Remember that old saying about history repeating itself? Well, grab your wallets, Nevadans, because AJR1—the sequel nobody asked for—is now playing at a legislature near you.

This blockbuster tax hike (previously known as SJR14 in its 2017 flop) has risen from the political graveyard with a simple plot: extract more property tax dollars from your pockets. Why? Because apparently our local governments have developed expensive tastes they can't seem to kick.

In a world where genuine compassion is increasingly replaced by technological band-aids, Washoe County has unveiled its latest "solution" to human suffering: a box with a screen.

Anthem, Inc. has magnanimously bestowed $400,000 for a gleaming CareStation—a sterile, standalone unit promising "hybrid medical care"—at the 9th Street Senior Center. How very innovative, yet misguided.

So Assemblymember Erica Roth finally emerged from the woodwork on Wednesday to champion eviction reform. How convenient that she's suddenly passionate about AB201, a bill that would seal eviction records faster than you can say "rental application."

Let's get this straight: Roth wants to make it impossible for landlords to know if potential tenants have been evicted once or twenty times. Because apparently, a tenant's history of not paying rent is just an inconvenient detail landlords shouldn't worry their pretty little heads about. The proposed amendment to the bill would be to cap sealed records at "only" twice in five years is supposed to be the reasonable compromise.

Remember those campaign trail promises? You know, the ones where candidates smiled, shook hands, and studiously avoided mentioning the fiscal elephant lurking in the room? Congratulations, voters - you've just witnessed the most impressive disappearing act since Houdini: the complete evaporation of campaign transparency.

The Pre-election playbook from Sparks Councilmember’s Anderson, Dahir, and Abbott, Reno Sparks Councilmember’s Anderson, Taylor, Martinez, and Reese, and Washoe County Commissioners Hill and Andriola was to stay mute about the financial woes the cities and county were facing in the next fiscal year. Assemblymember Natha Anderson didn’t tell voters she wanted to raise property taxes at all those campaign meet and greets in 2024.

Oh, how delightful. Washoe County Government has once again proven that they can't resist jumping into the social media fray, apparently believing their defensive comments are some kind of brilliant strategic move. Spoiler alert: they're not.

Let's break this down for the cheap seats: These public servants seem more interested in playing digital damage control than actually serving the residents who pay their salaries. It's like watching a desperate PR team try to plug holes in a sinking ship - except the ship is local government, and the holes are their own spectacular mismanagement.

Our Town Reno reported on this death at the Nevada CARES Campus yesterday. Commissioner Mike Clark sent the FYI announcement to the press. Why are we now reporting on this? Because the tenor of the email just really pissed us off, this is a human life.

The Washoe County manager and assistant county manager's response to a death at the Nevada CARES Campus appears to demonstrate a deeply troubling lack of human empathy. Reducing a human being's death to a mere "FYI" (For Your Information) memo reveals a disturbing bureaucratic detachment from the fundamental value of human life.

Amid a $27 million budget deficit, Washoe County's funding of the Tahoe Prosperity Center raises serious questions about fiscal responsibility and potential conflicts of interest.

Key Concerns:

• Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill sits on the board of the Tahoe Prosperity Center

• The county previously allocated $47,500 in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to the organization on July 18, 2023

• A proposed $10,000 funding allocation remains under consideration? Or is it?

Recent weeks have seen two separate incidents involving public figures and law enforcement reports in Washoe County and Reno, highlighting questions about media coverage and public discourse.

Last weekend, reports emerged about a Reno City Council member involved in an incident with a 73-year-old resident at a local wine bar, resulting in a police report. The coverage of this incident sparked significant online debate, particularly on social media where numerous local figures weighed in.

Washoe County's telecommuting policy reads like a meticulous rulebook—except nobody seems to be following the rules.

The timing raises eyebrows: updated October 15, 2021, roughly nine months after Chief Information Officer Behzad Zamanian began working remotely. Was the policy conveniently rewritten to accommodate the person overseeing the county's digital security working from... somewhere else?

Look who's sliding into our mentions. The City of Reno's official Facebook page just couldn't help themselves, publicly thanking Picon Press for sharing their content.

We're blushing. After years of what we assumed was unrequited tension from Mayor Hillary Schieve and Wannabe Mayor Councilmember Devon Reese, it seems City Hall has finally acknowledged our special relationship. Nothing says "we've been secretly reading everything you publish" quite like a passive-aggressive social media thank you.

