Yesterday, I was shocked. And I wasn't the only one. Even Ralston was appalled.
So what actually happened? In case you can't see the above video, let me give you a quick synopsis.
Steve Sisolak wanted to be Clark County Commission Chair. And he knew 3 of his Commission colleagues (outgoing Chair Susan Brager, Larry Brown, and Mary Beth Scow) agreed.
However, Tom Collins also wanted to be Chair. He figured he had 2 more votes in his corner (Lawrence Weekly and Chris Giunchigliani), but Giunchigliani was still out of town and Collins needed more time to round up the extra vote he needed to get that Chair.
Here's where it starts getting nasty. When Tom Collins tried to delay the vote for Chair by mentioning Chris Giunchigliani's absence, Susan Brager quickly shot him down and claimed Giunchigliani never requested a postponement! With that out of the way, Steve Sisolak was then elected as the new Commission Chair.
But wait, there's more! The Commissioners present even squabbled over their seats! Larry Brown no longer desired to sit between Tom Collins and Chris Giunchigliani, so he asked to move. Yet right after Brown made his request, Lawrence Weekly refused to change his seat! And Tom Collins followed suit!
I'm not even kidding here. So what happened? Jon Ralston has an idea.
You can’t make this stuff up, folks. This really happened at a public meeting of the most powerful elected body in Nevada.
Beyond the immature pyrotechnics, here’s the serious conclusion: This is a bitterly divided board, one of the most in memory. And it’s personal. If Giunchigliani had been there, it would have been 4-3 on many votes, including for the chairmanship, perhaps, and certainly on one at the end on the coroner’s inquest system.
But the Sisolak-Brown faction won that one, too, with only Weekly and Collins opposing a proposal put forward by the new chairman and his lieutenant that abolishes the current coroner’s inquest system and replaces it with one derided by critics who say it is not nearly as transparent.
Certainly not as transparent as the power play executed by Sisolak and Brown on Monday, which gave us a window into a board that someone will soon be calling The Silly Septet.
So there are actually some serious policy disagreements behind the personal squabbles. In particular, there is a sharp divide on issues like reforming Metro (Police) and privatizing UMC. Still, that was some awfully juvenile behavior on display at Clark County HQ yesterday.
There's actually another dynamic behind what happened yesterday. Rumors abound on the political future for Steve Sisolak. Will he run for Governor next year? Will he run for another high office? So is he using his new Chairmanship of the Clark County Commission as a launch pad for higher office?
And does Tom Collins resent that? Or is his animosity towards Sisolak mostly rooted in policy disagreements? Or may it be a combination of both? And is it really a coincidence that Collins seems to have the support of the more progressive Commissioners while the moderates and conservatives are coalescing behind Sisolak?
Whatever the case, it looks like we'll all need to buckle up... Because Clark County HQ will be in for quite the bumpy ride this year.
About 30 members of the Nye County Republican Central Committee led the charge to make a citizen's arrest on three town board members after voting to repeal a town ordinance passed years ago.
Attorneys say Pahrump Town Ordinance 46 is unconstitutional because it restricts power of future town boards, and so they put the issue on the agenda to repeal it. Members of the NCRCC say that is illegal because it should have been put to a public vote. Town leaders voted anyway, and that's when meeting turned to melee.
Bill Carns led the charge, as NCRCC members tried to make a citizen's arrest on board members Harley Kulkin, Tom Waters and Vicky Parker. When Nye County Sheriff Deputies refused, the group tried to make citizen arrests on deputies themselves.
Board Chair Vicky Parker says the group has been disruptive before.
"This is just the first time they decided to arrest us," she said. "It was bullying, it was threats, intimidation, harassment."
At first, this looks like downright lunacy. And to a large extent, it really is. Last I checked, one actually needs to present evidence of criminal wrongdoing to make an arrest.
However, I can also see the real frustration behind this week's melee... And why it was finally unleashed.
Not that long ago, Pahrump was just a sparsely populated rural outpost far from any bustling metropolis. Now, it's a town of over 36,000 people that's increasingly looking like an exurb of the Las Vegas metropolitan area that's now topping 2,000,000 people. And now, Pahrump actually has a larger population than (incorporated cities) Boulder City and Mesquite combined.
Fifty years ago, Pahrump didn't even have telephone service! But especially in the last two decades, people have been flocking here seeking a "simpler", more bucolic life. And while there may still be some wide open space now, even that's been changing as more housing and commercial developments are approved. Really, this once rural outpost in the middle of nowhere is increasingly looking like an exurb.
And I can see why many folks there are becoming frustrated. They went to Pahrump looking for "the libertarian ideal". However, they found a community experiencing serious growing pains.
While the surface issue looks to be an ordinance prohibiting the pursuit of cityhood, I suspect there's more beneath the surface. And until Pahrump residents decide whether they want to save their rural way of life or continue growing into a full fledged Las Vegas suburb, there will likely be more of these problems going forward.
I just find it funny how the Nye County Republican Central Committee is butting into this dispute. They supposedly favor "limited government" and "individual rights", yet they're supporting a measure meant to limit peoples' First Amendment free speech rights. Oh, the irony!
But again, this may not be the last time we see this kind of explosion in Pahrump.
