At the Washoe County School Board meeting yesterday former Reno City Employee, Director of Code Enforcement and School Board Trustee Alex Woodley Zoomed into the meeting.

That was his first act of cowardice.

Woodley’s second act of cowardice was to turn off his camera every time a public commenter referred to his “sexting” and questioned why he was still on the school board and had not as yet resigned.

The November 19, 2024, City of Reno Neighborhood Advisory Board Meeting regarding Lyon Living's conditional use permit application proved to be an exercise in frustration for community members. The presentation by Wood Rodgers' representative Andy Durling was hampered by significant audio issues, making it nearly impossible for YouTube attendees to follow the crucial details of the proposed development. We could all see Durling’s presentation but not necessarily hear him or the questions being asked by the attendees.

Just as the City of Sparks must have been getting ready to celebrate ending 2024 with no more bad headlines here comes KRNV’s Joe Hart with an investigative report about an incorrectly connected sewer line to a city storm drain that pumped a couple million gallons of sewage into the Truckee River.

This “mistake” happened at the Atrium Apartments in October 2023 as reported by Hart.

Tuesday, November 19, 2024, during the Washoe County Board of County Commission meeting we were struck by the number of public commentators regarding the loss of the Washoe County Library WC-1 Ballot Measure.

It is interesting to note the group behind the library petition is not even taking a break to draw breath to learn what cuts in staffing or services will be necessary if the library loses the $4.5 million funding afforded them prior to the ballot measure failure. The library just needs the money, but this is based on what Library Director Jeff Scott is saying.

Picon had a reader forward this letter to us and since we have written much about the imporatnce that Washoe County initiate updated evacution plan at Incline Village/Crystal Bay. Washoe County is looking for $140,000 for the study.

Good gosh we had to hear about Sparks City Councilmember Kristopher Dahir’s responsibilities as the chair of the Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) and now we learn Dahir can’t make his last “elected” board meeting due to scheduling issues? What scheduling issue? Why didn’t it come up at the last NNPH board meeting? Or is Dahir simply embarrassed that he lost the race and is bowing out without the sorrow of a long goodbye.  We’re hearing it could be due to the former Lakemill Lodge who were tossed out by NNPH with little or no plans as to where they would live when the health department shuttered the hotel. The residents were forced to leave their belongings behind by NNPH and now some of those units are open and items are missing. What no security NNPH? No plan? Residents are planning on asking questions and that might be at this NNPH board meeting, thus might Dahir be looking to avoiding the publicity.

Citizen Advisory Boards, we’ve been to about fifty CAB meetings over the years, and often they must be a “pain in the patootie” for county staff, we get it. However, CABs are a more relaxed atmosphere for Washoe County residents to be heard, air their grievances or support of projects and plans being pushed by Washoe County, a forum to meet their neighbors, get to know county staff, and meet their commissioner.  CABs are a good thing for the county to support and ensure they thrive. That should be the marching orders staff is given, “make CABs thrive.”  

"Oh, the drama at yesterday's County Commission meeting. Commissioner Hill, who likened Mike Clark's election to letting an 'arsonist in the building,' seems to have forgotten a crucial detail: those pesky voters put him there, just like her.

When Clark excused himself after consulting with Assistant District Attorney Nathan Edwards regarding the vote canvass (and stopped for a friendly chat with constituents on his way out), Hill couldn't resist adding her own theatrical spin to the minutes. She insisted on recording that Clark had 'inappropriately tried to recuse himself and then stormed off' - a curious characterization for someone who left after proper consultation and cordial goodbyes.

The great and powerful Commissioner Alexis Hill has been reelected to the Washoe County Commission District 1 giving her another four years to continue to remove residents’ voices.

Right, Hill wanted you to vote for her but now the peon’s voices must be silent. Basically, Hill doesn’t want to hear from you, your thoughts, or ideas. And who’s helping her with her public comment lockdown the Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks.

You’re kidding, right? Voters didn’t understand the ballot measure, oh come on. Now you’re insulting voters intelligence.

Voters understood exactly what they were voting for, and vote they did to defeat the WC1.

The library smackdown continues as Director Jeff Scott's doomsday predictions - shuttered buildings, mass staff exodus, and a limited-day workweek - fall flat after WC1's surprise defeat. His confident choir of supporters, who practically had the victory party planned, are now oddly quiet. One burning question remains: In all that time spent working on passing WC1, was there no worst-case scenarios, did anyone bother drafting a Plan B?

