Oh, how delightful. Washoe County Government has once again proven that they can't resist jumping into the social media fray, apparently believing their defensive comments are some kind of brilliant strategic move. Spoiler alert: they're not.

Let's break this down for the cheap seats: These public servants seem more interested in playing digital damage control than actually serving the residents who pay their salaries. It's like watching a desperate PR team try to plug holes in a sinking ship - except the ship is local government, and the holes are their own spectacular mismanagement.

Our Town Reno reported on this death at the Nevada CARES Campus yesterday. Commissioner Mike Clark sent the FYI announcement to the press. Why are we now reporting on this? Because the tenor of the email just really pissed us off, this is a human life.

The Washoe County manager and assistant county manager's response to a death at the Nevada CARES Campus appears to demonstrate a deeply troubling lack of human empathy. Reducing a human being's death to a mere "FYI" (For Your Information) memo reveals a disturbing bureaucratic detachment from the fundamental value of human life.

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.

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.

On February 3, 2025, Commission Chair Alexis Hill and County Manager Eric Brown made quite the presentation at the Nevada Legislature, claiming they've reduced homelessness in Washoe County by 40%.

Let's Talk About Déjà Vu:

• Haven't we heard this magical 40% number before? or was it 50% back in 2023?

• Wasn't it proven false last time?

• Where's the data to back up this recycled claim?

Once again, Washoe County is playing fast and loose with taxpayer dollars, serving up a masterclass in how NOT to manage public funds. Let's break down the latest installment of "Who Benefits?"

Exhibit A: The Seven Magic Mountains Boondoggle Remember those rocks that Commission Chair Alexis Hill decided must be relocated Northern Nevada via the Nevada Museum of Art? A cool $500,000 of taxpayer money, and what do we get?

One of our “sleuthie” readers ran into the attached document the Washoe County FY21-25 Strategic Plan – FY25 Update and while reading through it identified two interesting notations about the Washoe County Library.

Commissioner Mike Clark forwarded us a Daily Media Report from January 30, 2025, regarding the restoration of hot meals to local seniors, and we found something concerning. While the news itself was positive - seniors finally receiving warm meals after a 14-day interruption due to unexplained "permitting issues" with the temporary kitchen - we noticed a glaring omission.

Despite Picon's extensive coverage of this situation, including detailed reporting on seniors receiving cold sandwiches and later cold salads, our outlet was conspicuously absent from the Daily Media Report. This exclusion comes despite our constant coverage compared to mentioned outlets like RGJ, Channel 8, Channel 4, 2 News, and Fox 11.

A crucial meeting about regionalizing fire services is scheduled for Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 8AM between the leaders of Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County. While the early meeting time may limit public participation, the potential financial impact on residents demands attention.

Mayors Hillary Schieve (Reno), Ed Lawson (Sparks), and Commission Chair Alexis Hill are collaborating with State Senator Skip Daly on a fire services regionalization plan that deserves closer scrutiny. The timing raises questions, as all three jurisdictions face significant budget deficits for 2026.

Washoe County Communications Director Bethany Drysdale challenged our reporting standards. While she correctly notes that the county met the legal requirement for publishing notice of the February 6, 2025 meeting, this raises broader questions about meaningful public access and transparency.

Yes, the county fulfilled its minimum legal obligation under NRS code. However, other local governments, like the City of Sparks, demonstrate that earlier notification is both possible and beneficial for public engagement. The 8:00AM meeting time creates an additional barrier for working residents who wish to participate in their local government.

At the January 21, 2025, Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Mike Clark highlighted a striking contrast: the county hired over 300 new employees in 2024 while simultaneously facing what Our Town Reno reports as a $27 million budget deficit in 2026.

When contacted for comment, Clark offered to provide documentation from Washoe County explaining the rationale behind these hires. The county's defensive stance raises questions, particularly given County Manager Eric Brown's October 2024 warnings about reduced funding for the 2026 budget due to stagnant or declining tax revenues.

Could someone please point out to Washoe County Human Resources Staff that we are all able to count here in Washoe County. All you need to do is look at a “cal·en·dar” and you can see seniors were served cold meals for 14 days.