North Las Vegas indeed is facing an epic crisis, but it's just too easy for certain politicians in charge to place all the blame on unions. After all, Mayor Shari Buck had agreed to the very contracts she's now decrying. And Buck, not the police and fire unions, had the opportunity to turn the tide by scaling back the new City Hall to focus on keeping parks, libraries, and other essential service open, as well as develop a master plan to guide the city in pursuing realistic development options for all the city's empty land. Instead, Shari Buck and other city "leaders" wasted all that time chasing "magical pots of gold" (aka "casino row", unnecessary new housing, etc.) that only turned out to be mirages in the open desert.
Without a doubt, the city has made many poor decisions in the last decade and it's downright ridiculous for certain folks on North Las Vegas' city council to act "innocent" now when they supported the very policies that provided fuel when the recession caught fire and swept into the valley in full force. However, this can't entirely be laid on city "leaders", either. After all, the city can't control any tax policy. Rather, the state has been shortchanging Nor'town with lopsided C-Tax policies that provide more funding for Las Vegas and Henderson while returning far less revenue to North Las Vegas AND forcing Nor'town to run its own libraries. (The state directly funds public libraries in Las Vegas, Henderson, and unincorporated Clark County.)
And then, of course, there's that recession. Because North Las Vegas has more concentrated poverty than most of the rest of Clark County, it's always had more revenue problems. But when that's combined with fast new "boomtown" neighborhoods selling at grossly inflated prices and coupled with retail centers under construction, that makes a recipe for disaster. Really, all it took with the housing collapse and the onset of "The Great Recession" to cause North Las Vegas' house of cards to start tumbling down. And with so many deflated home values, empty retail centers, continued poverty hurting many city residents, and (again) a lack of proper planning to deal with anybody this, North Las Vegas was really doomed for disaster.
So really, it was a combination of poor planning, poor leadership, and no action to address the still poor people that led Nor'town into the mess it's now mired in. But now, it will take not just the entire city, but the entire valley and perhaps even the entire state to solve this crisis. After all, if North Las Vegas falls, then the entire Southern Nevada economy is at risk from the resulting bad media and the horrifying effects of the lack of government in a large portion of Clark County. And if our economy takes a hit, then the entire state ultimately suffers.
So really, Nor'town needs "an extreme makeover" at city hall ASAP. The people of this city need better local leadership and a real game plan to end this crisis. If they don't get this, then we're all at grave risk.
Clark County did not prove that a firefighter the government terminated at the height of the sick abuse scandal abused his privileges, an arbitrator has ruled, potentially costing the folks on Grand Central Parkway a lot of money.
Donald Munn's lawyer says the award could even up worth seven figures considering that the fired firefighter wants his job back with all benefits, too.
Although the arbitrator said an email sent by Munn raised suspicions about the use of sick leave in the department, the county had no cause to fire him and did not meet the burden of proof.
Back in March, Ralston interviewed the firefighter and attorney who sued Clark County. (Skip to 14:15 in the video below to catch it.)
Certainly, there have been problems with police and fire contracts in Clark County. However, that's more because of lazy local elected officials. They figured it was cheaper to pay current firefighters good salaries with good benefits for doing extra service than recruit more new firefighters. So once "The Great Recession" hit, we suddenly saw a "crisis" where there hadn't been one before.
While Clark County government certainly has not attacked firefighters like Clark County School District has hit teachers, it's increasingly looking like they may have also overreached in firing firefighters who had nothing to do with the sick leave scandal. So chalk another expensive legal loss to a former employee for Clark County. I hope this isn't becoming a habit. After all, law suits and arbitration battles cost money, too.
And it looks like this is just a little taste of the rancor we may see at the Nevada Republican Party Convention in Sparks next weekend. Jon Ralston could barely contain his ecstatic glee "grief" over what's looking increasingly likely to go down next weekend.
As much as I would hate to see it, the Paul folks are intent on trying to do in 2012 what they almost did in 2008 — hijack the national convention delegation. Even though Republican National Committee rules mandate that the Nevada delegation votes proportionally to the caucus results — Romney received 14 delegates to Paul’s five — do the rules really apply to the Texas congressman’s acolytes?
It would seem any victory would be Pyrrhic, perhaps emphasizing Paul’s image in Establishment circles as the crazy uncle of the GOP. But the presumptive nominee also doesn’t want to alienate the legions of Paul sycophants.
Team Romney has sent a missive to every delegate to the state convention, trying to build the votes necessary to blunt the Paul surge. “It’s clear that now is the time to unite as Republicans to defeat Barack Obama in the fall! Attending the State Convention is a very important way for you to support the Republican Party’s efforts to turn Nevada red. We need your voice and your support at the convention,” Romney State Director Sarah Nelson wrote.
My guess is most of the Paul delegates immediately deleted the email. But, perhaps I am too cynical. Or conspiratorial.
Truly, I would hate to see chaos ensue at this hallowed event.
And I’m sure that won’t happen just because new GOP Chairman Michael McDonald, who will oversee the May 5 convention, is essentially an honorary Ron Paul person. His close allies — David Isbell and Jesse Law — are Paul guys. Bunce signed onto an endorsement list for McDonald. And Paulite James Smack, McDonald’s predecessor, endorsed McDonald. Oh, and the Romney campaign stayed out of the chairman’s election.
None of that can be good for Team Romney. But, I, of course, would hate to see any sparks in Sparks.
