YouTuber Sheds Light On Homeless In Las Vegas Tunnels
The glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip has people coming from far and wide. Billion dollar properties, million dollar jackpots and thousand dollar dinners mask the reality that lays beneath.
The homeless in Las Vegas tunnels are spoken of from time to time, but aren’t always humanized. “The homeless issue,” “mole people,” “undesirables” are often used to explain the situation and those involved.
While homelessness is an incredible issue, the humanity behind the issue is so often lost. “The homeless” are people. They were children once, they have lived lives and they have found their backs against the wall and bodies underneath the street. While some are victims of their own bad decisions, others are victims of circumstance that can’t lift their way out.
YouTube Journalist Has Fascinating Conversations With Homeless In Las Vegas Tunnels
So often when you hear of the homeless in Las Vegas tunnels, it is out of fascination or “clearing them out” before the Super Bowl. YouTuber Andrew Calllaghan has covered many incredible and interesting scenes in his Channel 5 YouTube channel and prior to that on All Gas No Brakes.
While his reporting has been wild in the past, it has become a lot more thoughtful in recent years. He has always looked at the situation in the tunnels of Las Vegas as a story others have told. But eventually, he was convinced he could tell the story with dignity.
Andrew took his camera inside with the blessing of those who live within it to tell the story of many of them. Some have fallen to drug abuse. Others had nowhere to go after abusive relationships and divorces. One man was shot in the head after a car jacking, survived, but got addicted to painkillers.
There Seems To Be One Major Hurdle Between The Homeless And Their Future
Time and again the YouTube documentary sheds light on a major issue: IDs. The easiest way to get an ID is to have one. Second easiest way is to have a home address with mail and your birth certificate or social security card.
For many underground and on the streets, these are documents and addresses they simply don’t have. The process to get the documents or bills is to spend money that many do not have.
No ID means you can’t get a job. If you can’t get a job you don’t have money. That leads to desperation and the vicious cycle of homelessness rolls on. Although as the video will show, the ID is just one hurdle.
The documentary is absolutely worth your while to watch front to back. Andrew does an incredible job unpacking the realities underneath.
While the tunnels are not luxurious, they are also not filled with evil, terrible people. Many are good people in bad situations and humanity, kindness and sensible policies can help.
Which Las Vegas Strip Casino Implosion Should Happen Next
Sahara
It was here, gone and back again. The remodel looks great but reminders of how old the place is are everywhere.
There are some that believe if a property has a street named after it, it should be protected at all costs. The Sahara opened in 1952 and hosted many of the greats. Back in 2011, the property changed hands and eventually became the SLS Las Vegas. The rebrand was decent and the remodel was jaw dropping… but it didn’t make many waves in the city. Eventually the legendary Sahara name came roaring back, and the property has been the beneficiary of many concert events across the street at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. We like what they’ve done with the property. But at the very least the parking garage has got to go.
Circus Circus
We all know that Circus Circus is quite corny and long in the tooth. But it makes money without debt and that makes it an unlimited money glitch.
This won’t happen anytime soon, although it should. The clown property has seen better days but recently owner Phil Ruffin has put some cash into fixing the property’s iconic neon sign. Is it pretty? No. But is the property paid for and an ATM for Ruffin? Yes. The property is sitting on over 100 acres of land – about 14 more than Resorts World! That is a lot of land to do a lot of things on. But the one thing Circus Circus has going for it that Resorts World and Fontainebleau do not? Low expectations and costs.
Best Western Plus Casino Royale
Blink and you might miss it. Don’t blink and you might wish you did.
Say it with us… “blow it up!” The property is the home to Denny’s, White Castle, and likely the worst accommodations on the Las Vegas Strip. It is actually quite shocking that this could be nestled near The Venetian. Sure, people need discount options but this is centrally located land. There is speculation that the owners have bigger plans for the property. The only thing that might stop this from being an implosion is the proximity to Harrah’s. Unless…
Harrah's
With the exception of Carnival Court, Harrah’s has lost any identity on the Strip.
First, we need to save Donny Osmond. Then, send the property packing. It has been open since 1972 and now has become a bit of a forgotten child between and across from several iconic landmarks. Of all the properties we think could be erased on this list, Harrah’s and Casino Royale may take the cake. There is only so much you can update. We think if you were to keep Carnival Court and blow up the rest, many wouldn’t notice.
Flamingo
It is almost blasphemy to consider blowing this up.
Just talking about blowing up the Flamingo hurts. Yes, it is dated. Yes it is centrally located and if it were something of Resorts World or Fontainebleau’s caliber with that location they’d be a juggernaut. But… this is the Flamingo. It has a street. Is the building ugly? Sure. Is the neon incredible? You bet. Just the history alone, you can’t. Even Barbary Coast got a second (and third and fourth) life. Nevermind. We take this back.
Excalibur
Hear ye, hear ye! Tis time for this fake castle to fall!
Don’t think you got out of this unscathed, MGM Resorts. The time has come for Excalibur. Of all the properties, we might feel the most strongly about this one. The property has been the “ugh fine, it’s cheap” option for quite a while now. But there is so much space that is going unused and the theming is so weak at this point that there is no better time than now to let it rip. A new baseball stadium (supposedly) being opened across the street. The Knights. The Raiders. All walking distance. Tournament Of Kings? Thunder From Down Under? Australian Bee Gees? Please walk a safe distance away. We will find homes for you. Building? Ya gotta go.
Honorable Mention: The Strat
We don’t want to see it go, but we do want to see it blow (up).
The Las Vegas Strip technically ends at Sahara. But if you consider The Strat part of the Strip, first, sorry you’re wrong. But second, sure, we’ll give you a taste. The Strat has done some pretty great stuff lately to improve the property and their rooms. Plus the new Atomic Golf opening soon looks like it will be fun. But… we all saw that Landmark implosion. Admit it. It was cool. Imagine The Strat going down? That could be incredible! Plus, let’s face it, it would be hilarious watching half the valley get lost after losing the one landmark they use to get a grasp on where they are in the city.
