WHO TIPPED OFF THE RGJ? The Remote Worker Scandal Washoe County Can't Hide
Photo is from the RGJ investigative article. We always enjoy the photos provided by Washoe County that never carry a date.
Someone at the county is singing like a canary. What prompted the RGJ to suddenly request badge data for IT Director Behzad Zamanian? Our sources inside the 9th Street building tell all.
It seems Zamanian's IT staff have had ENOUGH of their boss's ghost routine. Five years in, and he's still playing the "remote work" card with zero effort to actually move to Nevada. But wait—there's more.
Key word here from County Manager Eric Brown is “prompted” - who indeed “prompted” the RGJ.
The revolt isn't just in IT. County employees are fed up with Brown's protective bubble around his direct reports. We've also learned about another juicy tidbit: a Human Resources Agency employee living 400+ miles from the office (but still in Nevada... technically). Public records request? SENT.
Commissioner Alexis Hill's canned response was comedy gold:
"When the board became aware that the CIO wasn't a resident of northern Nevada from the RGJ's reporting, we were reassured that he would be moving to the community soon."
Translation: We got caught with our pants down and promised to fix it.
"Additionally, the Commissioners changed the appointment policy to require that residency status be added..."
Spoiler alert: This statement more than likely was not written by Hill. The county writes all her press responses. The county's propaganda minister Bethany Drysdale could have crafted this gem. How's that for transparency?
Hey Eric Brown—the house of cards is collapsing. First Sober 24 implodes with federal agents seizing documents on March 3, 2025, now this RGJ article about the very remote Behzad Zamanian. Oh, and how about the West Hills building snafu.
When Commissioner Mike Clark requested security footage from the federal raid, you claimed it couldn't be released due to the "federal investigation."
Here's a pro tip, Commissioner Clark: Request the last SIX MONTHS of Sober 24 security footage through Friday, February 28th. We might know something you don't. Ask the last time County Manager Eric Brown or Assistant County Manager Kate Thomas were at the Sober 24 facility, and how often they have been there over the last year.
Remember, Manager Brown: While the feds are investigating Sober 24, they're also eyeballing you and your staff. Just ask former employees Cari-Ann Burgess and Amber Howell, who apparently chose integrity over following questionable directives (both have pending lawsuits against Washoe County).
The truth always finds daylight, especially when your own employees have had enough of the charade.
Washoe County Organization Chart from 2024 showing Justin Roper/Sober 24 directly reports to one of Brown’s Assistant County Managers. This is the Org Chart residing on the county’s website. We enjoyed former Interim Registrar of Voters Cari-Ann Burgess is listed and hasn’t been on county property for months.