This goes back to Orrin Johnson's complaint that Ron Paul's campaign is out to steal national delegates from Mitt Romney. However, as I noted yesterday, Ron Paul's campaign has never really been secretive about its "delegate strategy". Remember, a senior Ron Paul campaign advisor went on MSNBC in February to boast about it! Doug Wead defended this by flatly saying, "80% of success is showing up, and our people show up", and that the Paul campaign is only playing by the very rules the RNC allegedly created to give Mitt Romney an extra advantage.
And now, some Republicans are worrying about this even more because of their new Chairman. After all, many of Ron Paul's loudest Nevada allies also happen to be big Michael McDonald supporters. Will he really be in the mood to stop another Ron Paul coup at the Nevada GOP Convention? Or might Ron Paul's campaign actually encounter more success this time than in 2008?
Ron Paul's campaign has hurled a number of allegations of wrongdoing since Caucus Day. So how better for them to "fight back" than to enlist an expert in local government wrongdoing as a powerful ally! Just never mind that this powerful ally embodies everything that Ron Paul's "tea party" following supposedly reviles.
Remember that special election coming up? Come on, you know which one I'm talking about! Las Vegas is having another special election for city council, this time in Ward 2 because of Steve Wolfson's appointment as Clark County District Attorney. And already, the fireworks are being launched. I guess because this is such a short campaign, the explosives are really stunning.
However, there was another surprise in that poll. Ric Truesdell was at 15%, but right behind him was Kristine Kuzemka with 13%! Can she be "the dark horse candidate" that overtakes Beers and Truesdell if those two go deep into a mud wrestling match as early voting begins today?
And she really seems to be surprising pundits by taking a different tack to city issues. So far, all the Republican/G-O-TEA candidates have been bashing the recent Downtown Las Vegas redevelopment projects and talking endlessly about "cuts, Cuts, CUTS!!!!!" like they're Paul Ryan. Kristine Kuzemka, on the other hand, is talking about bringing new revenue to the city by looking at new opportunities and bringing in new businesses. She was on KNPR's "State of Nevada" Tuesday, and she explained how the abundance of affordable housing can be used as an opportunity to bring in high-tech businesses and make a real effort to diversify the local economy.
We'll have to see how voters react in this final week to both Kristine Kuzemka's different positive message and the budding negative crap fest between Ric Truesdell and Bob Beers. Perhaps this is a glimmer of hope that Las Vegas voters are getting sick and tired of the same old "GOOD ol' boy" next-in-line kind of politics as well as the same old "tea party" games of blowing up government and leaving locals helpless? Let's see if Las Vegas Ward 2 is ready to show us a surprise.
Reno is facing a potential $7 million budget shortfall next year, according to preliminary budget figures presented to the Reno City Council Wednesday.
In all, the city is facing $152 million in estimated costs for 2013, down from $166 this year, and only $145 million in revenue to pay for them, representing a $21 million decrease in total general fund revenues.
The decline is largely the result of Washoe County ending its 12-year-old contract with the city and the $11.3 million it sent Reno each year to pay for fire services in the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District.
Other factors include an estimated $2 million, or 5 percent, decline in property tax revenues, falling income from things like sewer and water fees and federal and state grants expiring.
As you can clearly see, it's not just the state that's facing major revenue problems. It's now "trickling down" to the local level as well. Clearly, the City of Reno faces even more difficult decisions ahead. However, the budget blues don't stop at the Washoe County line.
Henderson's largest employer is cutting jobs again. The City Council recently approved $5 million to fund a fifth round of the Voluntary Employee Severance Program, which is expected to result in the vacancy of close to 100 jobs, projected to save the city $5.3 annually.
Since the program's inception in January 2009, 242 of the city's 1,839 full-time employees have accepted the buyout package, resulting in a savings of $31 million, according to Richard Derrick, the city's financial director.
Fred Horvath, the human resources director, is not surprised that so many Henderson employees have chosen to participate.
"I've done this six times in the private sector before I came to the city of Henderson," said Horvath. "We built it so it would be attractive to people, because if you really want to see people take advantage of it and leave the organization, you have to make it worth their while to do so. Because they're leaving, for many of them, the best job they'll ever have."
As we've been seeing lately, Henderson has faced some extraordinary problems lately. The police chief is stepping down after the revelation of a horrifying display of police brutality (used against someone suffering from diabetic shock!), and the City Council is now trying to recover from the resignation of Kathleen Vermillion. Yet even as the city has had to deal with more high-profile and salacious scandals, Henderson still has that pesky budget deficit to close as well.
So what caused all this? Basically, local governments were betting on "The Growth Machine" to keep fueling more real estate speculation, thereby continuing to fill up their coffers. But once the real estate bubble imploded and the overall economy collapsed, what was once thought to be "reliable" cash flow suddenly disappeared.
And in case that wasn't bad enough, the Legislature raided local governments' treasuries by turning many services that had been funded by the states into unfunded mandates that the counties are expected to carry out. So now local governments will have to provide services that used to be handled by the state, further hurting municipal budgets. (Remember that there's likely a "domino effect" in additional service requirements handed down by the state forcing local governments to cut funding elsewhere.)
If anything, our cities and counties need more support to continue functioning properly. But instead, the state has been eyeing their money as an "easy way out" to fill the state's deficit. And this brings us back to what we were discussing earlier this week: Why are giant multinational corporations still getting bailed out while our counties and cities are getting hosed down?
