No Seats at the City of Reno Table for 90-Days

In the City of Reno, the message to residents has never been clearer—don’t call us, and we definitely won’t call you. Amid a $26 million budget deficit, the city has hit “pause” on appointing residents to its many boards and commissions. The official explanation? Cost savings. The real outcome? A quieter public, a less accountable government, and power kept in the hands of the few.

Let’s be clear: volunteers sitting on boards and commissions don’t cost the city much—except employee time. But what they do cost is comfort. Public boards ask questions. They hold developers to standards. They challenge unchecked agendas. And perhaps most dangerously—they represent you, the taxpayer.

And that’s precisely the problem.

Councilmember Brandy Anderson, elected with the generous backing of developers and special interest groups, now sits comfortably in office as those very groups reshape the city. Appointing fresh voices to commissions might invite uncomfortable questions about who benefits—and who doesn’t—as neighborhoods change and projects roll in.

Then there's Councilmember Devon Reese, who reportedly wants nothing to do with his Neighborhood Advisory Board—a space designed for real, face-to-face accountability. Why? Perhaps it's because answering to constituents while juggling three outstanding ethics violations isn't high on his list of preferred activities.

So here we are: a city government, in financial crisis, deciding that the best way to “save” money is to disengage from the very people who pay the bills. Imagine a business responding to a budget crunch by locking its doors and ignoring customers. That’s what Reno’s doing—with a smile.

This isn't cost-cutting. It's constituent-cutting.

Let’s not kid ourselves. The pause isn’t about pennies—it’s about power. It’s easier to build, rezone, approve, and develop when the public’s voice is on mute. Boards and commissions are designed to be messy, democratic, and slow things down. And right now, “slow” is bad for those eager to fast-track influence and investment. Just think Redevelopment Agency.

But Reno isn’t just a playground for developers. It’s a city full of neighbors, workers, families, and citizens who deserve a seat at the table—especially in times of crisis. Democracy doesn’t get paused for convenience. And fiscal emergencies should never become political cover for locking residents out of their own city.

So the question is this: Should city leadership be allowed to hide behind a spreadsheet while pushing residents out the back door?

If the council doesn't like hearing from its constituents, it might be time you speak a little louder.

Reno City Manager Jackie Bryant’s May 1, 2025 letter.