Residents count blessings, curses of county’s growth

Clark County at 2 million people.

How could it elicit such different responses?

"This used to be a fun place," 75-year-old Harry Helms said. "Now it's not anymore. There's too much traffic. The people are different. The casinos are different."

"I've liked it here, and I'll still like it here," said Larry Covel, 55. "The people here are wonderful ... except it's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde when they get in their cars."

As Clark County sets its sights on 3 million residents by 2019, the Review-Journal asked people at the Henderson Department of Motor Vehicles office Thursday what they thought about the rapid growth and the county's next milestone.

The responses were as diverse as the thousands of people who move here each month. But what almost everybody agreed on was that traffic is horrendous and will only get worse.

"It's going to be ugly," 50-year-old postal worker Alex Corral said.

It could be just a matter of perspective, however.

Janey Chong, 27, who moved here from Hawaii in May, doesn't see the same problems in Las Vegas that others see.

Compared to Hawaii, Las Vegas is cheaper and has less traffic, she said.

To some, the county's growth is choking, creating a more hostile and expensive place to live.

"I think it's growing too fast," said 34-year-old Sharon Morton, who moved to the city in 1989. "We moved away from L.A. to get away from the growth. Now it's just so bad here I would consider moving."

"We don't go anyplace anymore. We're just afraid of the traffic," said Helms, who moved here with his wife Pat 35 years ago.

Costs have skyrocketed, Pat Helms said.

"You go to the grocery store and pay $10 for milk and eggs. You come out and you go, 'What the heck happened?'"

On the road to 3 million residents, locals said they've already seen some signs of progress.

The Helmses remarked that they got in and out of the DMV in record time Thursday.

Covel praised the new expansion of U.S. Highway 95.

Corral was impressed with the revitalization of the Huntridge area of Las Vegas, southeast of downtown.

"Any town, you're going to have the same problems we have," said Covel, a driving instructor who moved to the Summerlin area 20 years ago.

He has six children, all of whom have gone through the Clark County School District.

"I think the schools are great," he said.

"I can't do my son's homework," he added with a laugh.