Friday, Sept. 26, 2003 | 9:41 a.m.
The San Francisco office of the federal Housing and Urban Development department sent Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman a letter of commendation for a program meant to take people off the streets by placing them in permanent housing.
"I am very encouraged to learn of the new directions you and your administration are taking to address the challenge of chronic homelessness. Your work, even at the initial stage, provides a model of what works to help people recover productive lives," the letter reads.
Goodman said the letter, addressed to "somebody who is mayor of the meanest city," amounted to a measure of validation for the city's efforts. "So I guess we're not doing everything wrong," he said.
The mayor was referring to a report this summer by a national homeless advocacy group that ranked Las Vegas as the meanest in the country in its dealings with people who live on the streets.
But Gary Peck, executive director for the local chapter of the ACLU, said the letter arrived at a telling moment, given the sweep that occurred Wednesday on Owens Avenue in which the possessions of up to 20 homeless people were seized by Las Vegas Neighborhood Services and Metro Police.
"It's more than a little ironic that this latest abuse took place just before it was announced that HUD had commended the city for its treatment of the homeless," Peck said.
"It would be hard to find a clearer example of the federal government being out of touch with local realities," he said.
The HUD letter praised the city's PATH program, aimed at putting people in permanent homes instead of emergency housing. Such strategies follow President George Bush's Council on Homelessness recommendation, according to the letter.
"I look forward to sharing the story of your effort and your successes with Secretary Martinez. You are to be congratulated for a program that delivers results where it counts most, and for the leadership you are providing in meeting one of our most important challenges," the letter concludes. It's signed by Richard R. Rainey from the San Francisco regional office of HUD.
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