It's easy to complain to the city or county when police service isn't adequate, or when some road is decrepit, or perhaps when a park is in disrepair. But when the city/county had money that was supposed to take care of all that taken away by the state, what is the city/county supposed to do?
Desert Beacon pondered this over a year ago, when Brian Sandoval was proposing even deeper cuts and even more shifting of burdens to the local level.
There is another question implicit in the whole notion of rankings — what is the balance between state and local collections? Are the collections 5% state and 95% local? Are they 50%-50%? This does make a difference. In Nevada, where it is quite possible that the state will seek to shift the burdens of enforcement, application, and implementation to the local level — does the local government have the tax revenue resources to take on the responsibilities thus shifted?
If the local governments do not have the revenues necessary to enforce, apply, and implement public programs then the cuts cascade down from the top. If, for example, the state no longer subsidizes the inspection of foster homes or ambulatory surgical centers, or the testing and reporting of water quality standards — then does the local or county government have the revenue resources available to take on those responsibilities? If not, then it’s reasonable to conclude that what we have is “less government” but not necessarily “better government.”
Going forward, Nevada will really have to fix this ongoing problem. And yes, I do believe it will have to involve changing our tax structure. Again, why do the likes of Barrick and Wal-Mart keep getting tax breaks while local governments are forced to do more with less? That's a question we really need to ponder more.
Embattled Henderson Police Chief Jutta Chambers announced in a meeting with staff Thursday that she would retire effective March 1, a city spokesman said.
Chambers’ retirement comes in the wake of criticism and calls for her resignation) after a video was released last week showing a Henderson Police officer kicking a restrained driver in the head five times during an October 2010 traffic stop. The driver was suffering insulin shock.
The motorist, Adam Greene, and his wife agreed to approximately $158,000 settlement with the city last week.
In a news conference Thursday morning, Mayor Andy Hafen said the Greene incident troubled the city council and that members asked City Manager Mark Calhoun, who announced his retirement earlier this week, to discuss the matter with Chambers.
Deputy Police Chief James White will take over as acting chief, and the new city manager will have the responsibility of hiring a permanent replacement, Hafen said.
Well, at least this is a start. It would also help if Sgt. Brett Seekatz, the officer who kicked Adam Greene in the head, is finally properly reprimanded for his despicable behavior. And Henderson PD needs to make sure officers know that this is unacceptable behavior that should never be repeated.
At least it looks like the City of Henderson is finally realizing the severity of this problem. A growing number of residents just don't trust the police any more. And if law enforcement can't be trusted to follow the law themselves, then who can be effective at enforcing the law?
Hopefully, this is the start of Henderson cleaning house at police headquarters.
On Thursday, Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen (D) sought to put the city's best foot forward in his State of the City Address. Was it too late? Earlier this week, outrage broke out over this. And due to the violence in the video below, viewer discretion is definitely advised.
The City of Henderson markets itself as "A Place to Call Home". But after watching this video, I must admit I feel less proud of calling this place home.
One of the videos shows [Adam] Greene swerving as he drives east on Lake Mead [Parkway] for about three minutes until he stops for a red light at Boulder Highway. At that point, a trooper gets out with his service weapon pointed at the driver, who is still seated. The trooper kicks the window with his foot.
“Don’t move! Hey driver, do not move!” the trooper says. “Hands up!”
A trooper opens Greene’s door, and four officers — troopers and Henderson police — pull him out of the car.
A series of commands follows: “Get on the ground! Stop resisting, (expletive), stop resisting (expletive)!”
Greene groans as four law enforcement officers push him onto the pavement and, joined by a fifth, restrain and handcuff him. At that point, a Henderson police officer walks into camera view, steps up to Greene and kicks him five times in the head, twice with his left foot, three more with his right. The officer then walks away nonchalantly, and turns briefly toward the direction of the [Nevada Highway Patrol] NHP cruiser whose camera is pointed his way.
With Greene subdued on the ground, an officer searches his pockets and finds a vial of insulin and announces it to everyone, looking up to the sky.
“He could be a diabetic,” he says.
“Yeah, I see that,” someone answers.
Someone else says to a dispatcher over the radio: “He’s a diabetic. He’s probably in shock, semiconscious.” [Emphasis mine.]
Both the city and the state should be thanking their lucky stars that they are settling this law suit for only $292,000. Greene may have been able to get more after a full trial. And frankly, he probably deserves it after being kicked to the head so brutally, and being kicked simply because he was experiencing diabetic shock.
And now, more questions are arising as to why the city didn't respond more quickly to this, and why Henderson's City Council was apparently left in the dark. Coolican dedicated his Sun column today to this growing scandal, and he seemed genuinely baffled by how Henderson does business.
A problem I had reporting this story Friday is that Henderson takes Fridays off. How Greek. (OK, to be fair, they work four 10-hour shifts.) Hafen didn’t return a message to his home. The police spokesman told me the chief was off.
[Ward 1 Council Member Gerri] Schroder said when she saw the video Monday she was “shocked” and “disappointed” and then happy to learn that Henderson Police “used this incident to further train officers to ensure this does not happen again.”
I asked if she had talked to [Jutta] Chambers, the police chief, about discipline meted out to [Sgt. Brett] Seekatz [one of the offending officers]. Or about disciplinary procedures more generally. Or about whether the officer is still interacting with the public.
Schroder said the city charter prohibits her from interfering in personnel matters. She’s right, and for good reason: We don’t want part-time city council members meddling and micromanaging. The council supervises the city clerk, city attorney and city manager.
