Eliminating citizen input while brewing up council coffee klatches at the City of Reno.

The City of Reno has discovered a brilliant new approach to public engagement: eliminate it entirely under the guise of fiscal responsibility. The city's moratorium on Neighborhood Advisory Board (NAB) meetings represents a masterclass in democratic doublespeak—claiming to save money while simultaneously launching a replacement program that serves the same purpose but with far less citizen input and accountability.

The official line is cost savings, but the real savings appear to be in avoiding the inconvenience of actually listening to residents who might have opinions about how their neighborhoods are managed.

Three Candidates, Two Spots, Zero Citizen Representation

The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority board nominations currently under consideration perfectly illustrate everything wrong with how Northern Nevada's political establishment operates. Three candidates are vying for two open City of Reno positions, and each one raises serious questions about whether anyone is actually representing the interests of Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County residents—or if this is just another exercise in political back-scratching and insider dealing.

Let's examine this trio of candidates and ask the uncomfortable questions that our elected officials apparently hope we're too distracted to notice.

It started like something out of a Reno noir: an older gentleman, known for his political chatter, wine enthusiast, who enjoys conversation and an occasional glass of wine at local haunts, had an altercation at Whispering Vine on 4th Street. He felt wronged. Not physically harmed, but reputationally bruised. And like any modern citizen with a gripe and a little faith in journalism, he reached out to someone with a microphone: a local podcaster with a reputation for being plugged into the Reno political scene.

But what happened next didn’t feel like storytelling. It seems a bit like strategizing.

Ah, 1565 Plumas Street. A quaint little address with a not-so-quaint backstory.

Let’s rewind to June 8, 2023, when the City of Reno Planning Commission heard Case No. LDC23-00058—better known in some circles as “How Many Units Can We Squeeze Into One Parcel Before Anyone Notices?”

n a decision raising eyebrows across Nevada’s political landscape, the Nevada Commission on Ethics has cleared City Councilmember Kathleen Taylor of any wrongdoing—despite substantiated concerns over her use of her campaign email address and involving her campaign infrastructure for official city business.

The ethics complaint, notably initiated by the commission’s own Executive Director Ross Armstrong, pointed to instances where Taylor allegedly blurred the lines between her campaign activities and official duties.

On June 5, 2025 at 6:00PM at the Reno City Council Chambers the Reno Planning Commission is once again being asked to perform municipal magic: transforming a landlocked property with a single access point on an already congested street into a development that somehow "harmonizes with the surrounding community."

If this sounds familiar, it's because it's become the city's standard playbook. Developer identifies unsuitable lot, city staff waves the magic wand of "housing need," and suddenly traffic nightmares become acceptable trade-offs for density.

If you've ever sat through four or five light cycles trying to turn at Plumas and Mt. Rose during rush hour, you already know the intersection is a mess. Congested, slow, and poorly timed—it’s one of those Reno traffic nightmares locals dread.

So what’s the City of Reno’s big idea? Cram 39 housing units onto a small lot right near the jam. Because nothing says “smart planning” like piling on density without a clue how to support it.

So let’s get this straight: the City of Reno is shelling out $200,000 for a mural on California Avenue—by an out-of-town artist, with no design submitted, and somehow no one on City Council knew about it? Until it came before the council last week. But let’s remember public art brings tourism to Reno, or so we’re told.

Reno City Councilmember Kathleen Taylor—fresh off her 2024 council win backed by local Republicans—has now launched an "exploratory campaign" to consider a run for mayor. Translation? She’s running, she just wants to see who’s gullible enough to hop on the bandwagon again.

Let’s rewind: Taylor courted Republicans and posed with the party base. But now, with her eyes set on the mayor’s office, we’re wondering if the Nevada GOP is about to be the ex who keeps coming back for more.

Do As I Say, Not As I Pay: Reno Council's Compensation Double Standard …

According to This Is Reno's comprehensive six-part series, the City of Reno spends an average of more than $191,000 per year in pay and benefits for each full-time employee—a figure that includes 100% city-funded PERS retirement and health insurance. Yet Councilman Devon Reese somehow managed to keep a straight face while declaring city employees "underpaid."

in what can only be described as a masterclass in questionable priorities, the City of Reno and Washoe County School District appear poised to introduce digital billboards in school zones dependent on the City of Reno sign ordinance—you know, those areas where drivers are specifically instructed to exercise maximum caution and minimum speed.

If you’ve read the recent This Is Reno six-part series on employee payrolls at the City of Reno and Washoe County, you probably needed a stiff drink—or at least a calculator. It turns out that while residents are tightening their belts, local government is busy loosening theirs to make room for bloated paychecks, lush benefits, and zero accountability when it comes to fiscal responsibility.

Nothing says “community enrichment” like a giant digital sign flashing messages every eight seconds from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.—365 days a year—even when school’s out. That’s the plan for local schools, who want to plant these LED monoliths in neighborhoods across the area.

Because what better way to enhance the charm of your quiet street than with a never-ending light show?

When Campaign Cash Comes with Handcuffs: Should Kromer's Political Donations Be Returned?

The arrest of Stephen Kromer of formerly of Kromer Investments (he resigned from his family’s firm back in February 2025 when these charges started to bubble up) on 31 criminal counts took place May 16, 2025. With $9.1 million in taxpayer money allegedly vanished from a failed rural internet project, the spotlight now turns to those who benefited from Kromer's political generosity before his fall from grace.

In the shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountains, a familiar story plays out in Reno—one that pits ordinary citizens against the machinery of local government and deep-pocketed developers. The latest chapter in this ongoing saga comes from the Lakeridge neighborhood, where residents have reluctantly abandoned their fight against a five-story apartment complex that will tower over the existing two-story landscape. Their retreat raises disturbing questions about the true nature of civic engagement in the Biggest Little City.

While a NextDoor poster regularly highlights Mayor Hillary Schieve's absences from City Council meetings, a Picon reader points out another elected official flying under the radar: Councilmember Meghan Ebert of Ward 4.

According to our reader, Ebert's meeting participation leaves much to be desired—arriving late to meetings, logging in late to virtual sessions, and apparently skipping the prerequisite homework. Her questions during proceedings reportedly serve more to delay than illuminate, suggesting minimal preparation for the agenda items at hand.

In the bright Reno sunshine, Mayor Hillary Schieve seems to have forgotten an essential civic protection: transparency.

As the City of Reno partners with the Nevada Cancer Coalition along with the Reno Aces baseball team to sponsor cancer screenings at Greater Nevada Field, a curious connection has emerged from the shadows. Mayor Schieve, the city's highest elected official, has been quietly developing her own skincare line called "Spooge"—a sunscreen product ostensibly designed to help prevent skin cancer.

City of Reno Honors Law Enforcement—But Ignores the Citizen Who Pays for It

Each year, the iconic Reno Arch is illuminated in blue in honor of fallen law enforcement officers—a solemn and meaningful tribute from the community. The gesture, often praised by the Reno Police Department and city officials, offers a powerful visual symbol of respect.

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.

Reno residents, pay attention: A dangerous bill is quietly making its way through the Nevada legislature that would allow City Council to remove Planning Commissioners at will. This isn't just another boring piece of legislation—it's a direct attack on your neighborhood's future.