Congratulations. The City of Reno has unveiled its latest performance art piece: a citizen feedback survey carefully engineered to gather the information the city wants to feature, not what is truly concerning to residents.

This City of Reno survey is the municipal equivalent of asking "how are you?" while already walking away. Reno officials have mastered the art of claiming "residents don't care" while ensuring exactly that outcome. Their latest online survey represents strategic disengagement disguised as outreach.

While Washoe County happily cashes your tax checks, they've blown past legal deadlines to answer a simple question: Where are your public servants actually working?

The public records request Picon made is straightforward asking about a specific employee. We are asking for a copy of County Manager Eric Brown’s approval for remote work. Much like the Washoe County IT Director Behzad Zamanian.

In a remarkable display of selective memory, a Washoe County Assistant County Manager is now assuring commissioners they're "staying on top" of the Tertiary Counsel Group program. This sudden vigilance comes due to Commissioner Mariluz Garcia's pointed questions at the March 11th meeting.

What the reassuring email conveniently omits? This is the same administrator who was supposedly "overseeing" the Alternative Sentencing/Justin Roper/Sober 24 program—you know, the one where US Marshals showed up with warrants and seized records. Apparently, federal raids fall outside Washoe County’s definition of effective oversight.

Look closely at Senator Daly and Taylor's SB-319, or you might miss the burning hole it's about to put in your wallet. This isn't just legislation—it's a blank check written in your name.

The bill creates a Fire Protection District with truly spectacular taxing power by the Washoe County Commissioners: no limits on property assessment values and the ability to keep raising taxes. Miss the first tax hike? Don't worry—there's always round two, three, or ten.

Is the City of Reno's checkbook only open to those with the right connections? The ReStore Reno Program's spending pattern suggests an uncomfortable truth.

First, there's the curious case of Crak N' Grill on Wells Avenue. Despite never opening its doors, the restaurant received taxpayer funds through ReStore Reno for roof repairs, new doors, windows, and paint—essentially giving the property owner a free building upgrade courtesy of Reno residents.

Are Ward 5 and 6 residents getting the silent treatment from Reno City Council? While Wards 1, 2, and 3 have been actively discussing hot-button Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), meetings for Wards 5 and 6 are mysteriously missing. (We'll take the city's word that Ward 4 actually met at the far-flung Stead Airport—who's driving all the way out there to verify?)

Today, the City of Reno agenda includes appointing residents to the Ward 5 and 6 Neighborhood Advisory Boards. But is this just for show? A quick check of Reno's April calendar reveals no scheduled meetings for either ward—this month or next.

Just hours after we questioned Sparks councilmembers' panda-viewing trip amid an $18 million deficit, a reader provided us with an eye-opening document from Reno City Manager Jackie Bryant that reveals deeper regional tensions.

Bryant's letter to Washoe County demands an "equitable fiscal framework," exposing significant financial disparities between the county and cities. While the timing might raise eyebrows—with both cities facing deficits—Bryant's carefully constructed argument raises legitimate concerns that deserve attention.

Pandas Over People at the City of Sparks ???

While the City of Sparks drowns in an $18 million deficit, two city councilmembers somehow found it essential to jet off to Washington DC—with a special stop to snap panda selfies at the National Zoo.

That's right. As the city offers early retirement packages, freezes positions, and whispers about upcoming layoffs, Councilmembers Bybee and VanderWell were busy cooing at Bao Li and Qing Bao at the Smithsonian's National Zoo—presumably on the taxpayer dime.

In what can only be described as fiscal gymnastics, Mayor Ed Lawson delivered a somber State of the City address on February 24, 2025, while riding his motorcycle—because nothing says "we're in a budget crisis" quite like a mayoral motorcycle moment. Perhaps the motorcycle was necessary to keep His Honor awake during his own speech, much as it kept us from slipping into a complete video coma.

"We're going through some hard times now," Lawson gravely intoned after the video ended. "We're going to have to have some layoffs in the future. We're just going to have to buckle up."

Someone at the county is singing like a canary. What prompted the RGJ to suddenly request badge data for IT Director Behzad Zamanian? Our sources inside the 9th Street building tell all.

It seems Zamanian's IT staff have had ENOUGH of their boss's ghost routine. Five years in, and he's still playing the "remote work" card with zero effort to actually move to Nevada. But wait—there's more.