But she can’t even ask questions?
OK, Coolican. Let me explain what's going on.
For some time now, Henderson has shut down city offices on Fridays to save money. Yes, it's actually about saving money... Not being "Greek". If folks here are genuinely angered by this, then we need to be willing to pay more taxes if we want an open-5-days-a-week city hall.
And in regards to Gerri Schroder being reluctant to meddle in police affairs, this can't be pinned on just her. The entire culture of Henderson City Hall has been about a smooth and very trusting relationship between the city council and city staff. Usually, this results in positive developments. While the rest of the valley has been rocked by local governments waging war against public workers, Henderson has managed to negotiate staff reductions and "employee buyouts" with the public worker unions. And while other local governments have become accustomed to complaints of being non-responsive to citizen requests, Henderson has pioneered ways to make government more accessible (such as the city's iPhone app).
However, not everyone has always been happy with this attitude at city hall. During the Pittman Wash concretization controversy last year, I heard several complaints about how City of Henderson Public Works often seemed to keep everyone else in the dark over its internal workings, as well as its unwillingness to take constructive criticism and the council's past willingness to go along with virtually whatever Public Works proposed. I remember the Wednesday night public hearing on concretization back in July and how Public Works seemed to show a tin ear to the public's demands.
I paid attention to what city engineers were saying. I listened as they were building their case for concretization.
I then asked them one important question, a question they would continue to be asked all evening. "Have you considered the alternatives?" Interestingly enough, the only options they ever considered were a trapezoidal concrete channel and a rectangular concrete channel. So all along, the only options they've cared to look at are concrete and even more concrete.
Thankfully, that seemed to be the low point that led to some needed rethinking on that whole affair. After several weeks of more negotiation with Project GREEN, along with Mayor Andy Hafen and Ward 4 Council Member Sam Bateman showing interest in a compromise that all sides can live with, Henderson Public Works ultimately agreed to building a less environmentally intrusive arch culvert at the UPRR railroad crossing. Construction is set to begin later this year, along with revegetation of the wash near Valle Verde Drive that was part of last year's deal with Project GREEN.
So perhaps there's hope for the police department, as well. While city officials often pride themselves in keeping Henderson's "small town feel", we can no longer deny that we're becoming a big city... And a big city with all those "big city problems" that Las Vegas has already become accustomed to grappling with. Especially since The R-J began its series examining Metro Police shootings, Las Vegas and Clark County have had to ask tough questions on why the authorities who are supposed to protect the community have caused the greater community to ask for protection FROM them.
I hope the City of Henderson doesn't wait until The R-J or Sun does a series on its struggles with police brutality before taking decisive action to curb this abuse of our own people. The police department is obviously in need of more public oversight. The city again needs to pay attention to the people living here and allow for independent review of the police department so we can see what needs to be done to fix the department and restore trust in local law enforcement.
Yesterday, Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen explained why we should be "positive and upbeat about the future" in his State of the City Address.
Hafen used the address Thursday, attended by hundreds in the Henderson business community, to announce a $156 million expansion of the St. Rose Dominican Hospital Siena campus. The expansion, he said, will add 130 new beds and double the size of the hospital’s emergency room, with construction beginning in the next few months.
He also welcomed a $28 million expansion of the Levi Strauss distribution facility in Henderson, which will bring with it a 50 percent increase in staffing. [...]
He pointed out the city has received several distinctions in the past year. Bloomberg Businessweek named Henderson No. 38 in its list of America’s 50 Best Cities, and Forbes ranked Henderson as the second-safest city in the nation.
Hafen also highlighted Henderson’s goal for its residents to live in a “premier community.”
He said he wanted the community to know Henderson was the safest and best place to live in the valley, despite the effects the dire economy has had on the city.
Hafen also addressed the opening of TH Foods' manufacturing plant here in Henderson, as well as the new Union Village health care and mixed-use development set to break ground this year. He also gave a shout-out to new Ward 3 Council Member John Marz.
And this morning, The Sun has an in-depth article on the rise and fall of Kathleen Vermillion's political career. It's quite the tragic read. I'm sure she was genuinely interested in helping kids in need when she founded the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. But as one climbs and corporate and political ladders, it can be easy to forget the reason why one started on the ladder in the first place. It can also be easy to lose one's own identity.
Partnership employees told of a topsy-turvy work environment. One employee, who asked to remain anonymous, said Vermillion was unpredictable. She would be absent from the office for days and then, upon returning, be intensely critical of what was happening there.
“It was Kathleen’s world, and everyone is affected by her emotional state,” the employee told the Sun. “If she is in a bad state of mind and goes into her bottom swing, everyone fears for their jobs. It would change day to day — from her praising people to talking about firing them.”
Co-workers might complain to board members, but their complaints never reached a full-board discussion. Vermillion “tightly controlled her board” and was “good at manipulating perceptions,” the employee said.
“There was a good Kathleen and a bad Kathleen,” the employee said. “The good Kathleen was very sincere about the children; the bad Kathleen would throw anyone out of the bus.”
I think this article sheds some light on what may have caused Tuesday's tragic news. At some point ten years ago, Vermillion wanted to change the way we "deal with" homeless youth. Again, I'm sure she genuinely wanted to help back then. But now, Vermillion needs to help herself and her family. And hopefully, dropping the law suit against Sisolak is the first step in doing that.
