The plot thickens at Washoe County, where Manager Eric Brown seems awfully eager to defend his CIO's unusual work arrangement. But why rush to defend if there's nothing to hide?

Let's follow the breadcrumbs: Someone "prompted" Greater Reno/Mark Robison to look into Behzad Zamanian's hybrid work situation. Who's the mysterious deep throat feeding tips to journalists? And more importantly—why? And how did Brown learn of this?

Talk about a fashion faux pas. While reading to children at Glenn Duncan S.T.E.M. Academy, a school board trustee apparently thought it was appropriate to sport a Gucci jacket worth more than most families' monthly rent.

Let's put this in perspective: Glenn Duncan serves a student population that's 100% economically disadvantaged according to data from US News. Only 17% of students are proficient in reading or math. These kids face real struggles daily—and in walks a trustee wearing what amounts to several months of grocery money on their back.

Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson is trying to shut down public records access with AB 51. Hiding behind the "National League of Cities" like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Don't be fooled—this bill has Lawson's fingerprints all over it.

His brilliant idea? Nobody gets public records without photo ID. Apparently, the mayor needs to know exactly WHO is asking questions. Planning to shame them on social media later, Ed? What ARE you so desperate to hide?

Reno's city leadership puts on quite the show pretending everything's fine while facing a budget crisis. Yesterday's budget meeting revealed the ugly truth.

With the city drowning in red ink, would it kill council members to take a 25% pay cut? After all, they created this mess. They blew through ARPA funds like sailors spending on shore leave, and now residents face service cuts (though it's hard to imagine services getting worse).

Please read to the bottom of this article and look at the complaint filed by criminal attorney Theresa Ristenpart. You’ll want to note the troubling information about Sober 24 and their testing methods “Including Forcing Pretrial Client to Strip Search Before Testing” - say what? Was County Manager Eric Brown and his staff aware this was taking place at Sober 24?

Has County Manager Eric Brown suddenly morphed into a legal expert, "warning" commissioners to keep quiet about the Justin Roper investigation. His excuse? Speaking might "risk of possibly interfering" with the law enforcement investigation or is it an "HR matter." Keep up Eric, choose one.

Former Sparks City Manager Neil Krutz has finally filed his long-awaited lawsuit against Mayor Ed Lawson and Councilmembers Vanderwell, Bybee, Abbott, Anderson, and Dahir. After much anticipation, we expected a juicy complaint packed with explosive exhibits and salacious allegations.

What did we get instead? A document so bland it could put an insomniac to sleep.

Hold onto your seats, Washoe County residents.

What in the name of governmental incompetence just happened? In a jaw-dropping turn of events that would make even the most seasoned political watchers spit out their morning coffee, the Washoe County Sober 24 program has collapsed.

Remember when Commissioner Alexis Hill was singing Justin Roper's praises like he was the second coming of rehabilitation management? "Amazing program!" she gushed. "Congratulations on the impact award!" Those words are now echoing with a haunting irony that could shatter glass.

FEDERAL MARSHALS. SEIZED. DOCUMENTS.

Washoe County's January 28th Strategic Planning Meeting wasn't so much a planning session as it was a carefully orchestrated performance. County Manager Eric Brown paraded his loyal appointees before the commissioners in what amounted to an elaborate puppet show—department heads and direct reports dutifully describing a county running like clockwork under Brown's exceptional leadership and planning for the future.

The charade of commissioners directing the county's future course? Pure theater. At Washoe County, the ship sails only in the direction Brown charts, regardless of what elected officials might prefer. These are the same Brown-selected officials who crafted Commissioner Alexis Hill's presentation to the Nevada Legislature's Senate Committee on Government Affairs—the one where she boldly claimed a 40% reduction in homelessness, a figure so dubious it deserves its own category of creative accounting.

Mayor Ed Lawson graced the 83rd Nevada Legislature Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure last week with his presence, delivering a masterclass in vague claims and suspiciously precise statistics regarding Assembly Bill 61 – you know, the one about letting RTC Washoe County or any local government in Washoe County establish a toll road.

After what observers described as a dramatic pause worthy of community theater, Lawson began: "Ed Lawson for the record, E-D L-A-W-S-O-N, Mayor of Sparks," apparently concerned legislators might confuse him with all the other Ed Lawsons roaming Carson City.

Picon always reads The Barber Brief and Ms. Barber got it right in the latest brief “Preview: February 26, 2025 Reno City Council meeting” where she noted this Hunden Partners presentation that was talked about at the City of Reno’s Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board (RAAB) being worth a read.

We have put up the 110 page report which is chocked full of information.

