Public Comment: 404 Not Found.

Our Town Reno’s social media post yesterday.

Picon applauds the journalistic professionalism of Our Town Reno, which reported yesterday that the CHAB: Community Homelessness Advisory Board meeting scheduled for February 9 was canceled due to “logistical issues.” One of Washoe County’s ever-reliable messaging representatives confirmed to Our Town Reno in writing:

“There was a broken link in the agenda that was discovered too late to fix and repost while still meeting the Open Meeting Law requirements. It will be rescheduled as quickly as possible.”

So, to be clear — Washoe County government made a mistake, posted an agenda incorrectly and the entire meeting had to be canceled? We’re not as professional as Our Town Reno and we’re going to call bull on that explanation. We think Washoe County Government wanted this meeting to be pushed out. Exactly what they got.

We have heard from multiple sources that eight or nine women planned to attend the CHAB meeting specifically to speak out about Grant Denton and the Karma Box Project — an issue County Manager Kate Thomas continues to sidestep by insisting that the alleged treatment of these women is “outside the scope” of Denton’s county work. Convenient framing.

These women had to arrange the day off, and some were traveling to Reno since they now live out of town. They can’t easily arrange another date.

Could the county have gotten wind of the planned attendance? Of course they could. These meetings don’t exactly operate in a vacuum. Commissioner Mike Clark told us that, ultimately, the cancellation decision came down to Deputy District Attorney Herb Kaplan — yes, the same Herb Kaplan closely involved with library trustees alongside Assistant County Manager David Solaro. You know, the twosome who actually run the library.

And let’s not ignore timing. Does this agenda “technical error” have anything to do with the upcoming February 23 hearing involving Mathew Grimsley, the former Karma Box Project employee arrested on alleged battery charges? The rumor mill also suggests Denton may be footing the bill for Grimsley’s legal defense — something we cannot independently confirm, but which certainly adds another layer to the optics.

A broken link may be the official story, but the public is left wondering whether this was a simple clerical error or a conveniently timed administrative misstep. Either way, the result is the same: fewer uncomfortable questions asked in a public forum. The loss of the ability to hold Washoe County accountable.

To those who planned to speak on the 9th — write your statements. Send them to Picon. We will ensure they are read into the record. It may not carry the same impact as standing at the podium, which is likely what certain officials were hoping to avoid, but your words will still exist in the public record. And sometimes, permanence matters more than volume. Don’t let Washoe County get away with silencing your voices.