And as I wrote late last month, the whole city has to recover from this. Even as large as Henderson has grown, many residents here still talk about "the small town feel". I certainly felt it in the last month as nearly everyone around town had an opinion on the Vermillion-Sisolak scandal. While it was probably best that Mayor Hafen didn't specifically address this in his State of the City Address yesterday, there may be more work to be done in restoring confidence, and in ensuring that personal affairs don't become so intertwined with city business in the future.
Hopefully, there's still a chance for some sort of positive end to this sad affair. And hopefully, Henderson can move past this and look forward to what looks to be exciting developments in our future.
Sources say Kathleen Vermillion’s 15-year-old daughter saved her life after finding her in medical distress about midnight Friday and calling 911 for help.
Vermillion, an ex-Henderson City Council member who is being investigated by the FBI and who lost her job as the head of a charity she founded 10 years ago, appeared to have attempted suicide with an overdose of pills, sources said.
She was transferred to a local hospital and is under observation.
“Her daughter saved her life,” a source close to the family said.
Regardless of what one now thinks of the scandal that took down Vermillion's political career, destroyed the reputation of the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, and continues to involve Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak (D-Henderson), it's taken a turn... And a very disturbing one at that. This is now about more than just the political future of Steve Sisolak. This has turned personal, and this is simply tragic.
I sincerely hope Kathleen Vermillion is seeking help to deal with whatever ails her now. Speaking from my own personal experience in dealing with personal hardship and family problems, I know crap like this takes a real toll on one's soul. Just setting aside the political issues for now, I hope Vermillion can find the help she needs and the help her daughter will probably need to navigate through what's become a family crisis.
I never wanted to have to write this kind of follow-up to last week's diary. It's just saddening to see this political scandal turn into a personal tragedy.
Let me try to explain. Since 2008, Vermillion's and Sisolak's relationship has been a factor in Henderson politics. Sisolak was elected County Commissioner in November 2008, and Vermillion (then known as Kathleen Boutin) was elected City Council Member in June 2009. They were to be "The Ultimate Power Couple". He was the "fiscally conservative watchdog taking on the firefighters" at the county level, while she was the beloved community leader in Henderson who was doing so much good for local teens in need. Everything seemed perfect...
But obviously behind the scenes, it wasn't. We've already been seeing the details behind the deterioration of their romantic relationship. However, that wasn't the end of it. Perhaps last year's jurisdiction battles and municipal elections were a sign of what's to come. Kathleen Vermillion voiced early support for the controversial plan to concretize part of Pittman Wash, while Steve Sisolak opposed it. And Sisolak backed the challengers to two of Vermillion's colleagues on the Henderson Council (Gerri Schroder in Ward 1, and Debra March in Ward 2) in last year's election. At one point, they were also endorsing opposing candidates in the Ward 4 election. (Vermillion endorsed Mike Mayberry early on before switching to "neutral" just before the runoff, while Sisolak endorsed Sam Bateman.) Honestly, I found it strange hearing him complain about the supposed "fiscal recklessness in Henderson" (which actually has the lowest city worker to resident ratio and the lowest property tax rate in the valley!) when his girlfriend was on the council.
But even now that Vermillion is off the council and the NPHY board, questions remain. How did Vermillion spend the money at her charity? How did Vermillion spend the city's tax dollars? Why is Clark County government now being dragged into this fiasco? Were city business and county affairs affected by Vermillion's and Sisolak's personal relationship? And perhaps most importantly, what can the City of Henderson do to ensure city government is not paralyzed by this kind of personal drama in the future?
As we had discussed last week, it's crucial for Henderson to move on from this hot mess and get back to governing. Without a doubt, the council members, and especially new Ward 3 Council Member John Marz, face a grueling challenge ahead in rebuilding trust with the community and assuring residents that the Vermillion-Sisolak scandal is one that isn't destined to be repeated in Henderson. How can they prevent this kind of personal drama from infecting all levels of local government in the future?
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Of course, Henderson isn't the only city in Southern Nevada facing lurid scandal. In Las Vegas, voters are still casting ballots that may determine not only Steve Ross' political future, but also how effective issues surrounding conflict of interest will be in shaping future campaigns.
Steve Ross has repeatedly been accused of being involved in all sorts of conflict of interest and ethics violations. He obviously hasn't been a model for great public service, and many residents are honestly (and IMHO justifiably) irked by this. However, many of these same residents are also wondering why they're voting on this recall today. Why?
Enter Joe Scala. Apparently Scala is still fuming over being denied a license to keep his car dealership in Centennial Hills open, and he's blaming it on Ross. So now Ross is accusing Byron Goynes, the one candidate who qualified to run against him in this recall election, of being "a puppet for Scala"... And he's even trying to tie Goynes and Scala to Henderson's Vermillion-Sisolak scandal by pointing out the recall committee hiring the same PR strategist (Mark Fierro) who's taken on Kathleen Vermillion as a client! Oh my, and the plot thickens.
Honestly, I'm still trying to figure out the whole point of this. No, I've never really been Steve Ross' biggest fan. I still wonder why he sought to earn Homophobic-Bigot-in-Chief Richard Ziser's endorsement when he ran for Las Vegas Mayor last year, and his stunning lack of knowledge on the big issues facing our country still disgusts me. However, I still can't clearly see the reason for this recall. Has Ross committed a crime? Is he egregiously failing in his duty on the council? And have his obvious public policy shortcomings become such a matter of emergency that Las Vegas can't wait one more year to vote him out (when he will again be up for reelection in Ward 6)?
