Setting the Record Straight |
Clark County believes in accountability -- in fact, it is one of our Guiding Values & Principles. We believe the news media, by and large, share this value. As such, Clark County seeks corrections and clarifications of inaccurate, misleading and false information online, in print, on television and in other news media.
Dec. 29, 2008 – A Las Vegas Review-Journal article detailing conservation measures underway at Clark County incorrectly stated that the county has seven gas-electric hybrid cars in its fleet. The county has 332 hybrid vehicles in its fleet and operates another 232 natural gas vehicles. The article also incorrectly suggested that employees would be encouraged to change to a four-day work week. The county has already altered work schedules for employees where it can, and is not considering a shift in its hours of operation.
Nov. 6, 2008 – A Las Vegas Sun article suggesting that there was an hour-long delay in the release of results on Election Day was misleading and deceptive. By omitting information that was provided to the reporter, the Sun created a false picture of what really transpired. In a high-turnout election, the Election Department routinely releases updated results every 45 minutes. That’s because each time the department does so, it has to stop the tabulation process to create a summary report. Thus, the more often results are released, the longer it takes to get out the final tally. The Sun story focused on the gap between the 5th and 6th release. That gap was 44 minutes. While the registrar could have released the results 10 minutes sooner than he did, the registrar was delayed by two local television stations who had scheduled live, on-camera interviews. That delay on the stations’ part was prompted, understandably, by a candidate’s victory speech, which the stations chose to carry live. One might question whether the registrar should have given the interviews, but it is the county’s practice to make its representatives available to the media in an effort to be transparent – especially in a matter as important as an election. None of these facts were included in the story, which misrepresents a 10-minute delay as one lasting an hour. Clark County is very proud of the professional manner in which it conducts elections. That a publication would tarnish a well-run election with a negatively skewed story is regretful.
Sept. 24, 2008 - A KLAS TV Channel 8 news story, "State Releases Records on Murdered Teen," omitted the fact that both Clark County Family Services and the Nevada Division of Child and Family Services agreed that a public disclosure of the records would be inappropriate given the constraints of state law (NRS 432B.175). However, the Legislative Council Bureau has legal authority under another state law (NRS 218.877) to release the records and that’s what it did. Not sharing this information with Channel 8’s viewers and online readers is a disservice and suggests a lack of transparency when, in fact, our citizens do not expect the county to violate the laws of our state. Additionally, to reduce any confusion about what the law actually requires, the county has asked the state Attorney General to render an opinion. This information was also omitted from Channel 8’s report.
July 8, 2008 -- A Las Vegas Review-Journal story entitled "County Lobbyist Decision Debated" contained several errors. It inaccurately reported that the County Commission awarded a lobbying contract the previous week. In fact, the board is scheduled to consider approving the contract July 15. The story also claims that county staff made a formal recommendation and that some staff expressed their personal preference regarding which lobbying firm to hire. In fact, staff did not make such a recommendation. The story also called Sabra Smith-Newby "county counsel" when in fact she is the director of the Department of Administrative Services. Mary-Anne Miller is the county counsel.
July 3, 2008 -- A Las Vegas City Life story entitled "Clark County Hasn't Added a Parks Cop in 17 Years" contained several errors and omissions. The most glaring omission was the fact that the county has had preliminary meetings with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to discuss a plan to enhance public safety at parks. Park Police were never meant to supplant Metro and state law requires that Metro handle serious crimes in our parks. The $500,000 allocated by the county last year for additional part-time officers are not, as City Life reported, "volunteers." Contrary to the City Life report, the officers are authorized to carry guns. They provide immediate backup assistance to full-time park police officers. The officers do not, as reported, spend time to "lock the front gates to each park." Sunset Park may be the only county park with a gate.
May 12, 2008 -- A KLAS TV Channel 8 news story, "The Lost Children," featured information regarding the prevalence of abuse in foster care both nationally and in Clark County that we believe to be inaccurate and misleading. The report cites "national research" as finding that one-third of children in foster care nationally will experience abuse and goes on to suggest that the rate of abuse in foster care in Clark County is much higher. However, according to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, no more than 1 percent of the children in foster care were abused in any state in 2006, and in a report published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Family, less than 0.30 percent of children in foster care in Nevada were maltreated. While any and all instances of abuse are inexcusable, we believe the considerable difference between 33 percent and less than 1 percent creates a gross misrepresentation of foster parents as being abusive, especially in Clark County, and furthermore causes unwarranted anxiety for parents with children who need to enter foster care while their families work to address the issues affecting their well-being. The Clark County Department of Family Services values and appreciates the many families who have opened their homes to children in need and those who partner with us to protect children by building safe, nurturing and stable families.
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