Friday, Aug. 14, 2020 | 1 a.m.
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Editor’s note: As he does every August, Brian Greenspun is turning over his Where I Stand column to others. Today’s guest is Las Vegas City Councilman Brian Knudsen, who represents Ward 1.
My perspective as a Las Vegas city councilperson is not drastically different than when I decided to run for office; however, navigating through the complexities posed by COVID-19 is a far cry from how I imagined spending my first year in office.
I ran because I believe local government can have the most impact on our daily lives. Several months into the pandemic, I am encouraged by lessons learned which I believe can forever transform Las Vegas for the better.
The majority of decisions by local leaders addresses the safety of our streets, the types of restaurants you frequent, the parks you enjoy and the look and feel of your neighborhood. In a time where every facet of our lives is politicized, local government — at its core — can bridge divides between generations, political affiliations and socioeconomic classes. It focuses on the quality of life we want for ourselves and our children, regardless of our differences. It speaks to our priorities as a community.
Our community deserves — and should prioritize — better access to health care. I campaigned on expanding quality of and access to health care through the development of the Las Vegas Medical District located in the heart of my ward. COVID-19 is another stark reminder of the urgency in attracting world-class medical practitioners and researchers and other high-paying, nonhospitality-based jobs to Las Vegas; those capable of withstanding any crisis or recession.
And the time is now. The construction of UNLV’s School of Medicine campus in the medical district is the type of once-in-a-lifetime catalyst necessary to create a vibrant community for top-notch medical talent to live, work and play.
Our community also needs housing for people of all incomes, including those with no income and who struggle with homelessness. As Las Vegas continues to grow, we need to confront poverty and the lack of affordable housing. During this health crisis, we’ve learned it’s possible to quickly form partnerships across jurisdictional boundaries to create makeshift treatment and testing centers. Starting with reimagining the Regional Planning Coalition, of which I am the co-chair, I’m committed to building upon recent successful collaborations to move the needle on critical quality-of-life issues in our region.
The pandemic also underscores the deep disparity between children with and without access to resources and services. As schools transition to online learning, we’re reminded that thousands of children rely on school for their daily meals, don’t own a computer or have access to the internet.
This is unacceptable. We, as a community, must work together to finally ensure that underserved communities have access to the tools necessary for their children to succeed. And we must act now. We’re on the verge of leaving a whole generation irretrievably behind.
The shared experience of a global pandemic is a reminder that more unites than divides us. We all want what is best for ourselves and our families, but that desire should extend to those with whom we share this community, particularly those with fewer resources and less opportunity than ourselves. Ultimately, it’s an investment in Las Vegas in which everyone wins.
