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.

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.

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.

Microwave another bag of popcorn, folks. Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson is back on Facebook, and he's brought his signature mix of confusion, complaints, and unintentional comedy, at the expense of the residents of Sparks.

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.

Picon thinks $15 for a margarita at the Nugget Rib Cook off is basically highway robbery, and $5 for water. Since COVID the prices at the Rib Cook Off have gone rib high.

So, Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson... Where do we even start? This guy's mayoral skills are about as impressive as a participation trophy. It'd be funny if it wasn't so frustrating for Sparks residents who barely voted him in back in 2022. You'd think scraping by would make him step up his game, but nah – he's doubled down on the chaos. Enter: The Facebook drama.

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.

In Sparks, the city council's latest performance was less about civic duty and more about damage control. On Monday, July 22, 2024, Mayor Lawson played agenda Jenga, removing key items faster than a magician's sleight of hand, one has to wonder: Is this transparency or just making things conveniently opaque?

Picon found the comments made by Troy Regus during public comment at the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting today interesting.

Looks like Santa came early this year, and he's bearing gifts of email mishaps. Who knew the path to transparency would be paved with a lobbyist's fat fingers?

If it isn't the bumbling buffalo herd of Sparks City Councilmen preening and pawing at new lows of small-town campaign shenanigans. This sordid video exposition lays bare the cringeworthy politics we've come to expect from Mayor Lawson’s coterie of credibility-bereft male council members.

At yesterday’s Sparks City Council Meeting, Commissioner Mike Clark not only took the time to call out Mayor Ed Lawson, but also took a minute to challenge voters in the City of Sparks rid themselves of the three incumbents Kristopher Dahir, Donald Abbott, and Paul Anderson.

The Good Old Boys are alive and well in local politics, while Mike Clark continues to be the outsider. Apparently seeking oversight of your tax dollars will brand you as an extremist…

What is happening in Sparks….