LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A Las Vegas councilwoman, who made historical past as the primary Asian American elected to the Nevada Meeting, continues to serve and uplift her group.
Francis Allen-Palenske, now a member of the Las Vegas Metropolis Council, mirrored on how, when she first entered, the political panorama was far much less numerous than it’s in the present day.
“Here seated in 2025 on the Las Vegas City council, I sit with 3 Latinas, an African American, a Jewish female, and one Caucasian guy, and now a Korean, so things have changed dramatically in 20 years for the positive,” Allen-Palenske mentioned.
She owns a small enterprise herself and is a giant supporter of regionally owned outlets and goals to assist them develop.
“That’s when you need government, whether it’s for a business license or alcohol permits or something like that, and generally the feeling is government is difficult and I try to help bridge that gap regardless of the person’s background,” Allen-Palenske mentioned.
Allen-Palenske oversees Ward 4 within the northwest valley and is targeted on enhancing public security and outside wholesome residing.
“My father was a police officer and Army veteran who met my mom in South Korea. So a lot of veteran issues are important to me, a lot of police, first responder issues,” Allen-Palenske mentioned.
She defined how the town of Las Vegas lately acquired a grant to put in 25 new pickleball courts, serving to maintain our group lively.
“It will double the amount of courts here in the city, and it will all be located off Alexander and Buffalo in Wayne Bunker Park, and that’s us getting some federal money here and utilizing it for parks and recreation,” Allen-Palenske mentioned.
She mentioned, regardless of the ups and downs of being an elected official, serving Nevadans makes all of it worthwhile.
“Overall, it’s very rewarding, I do appreciate that part of this job,” Allen-Palenske mentioned.
Councilwoman Allen-Palenske was acknowledged for her impactful contributions to the group. She was awarded the Trailblazer’s Award by the Asian Neighborhood Growth Council and was additionally featured in UNLV’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral Historical past Challenge.
