Washoe County’s Callous Reporting of Human Tragedy
Washoe County Government reported the death of a Washoe County senior citizen at the Nevada CARES Campus with an FYI.
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, and they were reduced to an FYI by county employees.
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.
This approach strips away the humanity of the deceased, treating a life-ending event with the same casual indifference one might apply to a routine code enforcement report, or a clogged county toilet at the 9th Street complex. Such bureaucratic language reflects a systemic disregard for the inherent dignity of vulnerable populations, particularly those experiencing homelessness. This lack of caring proves many of our local homeless advocates right - Washoe County Government is warehousing the homeless at the CARES Campus. No plans, no goals, just getting them off the streets.
The use of "FYI" in reporting a human death represents a profound moral failure in public administration, transforming a moment of profound loss into a cold, impersonal administrative note.
Demand accountability from Washoe County, a CHAB meeting is long overdue. The Community Homeless Advisory Board (CHAB) has been silent since May 2024 - a disturbing eight-month gap in public oversight of critical homeless services and the Nevada CARES Campus.
Contact Commissioner Alexis Hill, alexis.hill@washoecounty.gov and insist on full transparency about CARES Campus conditions, recent incidents, death, and ongoing management. Ask Chair Hill why public meetings have been suspended and what critical information is being withheld.
Community vigilance is our most powerful tool in ensuring governmental accountability.
Washoe County’s FYI regarding the death of a senior citizen at the Nevada CARES Campus on March 24, 2025.