While watching the presentation yesterday by the Human Services team at the Washoe County Commissioner Strategic Planning meeting. Commissioner Mike Clark asked about the COLD MEALS seniors had been served for days, well actually 14 days. Adult and Senior Services, quickly answered 11. Really, 11?

In a performance worthy of a magician trying to make numbers disappear, Washoe County officials attempted to transform 14 days of cold meals into 11 through the magic of bureaucratic math. Spoiler alert: The seniors who endured two weeks of frigid fare aren't fooled.

At Washoe County’s Strategic Planning meeting yesterday, the performance of "How to Forget Your Campaign Promises," Commissioner Alexis Hill masterfully demonstrated the art of political pivoting. Remember that earnest candidate who swore to District 1 voters she wouldn't be "the commissioner" to raise taxes? Plot twist: She's auditioning for exactly that role.

You’ve been duped Distrcit 1 residents.

Hill, fumbling through alphabet soup (SGST? GST? Let's call it the "I-Promise-I-Won't-But-I-Will Tax"), seemed to be channeling the ghost of former Commissioner Bob Lucey's tax dreams. The only difference? She might actually have the votes to make it happen.

In a masterclass of municipal mismanagement, Washoe County has transformed public service into a cynical shell game, with mental health patients and seniors as unwitting pawns.

Enter the “$32,000-Man” County Manager Eric Brown, maestro of magical thinking, preparing to perform his annual strategic planning workshop on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 - a thinly veiled fundraising plea disguised as governmental transparency.

Picon was sadly amused today to get an update about the Senior Volunteer Fair on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, from 10AM to 12PM, according to the flyer Washoe County Human Services Agency pushed out about a month ago.

Washoe County sent us a reminder at 9:02AM that the Senior Volunteers fair is TODAY, September 21st from 10AM to 2PM.

But, wait, then they issued a correction at 9:37AM that the fair is on January 28th from 10AM to 2PM.

You've got two types of seniors at these meal sites. First, there's the social seniors who come to chat, play cards, and enjoy some company (bless their hearts). Then there's the folks who genuinely need these meals to, you know, survive. But don't worry - the county's got it all figured out with their totally unbiased survey!

How unbiased, you ask? Well, they strategically cornered the dependent seniors in the food line for glowing reviews in 2023. Funny how they "ran out" of surveys for everyone else... until they spotted a press badge, then suddenly surveys materialized faster than you can say "damage control.”

Breaking news from the "Better Late Than Never" department: Washoe County has emerged from its bureaucratic hibernation plan to send notifications to North Valleys residents about Swan Lake. Yes, the same North Valleys they've treated like their distant cousin at family reunions.

After a history of managing North Valleys issues with all the grace of a swan on roller skates, the County is attempting to show they care. Perhaps they found North Valleys on a map? Or maybe someone reminded them that these residents also pay taxes? County Manager Eric Brown even sent an email to the commissioners.

Well, well, well... What do we have here? A masterclass in creative interpretation of voter will, starring the Washoe County Library saga. After voters rejected the $4.5 million library funding measure, some folks are playing a fascinating game of bureaucratic Twister.

Nothing says "Season's Greetings" quite like Washoe County's culinary insult to seniors on December 20, 2024: a solitary dry biscuit, minuscule country gravy, accompanied by two strips of bacon and some canned fruit – a meal that would make Tiny Tim look spoiled.

The architect of this nutritional nightmare? TRIO Community Meals, now proudly serving disappointment county-wide thanks to a crack procurement team that managed to attract exactly one bid – TRIO’s. How convenient. While Commissioner Mike Clark – the only commissioner who actually eats these meals – voted no, the cheerleading squad of Andriola, Hill, and Garcia, happily rubber-stamped this culinary catastrophe.

In a display equal to the City of Reno’s political theater, Washoe County has conveniently buried an agenda item until 2025 – just in time for County Manager Eric Brown's annual review. How convenient that pesky resident complaints won't mar today's coronation ceremony.

The timing is about as subtle as a sledgehammer. Item 20, which promised to be ripe for public criticism, mysteriously vanished from the agenda following Brown's eleventh-hour email. Commissioner Mike Clark confirmed the postponement, citing the ever-reliable "staff suggestions" – a transparent excuse that fools precisely no one.