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.

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."

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?

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.

In an era when most politicians carefully sidestep controversial issues, Sparks City Council Member Joe Rodriguez (Ward 5) demonstrated rare courage by taking a clear stance on Trump's immigration orders through a heartfelt Facebook post.

This isn't about whether you agree or disagree with Rodriguez's position. It's about something far more fundamental: an elected official willing to stand up and be counted, to put their beliefs in writing, and to defend them openly. In today's political climate, such authenticity is as precious as it is rare.

While scrolling through other council members' social media feeds reveals the usual parade of handshakes and ceremonial appearances, Rodriguez chose to address an issue that deeply affects real families in his ward. While others post about ribbon cuttings, he's engaging with the human cost of policy decisions—families facing possible separation, fearful children, communities grappling with uncertainty.

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.

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.