IRINA HANSEN—A Real Citizen Of Our Community Dedicated To Serving And Making A Difference

LAS VEGAS: A BEACON OF HOPE, UNITY, AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL

Imagine a city where the pursuit of freedom and justice in all aspects of our lives is more than just a slogan—it's a way of life. 

My purpose for serving is to enhance our city, one neighborhood at a time. I am not just running for Mayor; I’m running for the soul of our great city. I believe in the power of people, the strength of our freedoms, and the urgency of addressing long-standing injustices that continue to plague our city and limit our possibilities. Please join me on this journey to shape a Las Vegas that serves as a beacon of hope, unity, and prosperity for all.
 

As your Mayor and the Leader of our great city, I am committed to pursuing a range of initiatives that will address the pressing challenges we face and bring about meaningful change. Here is a glimpse into several causes that I am wholeheartedly devoted to improving as your Mayor:

Economic growth is the engine that drives all change and will improve the lives of every Las Vegas resident. Since the quality of your life is so important, I am committed to making sustainable economic growth a top priority in my campaign and have it become the foundation of my legacy as your Mayor.

Once in Office, I pledge to work with all businesses, new and existing, to make changes that allow us to grow responsibly. I will find ways to make doing business better and easier in Las Vegas. This should bring new industries to our city, and help our existing businesses operate more efficiently. 

I will promote the city's strengths and advantages, such as its strategic location, skilled workforce, and favorable business climate to drive economic growth. By creating an environment of entrepreneurship and innovation, Las Vegas will attract new and emerging industries. I intend to offer incentives such as tax breaks, reduced fees, and a streamlined permitting process to the businesses we want to bring to Las Vegas. 

My plans will also help our existing businesses by providing resources and support for them to grow. These plans will include access to financing, networking opportunities, and business development services. The streamlined permitting process I intend to install will provide existing businesses the same opportunities that are being used to attract new growth. This will ensure that our existing businesses are not put at an unfair disadvantage and will enable them to compete equally in the marketplace. 

As elected officials, we need to listen more to business owners and reduce unnecessary obstacles that slow the growth of small businesses. I will constantly look for other appropriate ways to reduce the burdens of paperwork, permitting, and licensing requirements and help make it better and easier for all businesses to operate. 

Investing in infrastructure and amenities that can attract visitors and support local businesses is important to help Las Vegas grow. As your Mayor, I will work towards upgrading transportation systems, improving public spaces, and developing the cultural and entertainment offerings we have to offer.

I believe that honesty, accountability, and transparency are sacred principles for any elected official. I recognize the magnitude of being responsible for overseeing the city's government and making decisions on behalf of each of its residents. By entrusting me with the tremendous honor of being your Mayor, I promise that these principles will guide me in every decision and action I take. Additionally, I will extend this promise to include any other elected official or city employee under my leadership.

I am saddened to say that I believe a considerable number of elected officials, who solemnly swore an oath of office and were entrusted with the responsibility of serving the citizens of Las Vegas, have woefully fallen short of upholding their ethical standards and the principles of good governance. Regrettably, some government employees have shifted from their role of serving the people and have instead become preoccupied with serving their own personal interests. Electing me your as your Mayor will bring about the necessary changes needed to restore the confidence you have in your elected officials, which starts at the top. 

My ultimate objective is to cultivate trust and confidence in your city government and to guarantee that it consistently serves the best interests of the community.

To remedy any self-serving perception of our local government and ensure that we are committed to being honest, public servants, I intend to conduct a comprehensive audit of all city departments. The purpose of these audits is to identify any unnecessary departments, positions, or redundancies, to scrutinize budgets for wasteful spending, and to eradicate corruption and unethical conduct within the city hall. I believe these efforts are necessary to restore the faith and confidence Las Vegas residents have in their government officials. 

My efforts to champion accountability and transparency involve guaranteeing that the city government is genuinely open and accessible to the public.  We are responsible to you and must serve your needs. To that end, there will be an email address available to all of Las Vegas’ residents to contact my office directly should you need to report any concern that you want me to know about.

Each citizen of Las Vegas has an absolute right to feel and be safe in their home and city. I understand the concerns of the community regarding crime and public safety. I also recognize the power and responsibility entrusted to the men and women serving our communities as police officers. I have confidence that collaboration between law enforcement and community leaders will lead to discovering the optimal solution for improving public safety.

