County cleans up homeless encampments in southeast valley neighborhood

LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — Six months ago, the wash on Russell Road and Mountain Vista Street was covered in tents and trash. While there is still more to be done, neighbors in the Greenridge community are pleased with the improvements they’ve seen from Clark County.

“It has gotten a lot better. You don’t see very much down there at that end anymore,” Greenridge resident Bruce Murphy said.

Murphy recalls what he has endured for years with the homeless setting up camp just feet away from his backyard with only a wall separating them.

“The middle of the night, they are out there, and I can hear them yelling and screaming and sometimes shooting at each other,” Murphy said.

“I remember a time when the whole other side of the wash was on fire and the cans were exploding and landing on people’s yards and roofs,” he said.

Murphy said changes came quickly after he reported the problem to 8 News Now in February.

“I think the exposure and putting it on the news helped a lot because within 20 minutes, we got a call from the county commissioners office,” he said.

Others in the Greenridge neighborhood agree that since the county intervened and added structural fencing, they feel safer in their own backyards.

“It looks better and cleaner. There are less people there now and I believe putting up the fence helps a lot because it’s high enough,” Virginia Jarrett told 8 News Now.

The county plans on doing another sweep soon according to residents.

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