LETTERS

Dear Las Vegas Weekly,

Regarding Krystal Campagna, "Growing Up Homeless" (July 14 edition), your honest approach to a sensitive topic needed to be printed. Krystal Campagna's plight is increasingly common within our society. Her concerns and needs belong to the entire community, not just the (nonprofit agencies). The compassionate treatment of a hot subject is appreciated. Thank you from one who slept outside during December's rain season due to homelessness—because I defended myself with a knife when one bully, who was a shelter volunteer employee, trashed all of my belongings. Therefore I was eighty-sixed from the (nonprofit agencies) that are manipulated by military order volunteers and stipend employees who practice ruthless profiteering at the expense of daily human pain. Krystal did more than survive countless tragedies, she also escaped multi-layer, systemic abuses. Again, thank you for your intelligent and compassionate treatment of a U.S. society concern. Krystal is a courageous woman.

I read your story about Krystal Campagna, "Growing Up Homeless." I'm sure it was shocking to most of your readers; it was not to me at all. "Been there—lived that!" I grew up in Las Vegas in the late-'50s and '60s. I was sent by my stepdad and mom to Spring Mountain Youth Camp at age 14, and later to Nevada Youth Training Center in Elko.

Upon my release at 18 years old, I was given $20 and a one-way bus ticket out of Nevada. I chose to go to Seattle where I lived as a young boy. This time in Seattle, I was a street kid. I didn't know how to drive a car and I had a 10th-grade education. Prior to my incarceration, I had spent most of my youth in foster homes.

I was sent to the youth camps and labeled as a throwaway along with other boys who had committed minor as well as felony crimes. My parents were, of course, alcoholics and had me sent away so that the state would pay to support me. They told the judge that I was unmanageable and was sentenced to either such time that I rehabilitate or turn 18 whichever came first. When I was 18, since I had no felony convictions, I was released. Those boys' camps should have been labeled torture camps, as I am sure Caliente Girls Home is.

Krystal is very lucky she was not sent there. I am angry, I am sad and I am frustrated, as it relates to Krystal and all the children in such situations. I identify, but with one HUGE DIFFERENCE!

I am 59 years old I've never gotten into trouble since those days. I met my wife one year after my arrival in Seattle and 38 years later, we are still happily married! We have literally traveled the world. Last month we went on a gorilla safari to Rwanda. We moved to Las Vegas five years ago and are semi-retired, living in a beautiful home in Summerlin.

My point: These kids can make it. The system can NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP ON THESE CHILDREN! Secondly, these children can NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP ON THEIR DREAMS! I can't believe my life. I tried to commit suicide at age 14. WOW. Imagine, I would have lost the last 45 years of my life!

GOD DON'T MAKE NO JUNK!

I hope someday someone, like you, Mr. Longobardy, will write a story about Krystal Campagna that mimics my success in this WONDERFUL LIFE! Miracles happen!

In ending, I believe that if you have been lucky enough that God granted you a great life, it is your duty to send the elevator back down! I try to live by that truth.

Your publication and specifically, reading the story "Growing Up Homeless," was the best part of my recent trip to Las Vegas. First of all, the writing was superb—full of voice and authenticity, but most importantly, the story of Krystal was compelling, heartbreaking, yet hopeful. As a former high-school teacher and principal, I know the value of any adult who will step up to the plate and help a kid. As a mother of seven, I know the role nurturing plays in all our lives, whether we are 5, 15, 55 or 75.

Give me a cause, and I'll join in. I hope the wealthy and able adults in one of the greatest cities in the United States will also join the cause: Supply emotional and financial help to children in your city.

Editors and Staff,

I found your recent "The Challenge of Midtown UNLV" article (June 16 edition) well written, and the interest of Mr. Saltman, Ms. Harman, Mr. Dickensheets and Mr. Guiliano worthwhile; however, as an architect and designer, I have some concerns.

Can you manufacture a creative neighborhood in such a place? Yes and no, but probably not, because it already is a creative neighborhood, as far as Las Vegas goes, and is next to the university, making it intellectually-oriented, presently. It is also very difficult to guarantee creative and intellectual humans will support such development due to the fact that property values would discourage the less-financially successful artists and students from participating, and, as the article mentions, could push out students and lower-income people altogether, producing not an artistic neighborhood, but a "yuppie hangout" where people might convince themselves that they are being creative and intellectual.

I think that this would be a different kind of development from the one in Tempe, other than the fact that both could be mixed-use.

I like the idea and it has merit, but the execution of the project is critical to keeping the entire neighborhood from being overly "yuppie" and at the other extreme, overly neglected. Intellectuals and creative individuals naturally gravitate toward the universities in our great nation, but there are complex factors, if properly strived for and adhered to, that can encourage their long-term presence.

Dear Las Vegas Weekly,

Tom Cruise's bizarre behavior is indicative of brainwashing, not "courage," as you suggest. Some cultists are lucky enough to have an awakening, and I surely hope he does, someday.

Millions of people who have benefitted from psychotherapy would beg to differ with your assessment.

Dear Editor,

I don't usually care enough to correct the facts in publications such as yours, however, I just wanted to point out that in Jeff Anderson's film review of Howl's Moving Castle from the July 7 issue, he says the first Miyazaki film based on a book. That is not exactly true; Kiki's Delivery Service was actually based on a children's novel as well and was made more than 10 years ago. This is not an important fact in any way whatsoever, but I am suffering insomnia and honestly have nothing better to do. Sorry to waste your time and mine. Believe me, very sorry.