To improve public safety in Las Vegas and its surrounding communities, I am committed to taking these actions: 

First – Investing in the Police Department. We must provide the Officers who daily risk their lives with the resources they need to protect Las Vegas residents and visitors. This investment will include hiring more police officers, if required. The investment will also ensure that the Officers have the necessary training, support, and resources they need to successfully perform their mission. 

Second – Using alternative crime reduction strategies, such as community policing initiatives and neighborhood watch programs, that encourage residents to take an active role in keeping their communities safe. I believe these types of programs can help reduce substance abuse issues and non-violent crimes.

Third - Increasing law enforcement visibility, providing more resources to detectives and forensic teams, and working closely with local businesses and residents to identify and address areas of vulnerability which help reduce property crimes, such as theft and burglary. 

Four - Pursuing rehabilitative efforts for non-violent, first-time offenders instead of relying on purely punitive measures such as incarceration.

Five – Taking actions that attempt to reduce the root causes of crime, such as poverty, lack of educational opportunities, mental health issues, and substance abuse.

Six - Improving infrastructure and public spaces to create safe and inviting environments for all.

As your Mayor, I am committed to working with law enforcement agencies, community leaders, and residents to make Las Vegas a safer and more secure place to live, work, and visit.  We must all work together to bring about the desired changes and build a brighter and safer future.

As concerned and compassionate human beings, we cannot ignore the plight of our homeless and the need to provide a realistic and sustainable solution to the problem.

I understand the concerns of the community. I also recognize that the homelessness crisis is a significant challenge that requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach to effectuate meaningful change. We must all be part of the solution and not just critics of the problem. I invite you to support my plans to address these issues by electing me your Mayor.

It appears that the homelessness crisis has been worsening over time, despite federal grants and government funds providing substantial monetary resources to many organizations intending to combat the problem. To figure out why we have not made satisfactory progress, I need to understand how these funds have been used and what programs have been successful. 

My first step will be to employ forensic accountants to conduct thorough audits of all organizations that have received federal grants and government funds. Based on the results of the audits, I will continue working with the organizations that have been good stewards of the funds entrusted to them and had success in their efforts. Should the audits show a lack of oversight, accountability, or transparency regarding the allocation and expenditure of these funds by any organization, they will not receive any further funding and their involvement with the city terminated. 

Although not a solution to the homelessness crisis, I need you to understand my resolve and commitment to the problem. As citizens of this city, state, and nation, if your government has provided an organization funds to help our most vulnerable citizens, I will not tolerate any wrongdoing in the mismanagement of those resources. My solemn pledge is to hold accountable those responsible for misappropriating and laundering public funds.

Additionally, I will collaborate with city officials and local developers to boost the availability of affordable housing units within the city. I am committed to assisting homeless individuals by ensuring they have access to fundamental necessities like shelter, food, and healthcare.

Furthermore, I also intend on tackling other underlying factors contributing to homelessness by endorsing job training, employment programs and advocating for policies that allocate resources for mental health and addiction treatment.

To ensure that policies and initiatives align with the community's needs and concerns, I will actively promote community engagement and encourage residents to provide me their input. There will be an email address available to all of Las Vegas’ residents to contact my office directly. I also ask you to consider active participation. I cannot do this this alone and welcome your help. Please consider volunteering your time, talents, and insight as a valued member of my team and proudly become part of the solution!

The courageous individuals who have made personal sacrifices and risked their lives through service to this great Nation, deserve our highest honor and respect. Freedom is not free, and I am not speaking about monetary costs. Our Servicemembers have risked, and some have lost their lives or suffered tremendous injuries, for society to enjoy the freedom we all experience.

For me to personally salute our military, I plan to make my actions toward their betterment speak louder than mere words. I intend to make Las Vegas a city where Servicemembers and Veterans receive the respect they rightfully deserve. This will be reflected in the efforts I mention below that I will pursue as your Mayor.

I will seek to enhance our veteran’s preference for placement opportunities to further honor their sacrifices. Any efforts for society to become more inclusive or to diversify the workplace must also include our Veterans. 

