🎄 Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Capitol Tree… But Seniors, Who Needs Thee?
Instagram photo from Booth Elementary where the kids painted ornaments that will hang on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree - we expected school board trustees to be there but Commissioner Andriola who supported this event and not a senior ornament event was sad commentary. This photo is posted on Washoe County’s Instagram.
Rarely does anyone send Picon a press release — let’s face it, Washoe County, the City of Reno, and the City of Sparks treat us like that one relative they hope skips Thanksgiving. But every now and then, something shiny lands in our inbox, and a few weeks ago it was from the U.S. Forest Service about the Capitol Christmas Tree Tour — and get this: for the first time ever, the national tree is from Nevada.
Naturally, Washoe County jumped on social media faster than a reindeer on caffeine, posting on Instagram:
“Washoe County is proud that the Capitol Christmas Tree will be from Nevada for the first time ever! Yesterday we joined @WashoeSchools at Booth Elementary to paint ornaments that will hang on the tree.”
Aww. How festive. How heartwarming. How photo-op-y.
And there she was — Commissioner Clara Andriola, grinning for the camera, brush in hand, surrounded by children and glitter glue. If there’s a photo op within a 10-mile radius, you can bet Clara will find it. Frankly, she’s like a festive rash — everywhere at once, impossible to ignore, and guaranteed to flare up whenever there’s a camera nearby.
But here’s what really jingled our bells: while Andriola and her PR elves were busy painting ornaments with school-kids, where was the love for the seniors?
The ‘senior’ event on August 25th where all were invited to decorate ornaments for the capital Christmas tree - one would think Commissioner Andriola who promoted kids ornaments would give equal opportunity or maybe Washoe County’s propaganda princesses.
Yes, there was a senior event that Commissioner Mike Clark posted on his social media page, so come on folks Washoe County Government knew about it they just didn’t do anything to promote it as they did the event Commissioner Andriola participated in, and obvioulsy Androla didn’t care to promote a senior event.
No senior ornament-making PR from Washoe County. No county-sponsored cocoa and crafts. Nada. Apparently, Washoe County’s Human Services Agency only brings out the tinsel if it fits the Instagram aesthetic.
Commissioners Garcia and Hill were their usual silent selves on anything senior-related, while Commissioner Mike Clark continues to be the lone voice willing to say the obvious: seniors deserve more than a lukewarm lunch and a shrug from county government.
So yes — by all means, go see the beautiful Capitol Christmas Tree as it makes its Nevada tour. It’s something to be proud of. Just don’t expect Washoe County to hang any ornaments for the people who actually built this community — the seniors.
As for the rest of us, we’ll be here, watching the county’s “propaganda princesses” and Commissioner Clara Andriola smile for the cameras and pretending they can’t hear the sleigh bells of accountability coming down the hall.