LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) –
- LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Neighbors are asking for long-term solutions to clearing homeless camps by East Las Vegas Valley highways and local streets, as county crews took a first step towards regular cleanups along the 95.
FOX5 was there Monday morning as Clark County Public Works crews cleared tents, sleeping bags and plenty of trash off the 95 at Charleston Boulevard.
FOX5 reported that NDOT partnered with Clark County for help on this effort, as the agency’s maintenance crews have faced increasing workloads to still fix the roads and also clear growing homeless camps.
Chair Tick Segerblom tells FOX5, County crews stepped in to help because camps often hop the fence between NDOT property (the sides of the highway) and County streets.
“We also have to follow up on this. We can’t let this just clean it up and then come back. They come back the next day,” Segerblom said.
Neighbors and businesses tell FOX5, though crews do clean up tents and trash, campers tend to return the next day or days later.
“Metro came out this weekend, but [campers] leave and then they come back as soon as Metro leaves,” said Dianna Mendez, a concerned community member that lives three miles south along the 95 and Twain Avenue.
Mendez created a neighborhood petition to get the attention of NDOT; NDOT said they recently cleaned up the area, late August, and are continuing to address Mendez’ concerns. Mendez continues to report encampments behind NDOT’s fence and the others that creep onto County streets.
NDOT sent FOX5 the following statement on long-term solutions:
NDOT is actively working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Clark County to streamline the process for organizing highway cleanups. This partnership will allow us to more efficiently coordinate resources and address the persistent issue of litter along I-15, I-11, and other NDOT right-of-way areas.
Regarding funding, NDOT currently covers the cost of these cleanups through the State Highway Fund, which has been impacted by flat revenue and rising construction costs due to inflation. We are hopeful that the State Legislature will address these growing financial pressures in the next session, providing additional resources to support both ongoing projects and maintenance efforts like cleanups.
According to NDOT, the agency spent $6.6 million in 14 months to clear thousands of yards of encampment debris every month.
Segerblom said that biweekly cleanups are coming to the area around 95 and Charleston. Social service workers will also come regularly to offer the unhoused shelter and services, he said. There are hopes to expand the cleanups across the Las Vegas Valley.
Social service workers are dispatched to the areas prior to a cleanup to inform campers that cleanups are imminent and offer support services, officials tell FOX5.
To keep campers from chronically returning to the same spots, Segerblom tells FOX5, he will propose a sidewalk sleeping ban similar to one currently in place by the City of Las Vegas. FOX5 reported that city officials are looking to strengthen their ordinance in light of a summer ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The ordinance will be proposed next Tuesday, Segerblom said.
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