In a departure from their trusted mission, Washoe County staff have revealed a disturbing mindset that threatens the very principles of public discourse and documentation.

Within internal communications from 2023, a county employee's statement suggests a calculated strategy to suppress public commentary: "I agree, and again, if the commenters know their word aren’t going to be memorialized in writing, it’s possible they might stop making so many comments in the first place! On can hope, anyhow … “ Let that sink in. The institution traditionally celebrated as a sanctuary of free expression is contemplating silencing citizens by manipulating the record.

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.

Well, folks, here's your contrast in senior advocacy. Washoe County Commissioner Mike Clark is blowing up Facebook attempting to get Washoe County seniors some decent food to eat, not just a cold sandwich, calling the press; bringing the food to county meetings showing department directors and staff what is being fed to seniors.

But in Sparks their senior advocate Councilmember Donald Abbott is mounting his own press campaign, touting himself, crafting heartfelt Valentine's cards (how quaint), to be handed out to senior citizens in February. Councilmember Abbott makes sure there are enough valentines to accompany Meals on Wheel deliveries as he mentioned on KOLO yesterday. Hey, Donald, heads up, we think the seniors would like some food they can eat, a hot meal instead of five days of cold sandwiches which we ponder if the “meal” meets state or federal guidelines. But where the heck are you? That’s right you’re on KOLO TV Morning Break with Katie Roshetko talking valentines and not food. Find a spine and bring up something important, no it’s all Abbott self-promotion.

Oh, honey. Washoe County is doing that thing again where they think we can't do basic math or read between the lines. Let's break down this bureaucratic theater, shall we?

Picture this: Once upon a time, seniors got daily visits with their hot meals. Now? They're lucky if they get a lukewarm "here's your food, bye" drive-by. But don't worry! Commissioner Mariluz Garcia has written very important "opinions" about Washoe County Seniors in the RGJ. Slow clap

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.

In the thrilling saga of "How to Avoid Accountability While Running a Homeless Shelter," starring Commission Chair Alexis Hill, we bring you the latest episode of "Why Have Meetings When You Can Just Tell The Wall Street Journal Everything's Fine?"

Picture this: Commissioner Mike Clark, apparently under the wild impression that advisory boards should actually ... advise, keeps requesting to schedule a CHAB meeting. The audacity! Doesn't he know the last meeting in May 2024 was practically yesterday? (If by "yesterday" you mean seven months ago, and before that, September 2023 - but who's counting?)

One of “tipsters” sent us this Nevada Commission on Ethics Order of Dismissal regarding Washoe County Library Director Jeff Scott. Can someone please track down the Confidential Letter of Instruction? We also urge whoever made this complaint to maybe drop us a line and let us know the basis of the complaint.

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.

As Eric Brown's annual review is tomorrow, Washoe County has conveniently "revised" its evaluation criteria – presumably to mask another year of mismanagement behind a façade of independence. The only thing more remarkable than Brown's list of failures is the chorus of commissioners rushing to applaud them.

We watched Commission Chair Alexis Hill master the art of agenda gymnastics! At Tuesday's - December 10, 2024 - meeting, she pirouetted through items faster than a politician dodging questions, strategically punting decisions until her reliable voting buddy Commissioner Garcia returns from absence. Talk about choreography – with what would be a 2-2 split, Hill and her mini-me Andriola against Clark and Herman, Hill wasn't about to risk the agenda tie votes to have to have repeat performances.

Not only did Eric Crump, Washoe County’s Director Community Services go on the record at the South Truckee Meadows/Washoe Valley Citizen Advisory Board meeting last Thursday, December 5, 2024 that there is no stadium being planned in South Reno, but Washoe County Manager Eric Brown chimed in at the Washoe County Board of County Commissioner meeting yesterday, December 10th stating “no stadium.”

These signs are posted throughout our Washoe County libraries, thus it must have the approval of Library Director Jeff Scott. Has Scott gotten permission from the Washoe County Library Trustees to post this signage to instill confusion and stress for Washoe County residents of less library hours, less days open, less library employees, etc.

Remember when libraries were sanctuaries of learning and hope? Places where children discovered magical worlds and seniors found quiet comfort? Today, in Washoe County, something has changed.

While Herb Kaplan from the District Attorney's office keeps a less-than-watchful eye over Library Director Jeff Scott's decisions, our community's cherished spaces are being transformed into billboards of anxiety. The question echoing through our reading rooms: Why?

A peculiar drama unfolded at the November 15th Canvass of the Vote, leading to the abrupt resignation of Joni Hammond, then-1st VP of Republican Women of Reno and frequent election volunteer, and commentor at commission meeting. But try getting details from Washoe County, and suddenly it's slower than molasses in January.

While Washoe County Human Services staff swears the senior meals are "pretty good" (presumably between bites of their county food truck scheduled lunches), Commissioner Mike Clark has spent 18 months fighting an uphill battle for basic dignity in senior nutrition. But why let quality food get in the way of bureaucratic convenience?

In a masterclass of transparency, the county refuses to show even their own commissioner the competing bids for contract #3255-24. Apparently, elected officials don't have the security clearance to see what county employees are reviewing. Makes perfect sense – if you're writing a satire about government dysfunction.

In another stunning display of bureaucratic theater, Washoe County has once again investigated itself and—surprise!—found absolutely nothing wrong. Who needs independent oversight when you can grade your own homework?

Instead of hiring an outside firm for actual unbiased scrutiny, the County opted for the tried-and-true method of looking in the mirror and declaring itself the fairest of them all. It's like asking a kindergarten class to investigate who ate all the cookies, then accepting their chocolate-smeared assurance that the culprit remains a mystery.

Are the widely publicized "budget cuts" at the Washoe County Library System as severe as portrayed? Executive Director Jeff Scott's warnings about losing 22 staff members, cutting hours, and other dire consequences deserve closer scrutiny. Are his comments factual? We don’t know.

Despite knowing the $4.5 million in funding was at risk, there's been no transparent sharing of budget analyses or alternative scenarios from Executive Director Scott. While Scott controls the system's messaging and media narrative, taxpayers and library patrons remain in the dark about actual financial planning.

In these wildly partisan times, when Americans across the political spectrum question institutions, it’s more important than ever that the judiciary — the foundation of law and order in the U.S.—should be (and should be seen to be) above politics.

The Supreme Court, alas, has allowed itself to be caught up in the politics of the day, but the Supreme Court decides great legal questions. Where most Americans —  most Northern Nevadans — find themselves interacting with the judicial system is in state and local courts. These courts decide the disputes that affect real people in their real lives.

Picon had a reader forward this letter to us and since we have written much about the imporatnce that Washoe County initiate updated evacution plan at Incline Village/Crystal Bay. Washoe County is looking for $140,000 for the study.

Citizen Advisory Boards, we’ve been to about fifty CAB meetings over the years, and often they must be a “pain in the patootie” for county staff, we get it. However, CABs are a more relaxed atmosphere for Washoe County residents to be heard, air their grievances or support of projects and plans being pushed by Washoe County, a forum to meet their neighbors, get to know county staff, and meet their commissioner.  CABs are a good thing for the county to support and ensure they thrive. That should be the marching orders staff is given, “make CABs thrive.”