In a rare display of unified resistance, Washoe County's independently elected officials have issued a pointed letter to the Board of County Commissioners expressing serious concerns about proposed budget reductions. The April 22nd letter—representing the County Clerk, Recorder, Treasurer, Public Administrator, and Assessor—reveals deepening tensions between these constitutional officers and County Manager Eric Brown's administration.

In most cities, it’s considered a public service when a resident takes time out of their day to speak during public comment at a city council meeting. In Reno, Nevada, it’s starting to feel more like a public risk — especially if you say something that rubs Mayor Hillary Schieve the wrong way. Because these days, challenging Schieve’s decisions doesn’t just get you a polite nod — it might get you publicly accused, publicly shamed, and publicly dragged for… well, daring to participate in democracy.

Well, it’s happened again. Washoe County Manager Eric Brown has decided that low-income seniors deserve less than dignity—and apparently, less than a warm meal.

Seniors enrolled in the federal meal program, many of whom rely on these daily lunches as their primary source of nutrition, are now being served cold meals. Why? Because the temporary kitchen that had been used to prepare hot meals while the senior center undergoes remodeling has mysteriously been released. That’s right—Brown let it go. No more hot entrees. Just plastic-wrapped sandwiches and a big middle finger to the elderly.

Is Washoe County playing a shell game with building priorities? Commissioner Mike Clark's persistent quest for radon test results at the Washoe County Courthouse raises some interesting questions about project sequencing.

Clark has reportedly been trying for months to obtain radon testing data from 2017/2018, along with results from tests supposedly conducted in February 2025. His struggle to access this basic public safety information is curious, to say the least.

Looks like we’ve got a bit of a sunscreen scandal unfolding in Reno, Nevada. Mayor Hillary Schieve, who has been busy protecting citizens from the dangers of sunburns, might want to turn her SPF 50 on herself, because her latest moves are starting to leave a bit of a stinging rash on her reputation.

Let’s break it down. In the latest episode of "Reno’s Most Transparent Leaders," Mayor Schieve and her business partner, dermatologist Dr. Whitney Hovenic, are basking in the sun with their sunscreen brand, Spooge—yes, you read that right. Spooge. Not exactly the first name we’d go with for a sunscreen product, but hey, not our product to judge.

It seems Richard Jay—best friend to Mayor Hillary Schieve, collector of prestigious appointments (Airport Authority, RSCVA), and self-appointed Facebook municipal code enforcer—might need to check his own address.

Commissioner Clark frequently reaches out to us at Picon since the other three commissioners give us the silent treatment. As for Commissioner Herman? After eleven years of being ignored on the commission, who knows if she's still engaged or has mentally checked out.

Attention Ward 5 and City of Reno residents. While Ward 5 Neighborhood Advisory Board meetings seem to have mysteriously vanished from Councilmember Devon Reese's calendar, he has managed to find time for something truly essential: Community Tennis and Pickleball Day.

Yes, while your concerns about the Lakeridge development, ADUs on your lot line, and that charming Jiffy Lube proposal for Mayberry and Hunter Lake, you can rest easy knowing your elected representative is perfecting his backhand. Sure most of this, except the ADUs are not in Ward 5 but activist citizens have been using their voices at NAB meetings and should have the right to equally be heard in Ward 5.

In a move that surprised absolutely no one familiar with his history, Washoe County Library Director Jeff Scott resigned moments before his potential termination—repeating his 2015 Berkeley playbook when faced with similar circumstances. Now, as predictable as the sunrise, those who haven't bothered to examine his performance record are rallying with cries of impending book banning.

In a stunning display of leadership humility, Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson has graciously informed constituents that their feeble minds simply cannot comprehend his superior intellect and vast knowledge. Apparently, the same voters who were smart enough to elect him are simultaneously too stupid to have valid opinions on city matters.

Lawson's "Smartest Guy in Nevada" tour continued as he took aim at state legislators, who clearly lack his remarkable "fortitude" to implement his brilliant ideas. It seems inconceivable to the mayor that his proposals might be rejected not because legislators lack courage, but because—brace yourselves—they might actually be bad ideas.

Mayor Hillary Schieve has heroically drawn her mightiest weapon—the strongly worded letter—after Renown already closed the Crisis Care Center doors. With the timing precision of someone showing up with a fire extinguisher after the house has burned down, the mayor is now "questioning" Renown's decision to shutter vital mental health services.

Is County Manager Eric Brown and his handpicked, by secret employee committee, Registrar of Voters awaiting the results of the Nevada Secretary of State and Attorney General multistate lawsuit against Trump Administration executive overreach in elections, before they take any action on Trumps executive orders?

As local governments scramble to patch their leaking financial ships—with Washoe County, Sparks, and Reno all millions in the red—they've settled on the usual solution: deeper dives into taxpayer pockets. Increased fees, passed on charges, some say, sales tax hikes are circling the drain, and "fire consolidation assessments" have become the preferred alternative to actual fiscal responsibility - (translation: moving money around so Reno - Sparks - Washoe County can spend fire budgets to run the city/county, because if State Senator Skip Daly, Mayor Ed Lawson, Commissioner Alexis Hill, and Mayor Hillary Schieve have their way, residents will pay an assessment to fund fire services - slick, right).

As the Reno Gazette Journal reported the City of Reno voted on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 to shift the credit card processing fees back to the citizens of Reno. The taxpayers get to absorb yet another fee due to poor city fiscal management.

In a display of municipal mathematics, the City of Reno has brilliantly introduced passing on to residents the processing fee for credit card payments, apparently without calculating that this might prompt citizens to... write more checks.

Last week County Manager Eric Brown took a vacation and left one of his Assistant County Managers in charge - seems like lack of transparency has a trickle down effect at Washoe County.

In what has become Washoe County's standard operating procedure, deflect, deny, hide the facts, officials sat on news of a deputy public defender's Las Vegas arrest for four days—miraculously finding their voices only when the Las Vegas Review-Journal prepared to publish the story. Apparently, the county's definition of "public information" is "whatever we can no longer hide."

Remember when local elected officials trembled at the thought of being lampooned at Sheep Dip? When the annual roast served as Nevada's political pressure release valve, where officials' blunders were immortalized through exaggerated comedy sketches and no one was safe from public ridicule?

In a stunning display of political self-sabotage, Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson expressed shock—SHOCK!—that his $500 million toll road bill died in the Nevada Legislature after he publicly insulted most of its members as self-serving public employees and union cronies.

While the media circus twirls around Governor Lombardo's Lincoln Day Dinner comments, Picon is asking the question no other media seems interested in: who exactly brought the recording device to Club Fandango? In a room packed with the Governor's devoted supporters, someone clearly came prepared to capture more than just memories.

Is the sudden discovery of library funding a genuine miracle or convenient timing? After five months of dire warnings about reduced hours, staff cuts, and service reductions due to tax reallocation, the library system has mysteriously found sufficient funds to maintain operations—just days before trustees might show the Library Director the door for performance issues.

Picon's readers just keep sending us tidbits about Assemblymember Erica Roth.

They pointed out to us after we published an article about Roth's non-conforming duplex that the duplex description of her rental was removed from Zillow. The description was published in our story.