Town Hall meeting: Getting informed

Councilman's event a way to learn about city, express concerns

Top, city of Las Vegas neighborhood services representative Tyrone Thompson, left, passes on information to resident Jim Barrett during a town hall meeting hosted by city Councilman Steve Wolfson on March 29 at the Veterans Memorial Leisure Services Center, 101 Pavilion Center Drive. Center, streets and sanitation Superintendent Tracee Scott, right, chats with James Bartell, left, and Sol Lee during the event. Left, Wolfson addresses meeting atendees.Photos By Larry Cruikshank/View Top, city of Las Vegas neighborhood services representative Tyrone Thompson, left, passes on information to resident Jim Barrett during a town hall meeting hosted by city Councilman Steve Wolfson on March 29 at the Veterans Memorial Leisure Services Center, 101 Pavilion Center Drive. Center, streets and sanitation Superintendent Tracee Scott, right, chats with James Bartell, left, and Sol Lee during the event. Left, Wolfson addresses meeting atendees.Photos By Larry Cruikshank/View Advertisement

Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Wolfson said he organized and hosted a town hall meeting and information fair on March 29 at Veterans Memorial Leisure Services Center, 101 Pavilion Center Drive, because he wanted residents to have direct access to local programs and agencies, plus a chance to express their concerns to him directly.

"Even though city council is a part-time job, I'm a 24/7 kind of guy," he said. "I want people to talk to me, 1-on-1, about their concerns."

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman also attended to speak with residents. The fair was attended by roughly 150 residents.

The event included a presentation on identity theft. Attendees learned what safeguards they could take and how unused cards can be unknowingly re-issued to someone who steals an individual's personal information.

"This town is terrible for identity theft," said Eileen Hogan, a retired office worker who attended the event. "My MasterCard was stolen and it took forever to straighten it all out."

Set up around the center's gymnasium were tables for various agencies and groups, including Aztec Communications, Habitat for Humanity, the Metropolitan Police Department, SolarGenerations and International Suicide Prevention.

Republic Service representatives Dee Dee DeCosta and Liz Park said that most people who stopped at their booth wanted to know the schedule for their pick-up day. The two handed out schedules and advised people the information also was available at www.republicservicesvegas.com.

The information technology department of the city of Las Vegas was represented, as well. People who visited its booth learned how the city's Web site, www.lasvegasnevada.gov, contained everything from video of Las Vegas City Council meetings to the ability to undergo traffic school "so you don't have to come to City Hall, don't have to take time off work," said Mike Gritz, senior management analyst for the city. "We call it open government."

The event spilled to the outdoors, where Opportunity Village offered free paper shredding and the Blind Center of Nevada accepted unwanted computers for recycling.

Realtor Wendy Wiener used both services and brought along so many items, she made two trips -- she donated three computer towers, three monitors, an electronic typewriter, three printers, six keyboards and speakers.

"It's all been sitting in my garage," she said. "I've been trying to find out who will take them. You can't just throw them out."

Sue Garcia, an engineering technician, said the town hall and informational meeting was well worth attending.

"I think it should be held every quarter because people have busy lives," she said.