Picon urges all to closely watch the RAAB because they have a lot of power and were appointed by Mayor Hillary Schieve with little or no involvement from anyone else in the city.

At the Washoe County Board of County Commission Meeting on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 after the presentation from the newly appointed Registrar of Voter Andrew McDonald there were questions.

One asked by Commissioner Mike Clark wondered if he could be sent The Elections Group list of categories which was highlighted by McDonald on Page 11 of his presentation. Clark noted that some recommendations (96) have been completed, others are in progress, not started, or no action at this time. Clark asked if a list of the categories could be sent to him.

In a surprising display of priorities, Washoe County officials sprang into action after offensive "Zoom Bombers" crashed an Animal Advisory Board meeting—but couldn't be bothered when the exact same thing happened to a room full of senior citizens earlier this month.

County Commissioner Mike Clark called out this blatant double standard during yesterday's commissioner comments, noting that when the Senior Advisory Board meeting was disrupted on February 5th, the response was essentially a half-hearted email saying "Oops, our bad!" Meanwhile, the recent animal board incident triggered a full-scale response with County Manager Eric Brown and the IT Director suddenly developing an intense interest in Zoom security protocols.

At the February 26, 2025 Reno City Council meeting there is a McCarran Blvd. safety presentation and agenda item. In the interest of true transparency can we have a record of how many tickets the City of Reno Police Department have issued at this intersection in the last 36-months? Picon often uses this route and rarely sees a RPD presence, except when there is an accident.

We agree with the residents who mentioned the speed cars are going, especially coming down McCarran towards Plumb Lane and Mayberry Drive. How about a good old speed trap City of Reno?

Lawsuits, Lies, and Local Leadership: The Sparks Saga Continues

Former Sparks City Manager Neil Krutz is finally doing what anyone with a grudge and a lawyer on speed-dial would do – suing his former colleagues. The target list reads Team Krutz: Mayor Ed Lawson, Councilmember Paul Anderson, and former Councilmember Kristopher Dahir. Let's not forget the trio of troublemakers (in Krutz's eyes, anyway) – Councilmembers Bybee, Vanderwell, and Abbott – who had the audacity to suggest maybe, just maybe, his management style needed a review.

Remember Krutz's greatest hit? That memorable YouTube performance where he informed the Sparks Fire Union that he had fired Fire Chief Mark Lawson, a decision that burned through taxpayer dollars faster than a wildfire through dry brush. The irony of Krutz now crying wrongful termination is richer than a casino owner's bank account.

Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson is apparently channeling his social media rantings into actual legislation. AB51, the "We'd Rather You Didn't Look Too Closely" bill, aims to make public records about as accessible as Fort Knox – but with more paperwork.

The irony is rich: The League of Cities, whose mission statement reads like a love letter to transparency and innovation, is backing a bill that treats public records requests like classified CIA operations. What's next – secret handshakes and decoder rings?

Yesterday Picon wrote about Mayor Lawson and his two buddies who are getting, yet again, a contract with the City of Sparks to help carry the Truckee Meadows Public Land Management Act being sponsored by U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen.

The City of Sparks' latest moves raise serious questions about governance and the allocation of public resources. At the center is Mayor Ed Lawson's decision to award two $80,000 contracts to familiar consultants - a move that deserves scrutiny not just for its cost, but for its broader implications.

The February 24, 2025 Sparks City Council meeting agenda includes a notable consent item (#8) proposing $160,000 in consulting contracts related to the Truckee Meadows Public Land Management Act. The proposal would award $80,000 each to SB Strategic Consulting Inc. and Barrett Resources for public outreach services.

Yes, Sparks Councilmember Donald Abbott's Valentine's Day cards for seniors is a sweet gesture. For five years, he's brought smiles to seniors' faces - for one day.

But what about the other 364 days when our seniors:

• Choose between buying groceries or medicine

• Face eviction notices because they can't afford skyrocketing rent

• Eat substandard meals from Washoe County Human Services Agency

• Battle isolation and depression

• Return to work because their fixed incomes aren't enough anymore

When did selecting a Registrar of Voters become a classified operation?

County Manager Eric Brown has turned what should be a transparent process into a closed-door affair, complete with non-disclosure agreements. Let that sink in: A committee filled with county employees selecting someone to oversee our elections are being sworn to secrecy.

Welcome to the latest episode of "Who Really Cares About Seniors?" starring our very own Washoe County Commission.

In this corner: Commissioner Mike Clark, actual admitted senior citizen and long-time champion of senior issues. In that corner: Commissioner Clara "Photo Op" Andriola, suddenly discovering seniors exist. Behind the curtain: Chair Alexis Hill, puppet master, and motivated to make sure Mike Clark is not reelected in 2026.