Las Vegas NowLawsuit Challenges City Ordinance Over Feeding The Homeless

Lawsuit Challenges City Ordinance Over Feeding The Homeless

A local organization is challenging a Las Vegas city ordinance in federal court. The lawsuit stems from an incident when two women were given citations for feeding a large group of homeless people in a city park.

There's more than just neon lights in Las Vegas. Once the sun comes up, you are bound to see homeless people finding a place to sit and sleep.

Lyla Bartholomae has spent her free time trying to help. "I've been coming here since 2004, every Sunday, bringing food and drinks," she said.

Last winter Bartholomae was given a citation by city marshals at Huntridge Circle Park because they gathered more than 25 homeless people together to hand out food, which is not allowed at certain city parks.

Some parks you need a permit. At others, like Circle Park, you can't even apply for one. It's just not allowed.

The American Civil Liberties Union is outraged. They have now filed a lawsuit in federal court.

Lee Rowland, ACLU public advocate, said, "This isn't just about one person bringing a meal into the park, this is a political choice by the city to ostracize and persecute those people who are providing services that the city has failed to provide."

Ward 3 Councilman Gary Reese says the ACLU means well but this is impacting other people.

"They are there for a half hour to 45 minutes giving them something to eat. What happens to them after that? They dwindle out into the neighborhood and that's the conduct we're worried about," Resse commented.

The ACLU says homeless people are attracted to this park because of the permanent shade, and it's a close location to everything. And that is why volunteers go there to provide food.

Reese also has concerns about the food the volunteers are serving. He says it's not approved by the Southern Nevada Health District.

Lyla Bartholomae doesn't care. She says this is what she was meant to do, "I worked all my life. I'm retired and I have time on my hands. And what should I be doing? I should be giving back some."

Councilman Reese says the crime rate has gone up in the area of Circle Park.

The park is located at East Charleston and Maryland Parkway.

Email reporter Dayna Roselli at droselli@klastv.com