Las Vegas NowACLU Files Suit Against Homeless Feeding Ordinance
(Aug. 2) 11 p.m. -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada is taking on the new city ordinance making it illegal to feed homeless people in city parks. The ACLU filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday saying the ordinance is unconstitutional and impossible to enforce.
Spokesman Lee Rowland says it amounts to discrimination against the homeless.
(Aug. 2) 5 p.m. -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada is taking a legal stand against a new ordinance making feeding the homeless in city parks a misdemeanor.
The ACLU calls the ordinance unconstitutional and unenforceable, and is filing a federal lawsuit to get the new law overturned.
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, the Metro Police Department, and the Las Vegas City Council are all named in the suit.
The Las Vegas City Council unanimously passed the measure earlier this month and because of that the entire council, the city of Las Vegas, and the Metropolitan Police Department are all named in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit will be filed Wednesday in federal district court.
Mayor Goodman says he hasn't seen the lawsuit but believes the ordinance will stand up to a legal challenge. The mayor also says it is not that the city doesn't want to help the homeless, he says it needs to be done in the right way.
The city of Las Vegas said it would not comment on Wednesday's lawsuit.
Meanwhile, the Las Vegas City Council approved more than $276,000 for homeless services. The money will be split between the city of Las Vegas, Clark County, North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City.
Send feedback to reporter Carol Wilkinson at cwilkinson@klastv.com
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Thank you for participating in our poll. Here are the results so far:
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