Watch in amazement as the City of Reno's "Gang of Seven" performs their most spectacular illusion yet - making developer deals vanish before elections, only to reappear like magic in 2025.

What's that behind your ear? Oh, just another zoning change.

Renoites start paying attention to what the City of Reno Government is up to. Remember the city put all their developer buddies, builder pals, and lobbyist BFFs on hold in 2024 so they could get reelect.

Wannabe Mayor Councilmember Devon Reese, splitting hairs finer than a Vegas showgirl's eyelashes. So you didn't get an "ethics violation" - you just got a special invitation to a "deferral agreement" and mandatory ethics training in 2023.

Potato, po-tah-to... Violation, deferral... What's in a name? That which we call an ethics breach by any other name would smell as... interesting.

Our Town Reno just pulled back the curtain on the City's ReStore program, and what do we find? A spectacular show of making property owners' basic responsibilities vanish into thin air - using YOUR tax dollars as the magic wand.

First let us say, this is no reflection on Crak N’ Grill, we’re on the side of small business owners, and if the program and the money is available, go for it. What we question is the thought process of our overly-paid City of Reno elected officials.

Oh, you Renoites crying "no politics, it's only 2025!" Bless your hearts. While you're trying to recover from your holiday food coma, Councilmember Devon Reese is already playing political musical chairs for the 2026 mayor's race. Because nothing says "I'm totally confident about my future" quite like scrambling for support a year early. Picon calls it “political chumming ,” throwing bait in the water to see what support you can catch.

Speaking of confidence... let's talk about that stunning Ward 5 victory. And by stunning, we mean Reese scraped by with 1,412 votes against checks notes ...who exactly is Brian Cassidy? Despite having a war chest that would make a Vegas casino blush and every developer, builder, and power broker in his pocket, Reese barely outperformed a guy whose biggest claim to fame was some local TV commercials for his small business. Talk about a profile in courage.

Oh, the political theatre …

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the City of Reno's latest performance, where our starring trio – Mayor Schieve, Councilmember Reese, and Interim Manager Bryant – delivered an Emmy-worthy display of municipal make-believe. With a whopping 1,024 YouTube views, this December 4th spectacle proved that bad theater isn't just for community playhouses anymore, you can see it at this City of Reno Council meeting with no ticket needed.

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.

Scott Kelly went through a nasty divorce. This Is Reno went into great detail regarding his divorce, fake Facebook account, a GPS tracker on his Kelly’s ex-wife’s car, and an extramarital relationship with a stripper, along with other allegations, all not a good look for a Washoe County School District Trustee and back in 2020 when this scandal hit, Kelly was running for reelection to his school board trustee seat.

Fast forward to 2024 and the City of Reno Code Enforcement Director Alex Woodley, allegedly resigned from his job. Woodley says he decided it was time to retire, but we have it on good authority his retirement happened on the same day as he was confronted with the fact the City of Reno had randomly discovered his sexting on his city phone. Just look at the letter of resignation provided to the Reno Gazette Journal.

Picon is digging through the Nevada Secretary of State’s Candidate Contribution and Expense reports filed on October 15, 2025.

We ponder as the Democratic Party attempts to keep the Assembly seat why fellow Democrats are not supporting Heather Goulding, could it be sour grapes.

The Reno City Charter Committee was questioned by Councilmember Reese regarding their suggestion of daring to want councilmembers elected by the voters instead of appointed by the Reno Mayor and City Council, when a seat is left vacant.

TMRPA = Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency Governing Board meeting was on August 10, 2024, and it was the usual boring group, they have so much apathy from their own board they barely had a quorum.

Not at the City of Reno where there is almost no disclosure. Oh sure, at all the meetings often one of the councilmembers or mayor reads a disclosure statement, but we’ve had a difficult time remembering individuals not voting on an item because of a disclosed conflict.

The June 12, 2024, City of Reno Government City Council meeting had everyone on the edge of their seats, especially during the discussions surrounding Agenda Item D.2 - Allocation of Contingency Funds for Fiscal Year 23/24. It felt like an episode of Survivor as we awaited the fate of the allocations.

The joys of campaigning door-to-door as an appointed incumbent - that special blend of quizzical looks and backhanded compliments that makes grassroots politics so wildly entertaining.

Picon is publishing this legal decision from Judge David Hardy Washoe County District Court Department 15, because of a number of comments City of Reno No-Longer-At-Large Councilmember Devon Reese made on April 10, 2024. Reese, as usual, pummeled Councilmember Jenny Brekhus calling her a liar and pointing out the lawsuit she brought against the City of Reno had been denied by Judge David Hardy. Reese gleefully pounced on Jenny’s loss, but to call a fellow councilmember a liar that might be going just a bit far.

Are you making $139,759,77 in total pay and benefits per year? We’re not either, but reportedly Councilmember Devon Reese is according to Transparent Nevada. This raises questions about the transparency of city officials and the availability of public records. It also answers our question as to why so many candidates are running against him, not a bad payday.

Picon read Eddie Lorton’s opinion in the Reno Gazette Journal and were hit with the age-old issue of power going to people’s heads. And we don’t mean Eddie’s. When a mayor and councilmember start thinking they’re untouchable, it’s definitely a problem. As the City of Reno Mayor’s term gets nearer to ending day by day, the plots being floated to aid her, and her allies, to stay in power and stay relevant are interesting.

Little Jack sat in the corner, eating his Christmas pie. He put in his thumb, and pulled out a plum and said, “What a good boy am I.”

We thought of this nursery rhyme the minute we read ‘no longer at large’ Councilmember Devon Reese’s greedy plea for more campaign funds, because now he has an opponent, he will need to buy signs. Someone would dare to run against Reese! Who would have thunk it?