we're continuing to build."

@CityOfLasVegas CW Diaz asked about the barriers the ordinance could bring to the homeless trying to get back to the workforce. Jerbic said:
"Ultimately if there were no cooperation at all after every alternative was used, then we’d use the police power of arrest”

Here are the lines for the public comment. People on the right are in support of the ordinance and those on the left are against. We shall see if the Council will get to a vote today.

.
@LVMPD
officers, including Sgt. Chuck Callaway and Lt. Tim Hatchett, who oversees Homeless Outreach Team, supported the ordinance in public comment. "We appreciate the intent," Calloway said.

@LVMPD .@OyVegas said that although the city has said that enforcement will only be used as a last resort:
“You don't point a gun at someone unless you intend to use it," he said. “There needs to be more discussion, there needs to be more partners at the table.”

@LVMPD @OyVegas .@VictoriaDseaman , over the phone, said that she supports the ordinance. "The ordinance, it's a tool to help them get where they need to go and stop the encroachment among downtown residents and businesses," she said.

@LVMPD @OyVegas @VictoriaDseaman Seaman: "Our goal is to get the services they need protect them from exposure crime and disease and to get their lives back on track"

@LVMPD @OyVegas @VictoriaDseaman .@CouncilmanCrear said businesses do need relief, because they are the ones that bring tourism and jobs to our city and called it "disingenuous" to believe that the city isn't doing anything to address the homeless issue.

@LVMPD @OyVegas @VictoriaDseaman @CouncilmanCrear .@VoteFiore "This ordinance is about safety, health and sanitation."

@LVMPD @OyVegas @VictoriaDseaman @CouncilmanCrear @VoteFiore Fiore said that two of the Presidential candidates who have opposed the ordinance, @BernieSanders and @SenWarren , have similar ordinances in their cities (Boston, Burlington)

@LVMPD @OyVegas @VictoriaDseaman @CouncilmanCrear @VoteFiore @BernieSanders @SenWarren .@BrianforLV said he will be voting no to the ordinance, and that we need more wraparound services and "common sense solutions to a challenge that is intractable." "I appreciate the mayor for having the courage to say that Las Vegas can be better."

@LVMPD @OyVegas @VictoriaDseaman @CouncilmanCrear @VoteFiore @BernieSanders @SenWarren @BrianforLV .@OliviaDiazLV echoed Knudsen's sentiment against the ordinance. "We should not let this die today. Whatever the vote be, I hope that ... everyone feels equally invested in putting our heads together so that we can come up with a compassionate, effective and long-term solution."

@LVMPD @OyVegas @VictoriaDseaman @CouncilmanCrear @VoteFiore @BernieSanders @SenWarren @BrianforLV @OliviaDiazLV Diaz: "I would much rather have all of these gaps addressed, all of these services being furnished. And then after that will you say, we have the beds, we have the space, and they're still not taking the opportunity."

@LVMPD @OyVegas @VictoriaDseaman @CouncilmanCrear @VoteFiore @BernieSanders @SenWarren @BrianforLV @OliviaDiazLV BREAKING:
@CityOfLasVegas Council passed the controversial homeless camping ban 5-2 despite opposition saying the bill will drive the homeless into much-needed assistance and has been mischaracterized. Knudsen and Diaz were the holdouts. "it's flawed, but its a start." -Goodman