Per NRS 244A, which governs County Fair and Recreation Boards in the State of Nevada, the RSCVA Board elects new officers each July, during even-numbered years. Back in July 2024 the RSCVA voted in their new chair, vice-chair, and secretary/treasurer and they will not revisit new officers until July 2026. If you watch the July 25, 2024, meeting you will see then RSCVA Chair Charlene Bybee floundering with no support, with Alexis Hill moving Hillary Schieve into the role of chair, clearly well-rehearsed by Hill and Schieve. Bybee desperately wanted to hang onto the chair, but the board members wouldn’t even throw Bybee a lifeline just so the organization didn’t look quite so much at odds, and they let her go down with the ship. Picon is referring to one of Bybee’s more cringe-worthy statements made to the Reno Gazette-Journal steering the ship at the RSCVA, “Bringing the right person is more important than ever. I’m on a mission. I’ve got to move this Titanic and get it away from the iceberg.”

We were going to pen an article about the need for Alex Woodley to step aside (AKA resign) from his Washoe County Library Trustee District E, but This Is Reno did such a great job we thought we’d just share their newsletter for subscribers. (You should become a subscriber so you too could have the This Is Reno newsletter delivered to your inbox).

Picon only added a few thoughts because we are far snarkier than This Is Reno. Kids are glued to their cell phones, and it is an unfair task for teachers to separate them during classes. We’re surprised more parents aren’t in an uproar over Mr. Woodley’s sexting – have we all become so immune or has TikTok taken over our brains. A Reno city employee using a city cell phone to sex-message during a school board meeting? Really, that just has such a bad image.

Commissioner Mike Clark sent us this exchange with Washoe County staff after he made a comment on the dais at October 22, 2024 during the Washoe County Commission meeting.

A Washoe County resident, Doug Flaherty, had made a comment at the meeting, “regarding the study that he had done which indicated evacuations from the Tahoe area would be more problematic than the county anticipates.”

Thanks to our community's enthusiastic response, Picon's inbox has been overflowing with inquiries about local nonprofits since spring. While election season kept us running at full speed, the closing of the polls finally gives us the breathing room to dive into all the valuable information you've shared. We're now ready to give your submissions the attention they deserve.

Some elected officials have dubbed us 'lazy journalists' as we’ve been covering their activities since we’ve been willing to include other media’s coverage. Well, let's embrace that reputation - we're actively seeking nonprofit whistleblowers to help us be even more 'lazy' by sharing your inside knowledge. Based on the flood of tips we've already received; we know you're out there. Consider this your invitation to help us dig deeper into stories that need telling. After all, the best investigative journalism is a team sport."

AKA: Washoe County Standard Operating Shenanigans

In the midst of what should have been a period of calm and efficiency, Washoe County finds itself embroiled in a whirlwind of controversy and intrigue. The recent episodes involving key personnel such as Interim Registrar of Voters Cari-Ann Burgess and County Manager Eric Brown have sent shockwaves through the community, raising questions about transparency, accountability, and the true dynamics at play within the county's administrative circles.

Looks like a few employees at the county have gotten too comfortable in their ivory tower, forgetting their taxpayer-funded throne isn't actually bulletproof. Nothing is quite like watching a public servant who's confused 'serving the public' with 'sovereign rule over the peasants.'

esterday we inquired why panic buttons are being deployed by the Washoe County Registrar of Voters Office, Deputy ROV Andrew McDonald, for the general election.

While we were watching the October 22, 2024 meeting and listening to McDonald’s updates we thought let’s send his presentation to a network security professional whose job it is to find holes in systems. Remember our publisher is retired from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).

At the most recent Washoe County Board of County Commissioner meeting held on October 22, 2024, Deputy Registrar of Voters Andrew McDonald shed light on significant updates in election equipment. The introduction of new equipment, the poll pads and ballot extractors, marked a pivotal shift in the county's electoral infrastructure. Engaging a modern browser-based system after two decades signified a crucial step towards enhancing the efficiency of the voting process. These systems all seem to have gone online in August 2024.

2024 has been a really weird year for politics. The races have gotten personal and petty, but hey when opponents need to go up against incumbents with buckets full of campaign contributions from developers, special interest groups, lobbyists, etc., who for their own reasons want certain individuals reelected well we guess gloves are off.

Alexis Hill and her campaign team are running a Facebook ad accusing Masha Berkbigler of sending an “attack” piece against her. Hill has commented it is absolutely true, “I want our community to have public transit access to and around Lake Tahoe.” That’s great, but not what the graphic says.

Picon can’t believe some of these election flyers and the candidates stretching of the truth. Candidates are spending a fortune on campaign flyers, and we’ve been told by most voters, they take the pile of flyers out of their mailbox and plunk them in the trash.

Sparks Councilmember Kristopher Dahir is no exception. How about this flyer focusing on “safety” which has been a big flyer focus in 2024. However, while Dahir is focused on the “Status of Public Safety in Sparks” and mentions four new fire trucks that have been “ordered” – a new fire station being built, and how the city is hiring five new firefighters. Great news for Sparks, but then why is the Sparks Fire Department, Sparks Firefighters IAFF Local 1265 – basically where is any firefighter endorsement for Dahir? Seem to be missing.