PROPERTY WRONGS
Officials need to protect the rights of all property owners
BY HEIDI HARRIS

James Madison once offered, "Man is said to have a right to his property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights. Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected." In the state of Nevada, as in the rest of the nation, property rights are quickly disappearing. As of January, the Las Vegas City Council and Clark County Commission have both discussed moratoriums on conversion of private property for other uses. 

The county commission is mulling an 18-month moratorium on mobile home park conversions, effectively limiting a property owner's basic rights. It seems some mobile home park owners have had the nerve to take advantage of escalating real estate values and sell their property to home developers. 

More than a dozen mobile home parks closed last year in Clark County, forcing more than 1,000 mobile home owners to move. In some cases, park owners have even paid moving costs for the mobile home relocations. Still the commissioners aren't satisfied. I guess it's far better to pander to the constituents who live in mobile homes than to protect the rights of the park owners, who may or may not vote in commission races.

On our radio show, we had a caller whine that mobile home park owners "shouldn't be allowed to sell to developers." Why not? Who does this caller think laid the cement slabs and installed the plumbing and electricity renters have enjoyed all these years?

Reasoning with this man was out of the question, but unfortunately, he represents many misguided people. I asked him how he'd like it if, for example, he was offered big money for his mobile home, only to be told he had no right to sell it. "But I need the money to retire." Sorry, can't do it. "But my job forces a relocation!" Too bad, bud. 

The caller seemed to believe only park owners should have their rights curtailed. In his mind and the minds of arrogant Clark County Commissioners, rights don't apply to everyone. 

The Las Vegas City Council is no better. Defending a proposed temporary ban on apartment conversions, Councilman Steve Wolfson expressed concerns about the "lack of affordable housing in Las Vegas." To alleviate this terrible problem, I suggested on our show that he convert the fancy Wolfson-Glass law building he and his wife own downtown into "affordable" apartments. 

Mayor Oscar Goodman assured us on our show that the conversion ban is a dead issue, but I tend to doubt the council has given up this ridiculous plan. In Wolfson's case, it's frightening that an elected official would believe the conversion of apartments into condos removes housing from the marketplace. Does he not understand basic economics like supply and demand?

When discussing this on our radio show recently, a caller told us that he had wanted to rent a nice apartment in the Lakes last year but couldn't afford it. Now that the complex has been converted into condos, he is able to rent a very nice unit from the new owner for less money. It's an excellent example of how allowing private parties to buy apartments doesn't eliminate housing.

Certainly we all understand the political process. Politicians like to talk about an "affordable housing shortage" and express concern about "forcing people out of their homes," hoping these sound bites will portray them as compassionate in the eyes of voters. Although the loudest complainers get the most press, government officials must do their duty to protect the property rights of all constituents. LW

Listen to Heidi Harris on KXNT 840-AM�s morning show from 5 to 9 a.m. Contact her at [email protected].