Washoe County’s “Presiding Officer” Alexis Hill
The “Great and Powerful” Commissioner Alexis Hill has been reelected to the Washoe County Commission District 1 giving her another four years to continue to remove residents’ voices.
Right, Hill wanted you to vote for her but now the peon’s voices must be silent. Basically, Hill doesn’t want to hear from you, your thoughts, or ideas. And who’s helping her with her public comment lockdown the Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks.
As quickly as Hill was assured of her reelection the verbiage under public comment changed for the November 15th and November 19th 2024 Board of County Commission meetings.
Hill to accomplish her goal is attempting to kill-off public comment by using a whole lot of censorship and intimidation. Just check out her new public comment disclaimer.
It takes a whole lot of chutzpah for residents to step up to the podium to give public comment. Residents facing a stoic commission, with just three minutes to voice their concerns, must overcome significant anxiety. While commissioners appear disengaged, distracted by texting on cell phones or unsmiling, this formal setting understandably intimidates even the most confident of speakers. Making one's voice heard in this environment demonstrates admirable civic engagement, regardless of the commissioners' response.
Now Commissioner Hill has given herself the sole power to remove public speakers from the podium if she doesn’t agree with your comments, well that simply is not what she is elected to do.
The new verbiage, provided by Washoe County District Attorney Chirs Hicks, is all but saying don’t show up. Don’t bother to come, unless you’re going to say something Commissioner Hill feels is relevant and within her discretion that it pertains to “business of the county.”
Alexis Hill is overriding First Amendment rights. The presiding officer, which is Chair Hill, may order a person be removed if she thinks the speaker’s conduct or statements disrupt the order or safety of the meeting.
But wait you can be prosecuted for a “criminal act” as defined by NRS 203.090 and/or NRS 203.119.
Washoe County’s Commissioner Alexis Hill, District Attorney Chis Hicks, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam, County Manager Eric Brown do not want to hear from residents during public comment and they are making it clear through intimidation.