Is this a genuine effort to clean house on the Las Vegas City Council? Or is this just an angry car dealer's vendetta being carried out on the taxpayers' dime?
Last June, I declared that there's something rotten in the state (really, city) of North Las Vegas. And despite (or maybe because of?) Shari Buck's efforts to turn all those frowns upside down, I still have to wonder where that stench is coming from (other than whatever's going on at that waste water treatment plant). Why is a new city hall open while parks and community centers have closed? What really needs to be done to change the city's image (other than glossing over the faults everyone else clearly notices)? And how can all that empty land be transformed into a vital part of the local economy?
Perhaps North Las Vegas' dilemma is the most basic and existential problem of them all. Really, how can North Las Vegas move forward?
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Certainly this year, the bulk of the media's attention will be turned to the hot, "sexy", top-of-the-ticket elections. After all, with the G-O-TEA clowns coming to town, there will be plenty of fodder for local newscasts and national cable news shows alike. But after all the hoopla of the caucus and fighting over who really won what, these local problems will remain. And really, the government we most often deal with is the local variety. Whenever we have problems with rowdy neighbors or pesky potholes or dilapidated parks or dangerous sidewalks, we go first to city hall.
And so far in this first month of 2012, we've had plenty of food for thought as personal drama got out of hand in Henderson, a recall election unleashed plenty of chaos in Las Vegas, and still unanswered questions of the city's viability in the not-so-distant future linger in North Las Vegas. How does local government address scandal? How can local government try to prevent scandals from ruining its reputation? And how can local government heal rifts with the community after scandals come and go?
Local government theoretically should be the government that we trust the most and hesitate the least over engaging. Yet for some time, a combination of the public's misperceptions and genuine scandals has tarnished our cities' reputations and made folks ask what's really going on at city hall. Going forward, Henderson, Las Vegas, and North Las Vegas all have to face their own respective challenges in restoring trust and giving the people of Southern Nevada reason to believe that past sordid tales of corruption really are a thing of the past.
And while the Vermillion scandal continued to deepen, the rest of the Henderson Council had to decide upon a replacement for Ward 3. Ward 4 Council Member Sam Bateman had proposed a special election, but the rest of the council ultimately decided to appoint a replacement. And from there, the City Clerk collected applications from 14 Henderson Ward 3 residents vying to fill this vacancy. And among the 14 candidates, two in particular caught plenty of attention: Sean Fellows, Vermillion's appointment to the Planning Commission, the Republican nominee who ran against now Nevada Assembly Member April Mastroluca (D-Henderson) in the 29th District in 2008, and someone with close ties to Nevada GOP power player Ryan Erwin; and Cathy Rosenfield, who had previously served on the Parks and Recreation Board for a decade and ran against Vermillion in the 2009 Ward 3 council election (and received over 7,000 votes). With the background of scandal and two local political heavyweights emerging to fill this position, a real battle royale was brewing here in Henderson.
Yet last night, a wild card emerged that shattered many observers' expectations of what was to ensue at the Henderson Council Meeting to fill the Ward 3 vacancy. Henderson Planning Commissioner John Marz was another of the 14 applicants, and he really distinguished himself during question time. Unlike most of the other applicants, Marz was able to explain in depth the problems Henderson, and specifically Ward 3, face. He spoke about retail vacancies, home foreclosures, the pending Science Center and Union Village developments near The Galleria, and how his business experience can help him build consensus on the council to solve the problems the bad economy showered upon Henderson.
Oh, and then Marz dropped a bombshell. He promised not to run for a full term in 2013. That immediately sparked a bad reaction from Ward 1 Council Member Gerri Schroder, who declared that the city needs a long-term commitment from the new Ward 3 pick, and that he or she should be ready to run for election. Sam Bateman, on the other hand, took it well and said that this solution is one that best preserves the voters' right to ultimately decide on a long-term replacement in 2013. Ward 2 Council Member Debra March mostly agreed with Bateman and found it noble that Marz was not trying to get a political lift with this. Mayor Andy Hafen sounded quite impressed with Marz, but also noted Schroder's concerns about the need for a long-term replacement.
Ultimately, Marz was a finalist, along with Cathy Rosenfield, Sean Fellows, and former CCSD principal Beverly Daly-Dix. And after another round of questions, the final round of voting was underway. The Clerk noted that a preference point system was about to be used to help determine where the council stands, and then the council can use that to narrow down further to a final decision. Gerri Schroder noted again that Cathy Rosenfield and Sean Fellows also had smart answers to her question on what specific problems face Ward 3, and that both of them are ready to make the long-term commitment she's looking for. Sam Bateman noted the personal relationships he has with some of the candidates, then led the entire council to make disclosures on that front (mostly donations from the realtors' PAC). And then, Mayor Hafen made a motion... And then, all of a sudden, John Marz won the appointment. The vote was 3-1 in favor (Hafen, March, and Bateman in favor; Schroder opposed).
Once the meeting adjourned, Marz was sworn in. Inside the council chamber, the mood was quite congratulatory. Sam Bateman was glad to see the issue resolved and satisfied that voters will ultimately have the final say on Ward 3 next year. And though Gerri Schroder obviously had her doubts about this final decision, she displayed no hard feelings about it.