Homelessness is a problem for our entire community and is devastating to every person who falls prey to this crisis. Homelessness does not discriminate on who it will go after. The invisible battle scars many of our Veterans possess seem to make them vulnerable. We must battle for each person struggling to get out of the grasp of homelessness and I will work tirelessly to achieve these goals. 

The Eighth Judicial District Court operates many specialty courts in Las Vegas, one of which is the Veterans Treatment Court. These courts were established to provide cost-effective rehabilitation programs targeting non-violent offenders with substance abuse problems or mental health issues. I am willing to explore expanding coverage of the Veterans Treatment Court in limited cases. 

In speaking with our Veterans, one of their biggest complaints is accessing their medical benefits.

Although their care is provided at the federal level, I believe that local communities, such as Las Vegas should try to find a solution, instead of dismissing the idea as not our problem. I am committed to working with the Veterans’ Administration to find a solution that will help our Veterans with their most pressing issue. 

Nevada’s senior population (those 65 years of age and older) makes up roughly 14% of all the State’s residents. Many of these Las Vegas residents, who are often thought of as being in the twilight of their lives, don’t see it that way. They are living on fixed incomes and may suffer from physical conditions that greatly limit their mobility. Inflation and rising costs significantly impact their ability to cover the basic needs of shelter, food, and healthcare. Small changes in any aspect of their lives can lead to life-threatening consequences. 

Las Vegas, Clark County, and the State of Nevada have a variety of programs that seek to help Seniors. I believe there can never be too much of a good thing, and I am committed to providing the funds necessary to support our existing Senior programs. I will seek input from citizens and my staff to expand our offerings to our Seniors.

Financial exploitation is the biggest problem our Seniors face. This targeted financial exploitation is often found in the deceptive practices of a variety of industries and with professionals such as legal, healthcare and guardianships where Seniors are most vulnerable. This is the one area that I am dedicated to championing. Here are some ideas that I will turn into concrete actions:

Working with the Governor and State Legislature to enhance the penalties for crimes that target the elderly.

Working with the Governor and State Legislature to enhance or create new forfeiture laws enabling the seizure of offense-connected assets of anyone convicted of a crime that targets the elderly. The seizure of these assets will be placed in a fund that can be used to offset the victim’s financial losses.

Increase funding for law enforcement to create a dedicated unit that specializes in investigating financial exploitation crimes against our Seniors.

Create a task force consisting of legal advisors, counselors, and other necessary support staff that is dedicated to assisting our Seniors in identifying financial exploitation schemes to prevent them from happening and then working with those victimized to limit their harm and recover resources that have been taken.

The future Las Vegas we are creating today will be lived and managed by our children. The results of the decisions we make, whether they involve new infrastructure, social-services programs, or financial obligations, should be blessings, not burdens, on their lives. 

To handle these responsibilities, we must equip and prepare our children to succeed. Their education provides the foundational tools that will enable them to handle the future. We need to prioritize equipping our schools with the resources they need and ensuring that standards are achieved. 

However, educating our children is not the sole responsibility of teachers; they are just one of the components. For children to benefit the most from our educational system and unlock their true potential, parental interest and involvement is essential. When children see that their parents aren’t involved, they may not try as hard. But when Mothers and Fathers are taking an active interest, setting expectations, and supervising their children’s educational opportunities the results can be phenomenal. 

Here is an overview of our current situation:

Our population is growing faster than the School District can keep up with. Combined with poor working conditions and low salaries, we have a significant shortage of teacher vacancies.

The Clark County School District with 295,000 students ranks second worst in nation. Las Vegas Metro ranks 49th out of the 50 Metros statewide. The School District’s per student funding levels may suggest our low rankings reflect a lack of accountability not a commitment to spending.

The bargaining sessions between the Clark County School District and Clark County Education Association dating back to this spring have been getting more adversarial and the sides do not look like they are even close to reaching an agreement. 

Solving the educational problems confronting the Las Vegas Metro School District is not going to happen without hard work and dedication. Every long journey begins with a first step. As Mayor of Las Vegas, I would like to be involved in the bargaining process. Sometimes a fresh voice and new ideas may help us change course from our present heading and point us in the right direction. Please join me in showing your commitment to finding a solution that prioritizes our children’s education.