Friday, April 4, 2008 | 2 a.m.
The homeless man who ran for mayor of Boulder City last year appeared in Newsweek’s March 31 issue.
And he’s not happy about the national publicity.
During his unsuccessful run for public office, Gary Kallam had his picture taken by the Sun to go with a story about his bid to become the nation’s first homeless mayor.
The photo later went into the Associated Press archives and was used by Newsweek editors last week.
Newsweek ran the picture of Kallam reading a magazine in the Boulder City Library to illustrate a story about some library administrators’ growing displeasure over problems caused by homeless people spending so much time in public libraries across the country.
In a letter, Kallam called the magazine story — more specifically, the use of his photo accompanying the story — “disgusting, defamatory and outrageous.” His name was not used in the magazine.
Kallam still lives in the Boulder City area but has not been politically active since finishing dead last in the mayoral primary.
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Before it kicked off a nearly three-hour public hearing Wednesday night on a proposed apartment complex, North Las Vegas swore in its new police chief, Joe Forti.
Forti’s hiring followed a national search that drew more than 100 applicants and cost the city about $25,000. Then the city hired the man many had wanted all along.
“Mr. Forti is the most qualified applicant for the job,” City Manager Gregory Rose said.
Forti, whose annual base salary will be $151,405, has been a North Las Vegas officer since 1990. He has served as acting chief since February.
He replaces Mark Paresi, who left the department at the end of last year.
North Las Vegas Police Union leaders and some City Council members had been pushing for the city to select a new chief from within the department.
“We’re always thrilled when a local boy does good,” Councilwoman Stephanie Smith said.
Forti is as close to local as they come in North Las Vegas, the fastest-growing city in the country. Originally from New York, he’s been in North Las Vegas for 28 years. But as Mayor Mike Montandon pointed out, he still hasn’t lost his accent.
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North Las Vegas City Hall was jammed with people protesting the plan to build 340 apartments at Centennial Parkway and Revere Street.
The council voted 3-2 to allow the project to proceed, saying it was contractually obligated to do so by a 1988 development agreement with Pardee Homes.
Lost in the meeting’s chaos was the fact that another controversial apartment plan evaporated when developers withdrew a proposal to change the zoning of a lot at Centennial Parkway and Valley Drive to clear the way for a 600-unit complex. Zoning for the area was changed earlier to allow more than 400 condominium units.
The developers did not give a reason for withdrawing the proposal.
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The saga of former Boulder City Councilwoman Karla Burton’s driving under the influence arrest will continue for at least another few months.
By the time she faces trial in September in Las Vegas it will have been 19 months since she was arrested in a gas station lot along U.S. 93 in Boulder City.
Police said Burton was sleeping at the wheel on Feb. 6, 2007, and registered a blood-alcohol content of .274, more than three times the Nevada limit.
The case was transferred from Boulder City to avoid any potential conflict of interest. Burton has pleaded not guilty.
Burton’s trial was first postponed in October. Last month it was postponed again after her attorneys said they had not received one of three videos of her arrest.
Burton lost her council seat in June’s election, even though no candidate publicly used the arrest as ammunition against her during the campaign.
Court officials said lengthy delays are not unusual in DUI cases.
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