However outside the chamber, there was palpable anger. Some were confused as to why Fellows didn't get the final nod. Others were making accusations about campaign donations clouding the council's judgment. Certainly, not everyone was pleased about what just happened.
Still, I honestly think this was the best decision the council could have made other than allowing for a special election. Some of the candidates clearly were looking to use this as a political springboard for future elections. Others just wanted an "easy way in". But with John Marz joining the council, and hopefully with him fulfilling his promise to step down next year, there won't be questions over the council acting improperly to install "cronies" or reward insiders with plum jobs. If candidates like Fellows and Rosenfield are still interested in serving, they can run in next year's election for the full term. And as the council tries to put the Vermillion scandal behind the city and move forward on vital matters of economic development and recovery, like the Union Village medical complex, the new Cornerstone Park, and what to do about future growth, it's probably best to avoid potential new scandals and leave the final decision to "we the people".
Can this really happen to one of Nevada's most powerful (if not THE most powerful!) unelected public officials? Apparently, so...
Though Pat Mulroy's employment contract as the region's water czar has already been automatically renewed through 2014, the Las Vegas Valley Water District's board of directors wants to begin evaluating her performance to avoid potential legal issues.
Hired as the districts chief in 1999, Mulroy has never had a performance review. [...]
Every board member agreed except County Commissioner Tom Collins, who likened good managers to good horses and said that you stay on a winning horse.
"As far as I'm concerned Pat's won the Triple Crown and all the other derbies as well," Collins said.
Board member Chris Giunchigliani, however, said she doesn't believe in automatic contract rollovers.
"I'm a firm believer in evaluations," she said. "This is not about Pat. It should not be. The intent is whether or not our contracts do what is in the best interest of the government and the people we're here to serve."
Of course, Tom Collins has been in the headlines himself recently for some unsavory reasons. But not that long ago, his attitude was pretty much the norm throughout Nevada. But apparently now, Clark County wants to prove it's finally "growing up" and maturing in making county government more accountable. But really, will Clark County take a closer look at what Pat Mulroy has said and done?
Maybe not, since Snake Valley is "out of sight, out of mind" for most in Clark County. However, the ultimate cost (both life and monetary) of the proposed Snake Valley SNWA pipeline will be plain and clear for all to see if approved. Can we really ignore that? And can we ignore possibly superior "win-win" alternatives to it? Even though Pat Mulroy has led SNWA to pursue aggressive water conservation, it's baffling at times to think she may ultimately be remembered most for "The Great Water Grab" that's yet to be determined.
Gov. Brian Sandoval will include taxes set to expire next month in a revised budget he will unveil Friday, according to a source. The move, which would run counter to his pledge not to raise taxes, comes thanks to a Supreme Court ruling today that prohibits the Legislature from taking local tax dollars to fund the state.
In a statement this afternoon, Sandoval said he would present a revised spending plan on Friday that takes into account the lost funds. "The ruling raises questions about certain assumptions in the proposed executive budget," the statement said. "As governor, I am forced to deal with their ramifications and I am responding by reworking the state budget."
Bill Raggio must be smiling somewhere. For now, his legacy remains intact.
And at least for now, Nevada will get some sort of reprieve. It's funny that it took The Nevada Supreme Court ruling out the Clean Water Coalition gimmick to get us here. But hey, we're now here and at least Nevada government won't be completely dismantled... Just woefully underfunded yet again.
And that gets us back to the heart of the problem. We're not finished yet. Yes, we have this reprieve. However, progressives need to keep organizing and keep working for long-term solutions to this constant budget crisis. We can't continue to underfund our schools, our parks, our roads, and our health care indefinitely. At some point, we need a more sustainable solution... And if The Legislature can't agree on one, then maybe we the people need to solve it ourselves after all.
But in the mean time, Sandoval finally paid attention to the reality check.
So early voting begins tomorrow in the final round Clark County municipal elections. As I said earlier this week, it's extremely important for us to participate, as local government is the government that most affects our daily lives. So now, on the eve of early voting, I'd like to make some final comments... And personal endorsements.
Henderson Ward 4 is definitely getting rough & tumble in the home stretch.
We've been seeing the accusations, the lies, the twists & turns, and so much more. I know it's easy to just dismiss it all and succumb to apathy. However, here's why we shouldn't.
Henderson has plenty of challenges, and I think what was said on KNPR's "State of Nevada" yesterday really boils it down well for us. Go ahead and listen to that segment, then tell me which of the candidates actually has good ideas for Henderson, and wants to put some real thought into the work going forward on city council. This is why I will be voting (again) for Sam Bateman in Ward 4. He really seems to get it.
Where does Carolyn Goodman stand on... Well, on ANY issues?! Ralston seemed to be back in touch with his cynical side in suggesting she "knows little, except how to win", but I'm hoping the people of Las Vegas expect more and better out of their mayor.
Now contrast that with this...
And with this segment on KNPR's "State of Nevada" this morning! Again, you tell me who has the ability to turn Las Vegas around and make the city work again. Whether or not you're good at pronouncing her last name, Chris Giunchigliani is very much someone who's interested in actually working for all the people of Las Vegas.
I'll have a couple more endorsements and suggestions up tomorrow morning. And whether or not you agree with my personal endorsements, I hope you vote in this election and make your own voice heard.
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